Robert Cohen Obituary

People say never meet your heroes. Robert shattered that idea. I wanted to be him. And I still do.
We first met when I interviewed him for the Irvine Community Television. We chose to showcase him as a pillar of the Irvine community, which he will always be.
Years later, when I was developing my own acting theories, I reached out to him, not knowing if he´d have time for a guy he had met just once years ago. He always did. Every meeting was a gift. He was wholly supportive, deeply insightful, and unwaveringly encouraging-something I will always appreciate.
We met only a few times, but my memories of those meetings at his favorite café in Laguna Beach are vivid and precious. His kindness, his wisdom, his generosity of spirit. His impact on my life, and on so many others, endures.

So sorry to hear about Robert Cohen passing away.
My sincere condolences to Lorna and daughter Whitney. Wonderful family.

Thinking of you and Robert surrounded by love of family, friends and a fulfilling life continues.

If Robert Cohen has not accepted me into the MFA acting program at UCI I would not have had the career I have fully enjoyed all these years. Thank you Dr. Cohen...much gratitude and love.

Bob was a gem of a man, an inspiration, and a friend. Bob showed infinite patience with whatever shenanigans I got up to, always bringing out the best in me, challenging me to always do better. I shall miss him dearly.

I am one of the many, many who count themselves lucky to have known and worked with Robert. On a fateful day at the end of my doctoral study, Robert asked me to help him with the latest edition of his magisterial textbook, Theatre; I helped with some edits and we hit it off. Soon after, he asked me to help him write the next edition, and then the next; I am currently beginning work on the 14th edition as we speak. I remain so indebted to him placing such faith in me--a wide-eyed, as-yet unemployed student who the great Robert Cohen was treating like a collaborator, an equal?!--and I remain driven by his spirit to make sure each version carries forward his generous and curious soul. We academics now are so often taught to furrow into one specific little corner of history; Robert represented for me a drive to know _everything_ deeply and to remain wide-eyed and capable of surprise and awe through one's whole life. His puckish, brilliant, generous spirit will always inspire me. Sending love to his family. And thank you, Lorna, for this beautiful remembrance.

My heartfelt condolences to you and your family.

A kind soul whom I was fortunate to know and learn from. After 25 years memories of my time as his student remain strong. A remarkable scholar, teacher and friend.

It's appropriate that today, Thanksgiving day, I reminisce about Robert Cohen.
As sad as I am about his passing, I am so thankful to have known him, studied with him, been directed by him and mentored by him. A brilliant teacher and director, Robert inspired me and everyone he taught! He had genuine generosity about me and my career, and he was a shining light in my life. I'll never forget his and Lorna's kindness to me. He is now a shining star in the sky and I will never forget him.

One of the many things that I learned from Dr. Cohen was that if your creative work isn't fun, it won't be any good.

Robert was a gem. His contributions in theater and academic settings is immeasurable. Our first time together was 1998, I played Abhorson in his Colorado Shakespeare Festival, Measure. He was so generous with me then, and continued to be so throughout our relationship. I am not employed now without his guidance and support. He and Lorna were always so thoughtful, kind and generous with me, and all. We lost someone in Robert who impacted the lives of so many of us UCI folks, and those UCI folks have gone on to carry his teachings and curiosity to many others. We miss you, Robert! Thank you, Robert. Hope to see you on the other side. If I do get to see you on the other side, know that even if you say to me, "Don't look at me," I will. xo

Robert's boisterous spirit was infectious and his enthusiasm for acting inspiring. As an undergrad I was at first intimidated to get to work with him and quickly learned that he took in every student with the same regard, respect, and expectation. I learned a lot by watching him direct, discuss, and analyze Waiting for Godot and learned what a true passionate heart looks like at work.

We are sorry for your loss of a wonderful husband and father. May your memories bring you peace.

