PAUL RUDD

I taught at New School of Drama from 2005-11 and sat in on Paul´s Shakespeare class. 5 different students played Hamlet and 3 were female-the energy, joy, enthusiasm in that small classroom reflected Paul´s spirit and love for theater. Daring, imaginative, and fun. Paul.

I wanted to share some more reflections about Paul. I recently wrote a comedy screenplay inspired by Shakespeare, and Paul's memory kept resurfacing both in the writing of this piece and the acting. I recently performed a reading of it and thought about Paul throughout. He was the best teacher I ever had. A wonderful force of passion, love and inspiration. He also heavily influenced my teaching and I would often tell my students about him. Words cannot truly capture the love and admiration I...

Watching Paul directing a wild, spirited, experimental Hamlet with various students playing Hamlet and switching roles from scene to scene, in class stunned me. The energy, pace, enthusiasm of the students loosened my imagination as to how Shakespeare, and all playwrights could be expressed. It has affected me from that time to this day. Paul´s smile and good moods made me jealous and inspired me. You just had to love this man. He was pure and transparent and a lesson to all.

A teacher of life -- giving lessons of all kinds to anyone who was ever in his presence. His teaching was in doing and being and the joy of interacting with others. He added so much to so many. He loved the phrase "stand and deliver" when it came to monologues; I have blended that into my own: "experience and express" -- and my teaching is the better for it. To a man who died with more grace and style and poetry, than most people live! His energy is within all who knew him.
Robert Walden

Martha,

I have been so blessed to have Paul in my life as a friend, teacher and mentor. He was the finest example of a man who knew how to live life passionately, fully and irreverently all the way to the end. One hundred times he quoted shakespeare, but one million times he spoke of his family, the most important thing in his life.
He left his handprint in my life as an artist, mother and wife.

All my deepest love,

betsy sanders

So saddened to hear of Paul's death. We were in Maryknoll together in 1963-64 and it was a privilege to know him. My sympathy to his family. May he rest in peace.
Bill Gilligan, Somerville, MA

Martha and family,

My condolences on the loss of someone so special.
Regards,
Barbara

I was in New Zealand when Paul passed and I had no idea he was sufferiing from cancer. I remember Paul so well for his love of and work with Shakespeare during our years in Greenwich in the 1990's in The Terribly Serious Repertory Company for Partially Enabled Adults. I also helped Paul with a summer arts camp for two years. While I had not seen him in recent years, I will miss him lots. He was a good friend and a great professional. My condolences to his wonderful family.