A lean and bony actor and theater director with a prominent chin and forehead, Andre Gregory parlayed his equally prominent gift for gab into a "late-blooming" career performing in features. Born in a Paris hotel because his mother left a card game with a Turkish ambassador a bit too late, Gregory grew up in Hollywood, where, by his own admission, he could "look out of our window and see Garbo and Dietrich and Flynn and Thomas Mann playing doubles." He attended Harvard and, set on becoming an actor, studied at the Neighborhood Playhouse and the Actors Studio, but success eluded him. Before
Acting on the advice of her close friend Marlene Dietrich, Gregory's mother took him to thyroid treatments at age 14 to bring down his weight from 250 pounds (date approximate)
1962
Attempt to launch career as an actor initially unsuccessful; decided to quit at age 28 (date approximate)
Decided to become a lawyer but took a shot at directing
1962
Brought Jean Genet's landmark play, "The Blacks", to Off-Broadway