It is with great sadness that the faculty from the Department of Theatre, at Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania, have learned that Professor Robert Cohen has passed away.
A remarkable figure in the field of theatre direction, Professor Cohen´s career included over 100 stage productions and spanned more than 45 years in academia, during which he served as the founding chair of the Drama Department at the University of California, Irvine, established in 1965.
Professor Robert Cohen distinguished himself both as a prominent theorist and theatre critic. Through his activity as a theatre essayist and commentator, Robert Cohen proved to be a staunch supporter of Romanian Theatre, his explorations in the field transcending basic information dissemination and actively elevating the international profile of Romanian Theatre.
One of the numerous specialized books he authored has been translated into Romanian for the benefit of our students. Acting Power is essentially an excellent and effective teaching method for the art of acting, which has profoundly and beneficially influenced the instructional methods employed within our department. We can state, without a shadow of a doubt, that Robert Cohen was an active supporter of the Department of Theatre, not only through the free workshops he conducted for our students over the years, but also by granting the translation rights and copyright for his teaching methods to our department. His books and his methods of artistic education have thus contributed to the formation of a rigorous working method for our practitioners. At the same time, Professor Robert Cohen´s scholarly books provide a guide, a manual and a philosophy of performing arts, proving to be a source of inspiration for the practitioners of our Faculty and fostering the creation of new, original and specific methods by the members of our teaching staff.
Professor Robert Cohen distinguished himself as both a dedicated theatre analyst and a playwright, his plays being staged at the National Theatre in Cluj and published, for the first time, in a bilingual edition (English and Romanian): Machiavelli or the Art of Terror (2011), The Moebius Strip (2013), and Bzzap! (2016).
Professor Robert Cohen demonstrated, across several meridians, his high intellectual standing and his profound knowledge of the theatrical phenomenon. His research activity and his supervision of artistic and teaching projects were absolutely overwhelming, covering an extremely

broad palette; his lectures and creative workshops were conducted in numerous countries and at esteemed universities globally. In 2009, Robert Cohen was awarded by Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj the honorific title of Professor Honoris Causa. His memory will stay alive among our students, alumni and faculty.
We present our sincere condolences to Robert Cohen´s family, to all his colleagues and friends.


Cluj-Napoca, 11/19/2024 Professor Claudiu Turcus, PhD
Dean of the Faculty of Theatre and Film
Babes-Bolyai University in Cluj, Romania
and
The Theatre Department of the Faculty

Like countless members of his legion of former students, I am so grateful to have been able to learn from Dr. Cohen. His influence and inspiration continue to guide me in my life and career, and like so many others, I now strive to pass along his care and passion for theatre to future generations of artists.

While it is impossible to overlook the indelible contributions he made to the global theatre community or his generational talent as a teacher, writer and director, my first thought at the mention of Dr. Cohen is and always will be of baseball. We forged a bond during my years as one of his graduate acting students that centered around games of catch on the UCI campus between classes. During these sessions that were a staple of our time working together, he would regale me with stories from his youth - fond memories recalled with a twinkle in his eye of taking the bus with friends to Griffith Stadium in D.C. to see the now-defunct Washington Senators - peppered with pearls of wisdom I hold dear to this day. As we stayed in touch over the years, his correspondence seldom failed to include a mention of the state of our makeshift "field," or his desire to throw the ball around one more time.

My appreciation for Dr. Cohen is truly immeasurable, and my heart is heavy with this tremendous loss. I send my most sincere condolences to Lorna and the family he always spoke of so lovingly.

I will always treasure his teaching while I was at UCI. I still remember one class in particular while he worked a scene from Summer and Smoke. I hold it in my heart as one of my very favorite theatre experiences ever. I feel very blessed his teaching and what he created at UCI has been such a significant part of my journey in this crazy world of the business of show.

I currently teach Robert's acting approach with all of my students. Having the chance to be directed by him in My Fair Lady was a wonderful treat I didn't fully realize at the time. Much love and peace to his family and thank you for everything Robert.

The dude allowed me into grad school without any formal education in drama except for one class I took with him as an undergraduate in Social Ecology. He switched up when he needed to. Used to say John Wayne was wrong to say acting was
Just "reacting " and then switched up to supporting that statement. That was clearly a a cool thing to do. Make a change and not be so dogmatic. Bravo

Robert directed the first play (at UCI) that made me feel I really could become a theatre artist. And his theatre history 40A remains the best class I ever took in college, or anywhere. I'm sad that he is gone.

requiescat in pace Robert - you influenced many and I will always treasure the work we did with you in Sweeney. Such a joy! I will miss our occasional meetings when I visit California and forever remember your sense of humour.

