Robert Alexander

ALEXANDER--Robert The founder and Artistic Director of The Living Stage Theatre Company, died Sunday, February 10 after a long illness. He was 78 years old. The Living Stage, founded by Alexander in Washington, D.C. in 1966 as an outreach of the Arena Stage, dedicated itself to working with the city's "forgotten". For 36 years Living Stage had a profound impact on the physically handicapped, men and women in prisons, and chiefly on the impoverished youth in D.C. and throughout the country, where he trained many teachers. Until his retirement in 1995, Bob tirelessly fought for the dignity and beauty of all he worked with by helping them harness their unique, empowering, creative voice. He was recognized nationally and received many public accolades as a champion for truth and justice and the well being of the young and vulnerable. Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Bob first found success as an actor Off Broadway, and in early film and TV. He also drove a taxi for 13 years. In 1962 he married the actress Jane Alexander, and they had a son, Jace, now a film and theater director. Bob began directing childrens theater at the Charles Playhouse in Boston, and was then hired to direct at the Arena Stage, where he soon began his life's work. He later married Riki Alexander. Their son, Taro, is the Artistic Director of New York's Our Time Theatre Company. For the past 28 years he was married to Kelly Alexander, and they have a young daughter, Jazzoya. Besides his three children, and his wife, Kelly, Bob is survived by his sister, Carole Becker, and four grandchildren, Isabelle Moon, Mac, Finn and Jackson Miles.