Robert Cohen´s teaching will no doubt leave a lasting impact on the world of acting. Not only has his work been the core of my acting process, but it is the foundation of how I teach my high-school students. He was absolutely brilliant, and will continue to impact so many artists.

If not for Robert Cohen, I would not be the theatre artist I am today; he gave me all the breaks I needed to thrive. So open and brutally honest about human nature and the science of acting, I was just teaching from one of his myriad books today. He will always be one of my all time favorite teachers; he made me.

I was fortunate enough to serve as Dr. Cohen's stage manager, while I was getting my MFA at UCI. We would spend time before rehearsals throwing a baseball around and he would bless me with stories of his youth and his excellent adventures (including working construction, where he learned to drink his coffee black. (something I have done since Dr. Cohen shared that story with me.)

He was an excellent director, an amazing mentor, but above all, a wonderful person.

As a young latino in the theatre world where there were few like me he challenged me and helped me find a grounding in fundamentals that has served me for my entire artistic life. I´ve always remembered a simple physical move he made to show me how to dig deeper into a moment of strong emotions. Vaya con dios, Dr. Cohen.

Robert Cohen was a true mentor to me -he helped me in my career as a theater teacher in countless ways , including hiring me to teach and helping me to get published. I also had the honor to be directed by him several times. He will truly be missed. It is so odd - this morning I woke up thinking I wanted to call and see how he was. He had a wonderful life , but still this makes me so sad to know I cannot ask his advice any more - like I have so many times - much love and respect

I am truly sorry for your loss. I am thankful to you for sharing him with students, like me. And I am thankful to Dr. Cohen for living, teaching, directing, writing, guiding, and believing. I think about the things he taught all the time.

I will never forget how Bob opened up the anthropological reality of the theatre for me. From his general scholarship and writing to working with him as he explicated medieval verse as we did the passion plays.

Dr. Cohen always showed up for his students. He gave his best and expected the same. It was a great atmosphere to train in and I truly valued being able to work with such a brilliant mind. I am a better artist and teacher because of him. He will be missed.

Dr, Cohen believed in me; with that, I knew I could do anything. I taught from Acting One until I retired and did my utmost to create another couple or three generations of young theater kids to believe.

The world knows some wonders,
Yet few breathe the air,
Give words to thoughts,
Thoughts to voice,
Scenarios into actions,
Dialogue, passion, revelation,
Among the few, even fewer,

Imagine wonders of the world,
As Robert did, populating narrative With inventions, orchestrating Realities with fabulation -
Between their representations,
And forces, human or otherwise,
Which instantiate fiction,
Their manifestation, non-fiction.

To behold, and truly see,
Not just our reflections,
But our inflections, our darknesses And illuminations, our phantasms, And the love that evaporates them,
Or embodies them,
The bliss that is possible, only in Theater, but then, as Robert has Shown us, also in life.

For Robert, theater was life´s Laboratory and church,
Where the generous and compassionate conjure worlds with irresistible thresholds, passing us Onto alternative timelines, reinforcing,
Ultimately the lines you chose,

For Robert´s theater accentuates our Options and empowers us to choose, And this is precisely the life that Mirrors it,
The feelings that are mutual.

Robert taught me to make a theater Of my life, and a life out of theater, That, when combined,
One could happily make their own Life.

My gratitude for you, Robert, is Infinite. As is my love for you.

I am one among many whose life you changed with wisdom, love, and by example, shown what it truly means to be a person of the theater, to make life theater, and, in so doing, to become your our playwright, director, and actor, in an art form that is always already collaborative, communal, and new world building.

Thank you for the worlds you inspire.

I am so fortunate to have been taught and directed by the great Robert Cohen. His coaching and thoughtful responses to my efforts transformed me as an actor and theater professional. He reached me at a moment in my graduate training when I was flooded with doubt abou tmy footing and belonging in the theater. Robert encouraged me to keep going, keep trying, and above all, helped me realize that who I am, how I tick and how I think is integral for me to connect to my work. He gave me permission to be me through the prism of Classical work and set my life on a course of no regrets.

All of my work on stage has been and will continue to be a tribute to Robert's beliefe in me.
Flights of angels, friend.

As a young actor, "Acting Power" was a holy text for me. So much so that it led me to UC Irvine to learn from the master himself. I have a little brown book filled with notes from my time with him. I still break it out a few minutes before places, choose one bit of Robert´s gold, and put it into practice for that night´s show. He taught me well. I´ll miss you, you kind, brilliant, generous man. Thank you.

I knew Robert to be the brightest, most curious, most energetic, most affable, and most optimistic colleague. His transformational books on acting theory and performance helped propel UCI Drama from its infancy to top-tier status among professional theater training programs nationwide. His involvement with students was all-encompassing, unselfish, and consistently focused on the pursuit of excellence.

My personal sadness in his passing is buoyed only by the camaraderie I was able to enjoy with him as a collaborator, friend, and confidant for many years. He will be so deeply missed.

It is hard to find words that reflect the power, conviction and enthusiasm with which he approached the world of theater. As a young colleague at UCI, his support was unwavering and his advice was golden. The beautiful balance he found between life and work ("Lorna and I drove to Mexico for lunch today") combined with the hours he put into writing at his desk in the sunroom, was an inspiration. Maybe being a university professor in Southern California could be ok. The curiosity and focus that he put into his books, directing and teaching was equalled by the support and enthusiasm he put into supporting his colleagues. He did not just want his first wish (for his play about Machiavelli to go to Broadway), he wanted his second wish- to create and be part of the greatest MFA Acting program in the country. And we all benefited. Dear Robert, we miss your mind and your heart and your willingness to always be learning.

Robert was a Titan. When I was hired in 2002 as an Assistant Professor he drove me around took me to his house where I met Lorna and drove me around downtown Laguna. I quipped that Laguna backwards was A-Nu-GaL. He laughed and said that looking at words backwards was something he couldn´t do. I believe that was the ONLY thing he couldn´t do! His generosity and kindness seemed boundless. As a new Assistant Professor I once sheepishly corrected him privately after a lecture he had given when he had mistakenly said that Eugene Onegin was by Tchaikovsky. I reminded him that it was originally an epic poem by Pushkin that Tchaikovsky adapted as an opera. He graciously said he would correct that in his notes. No defensiveness at all, just wanted to get his notes right. He often encouraged me when I needed it most. As I say, Robert was a Titan.

Robert was a great man. Brilliant, kind, funny, creative, and generous. Even to us 'youngsters,' he was an inspiration. I enjoyed every moment working with him. Thank you, Robert.

Robert Cohen is an inspiration. It wasnonly by a stroke of good fortune that I pivoted last minute from attending New York University to University of CA, Irvine. There I grew in 7 years from satelliting around Robert to eventually being in his classes and his show that opened his black box theatre. I remember how I'd soon coach actors just like him ("Don't look at me!") His delight in coaching and all things acting was a joy. I have the greatest memories of working with him and am so grateful for his enormous contributions to American theatre and to my life. Those flights of angels probably tried their best to sing him to his rest, but I am sure he already started projects in heaven! Thanks for all you did, Robert. My sympathies to Lorna and the family.
Stephanie (Philo) Newman

We will fondly remember Robert Cohen as an amazing theatre person, an extraordinary teacher and a wonderful human being, whose creative curiosity touched us and so many others in ways we continue to reflect on. His work enriched and emboldened. He was an inspiration for theatre makers, for playwrights, actors, and directors, and for all those who encountered his plays and writings on theatre.

It was a privilege to meet Robert Cohen and we are deeply grateful for the connection the National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca shared with this tireless creator. Three of his plays have been staged at the National Theatre in Cluj-Napoca: Machiavelli: the Art of Terror (2011), The Moebius Strip (2013), and Bzzap! (2016). Moreover, we had the joy of welcoming him to Cluj for the "International Meetings in Cluj" festival in 2012, 2016 and 2019, listening to his stories and fabulous insights on theatre, life and inspiration.

Rest in peace, dear Robert, we will miss you!

Mihai Maniutiu, Executive and Artistic Director of the National Theatre in Cluj
and
The Company of the National Theatre in Cluj

Robert was my mentor and one of those few people in my life that always believed in me, no matter how difficult or crazy the project. He inspired me as a teacher, director, and writer. There was no one that knew more or cared more about theater than Robert.

At UC Irvine Drama, he was the sun, and we were the planets. He held us safely in his orbit and was a source of inspiration for everything we did.

Rest in peace, dear Robert. I will never forget you.