Gary Spatz is one of the most respected acting teachers for children

in the United States. He regularly coaches actors for auditions and

callbacks for feature films and episodic television. Gary's been

teaching classes for children and teens for over 20 years. Gary Spatz

has completed his third season as the acting coach for Dylan and Cole

Sprouse, the stars of the hit Disney Channel series "the Suite Life of

Zack and Cody".In the past, Gary has served as the Children’s acting

coach for many television productions, including the Emmy award

winning CBS sitcom “Everybody Loves Raymond”, “Rosanne”, “Sister,

Sister”, “The Jeff Foxworthy Show”, and “The Smart Guy”

 

Gary Spatz's "The Playground" is located in the heart of the Century

City area of Los Angeles, adjacent to the Westfield Shopping Center.

The space has been designed to create a comfort zone for the actor

while simultaneously providing a professional atmosphere with studio-

grade lights, cameras and monitors.

 

Gary Spatz has been the acting coach on several Disney productions

including MMC (the New Mickey Mouse Club, where he also served as

creative consultant) and the feature film Honey I Shrunk the Kids. He

specializes in teaching young performers and has taught young actors

that have gone on to star in such productions as Felicity, Beverly

Hills 90210, Malcolm in the Middle, That 70s Show, Jurassic Park, and

many many more.

 

About Gary Spatz

 

It has been Gary’s privilege and pleasure to work with some the best and brightest

kids in the world of entertainment over the past 20 years. This web site highlights

some of his adventures as a teacher, and as an on-set acting coach for several TV

series. Gary feels blessed to have had the opportunity to support the evolution of all

the young talent that has come his way and it has been very exciting process to

witness.

 

Whether his students become professional actors, writers, directors, musicians,

dancers, or painters, his goal as a mentor is to nurture the creative source and be a

positive influence.

 

Biography and Resume

 

Gary was born in New York and raised in New York and Miami then moved to Washington, DC to

attend American University before making the move to Los Angeles.

 

In LA, Gary Spatz continued his study of acting with Paul Sills. He was a company member (1978-

1985) of the respected American Theater Arts in Hollywood where he continued training, performing

and eventually teaching. For the fifteen years after that, he was a teacher at The Young Actors Space.

 

For seven seasons, Gary Spatz served as the on-set acting coach for "Roseanne". He went on to work

with Jonathan Lipnicki on "The Jeff Foxworthy Show", with Tia & Tamara Mowry on "Sister, Sister" and

later, with Tia and Tamara’s younger brother, Tahj, when he got the starring role on the WB series

"The Smart Guy". Gary Spatz was also the acting coach for several Disney Productions including the

feature film "Honey, I Shrunk The Kids" as well as The Disney Channel's "Mickey Mouse Club", on

which he also served as the creative consultant.

 

After completing work as the acting coach for the children on the Emmy award winning CBS sitcom

“Everybody Loves Raymond” Gary currently coaches Dylan and Cole Sprouse for The Disney Channel

series "The Suite Life of Zack and Cody." He also regularly coaches actors for auditions and callbacks

for feature films, theatre and episodic television. Gary created the young actors' conservatory,The

Playground, in Century City, CA in 2005. He currently teaches classes as well as serving as director of

the conservatory program.

 

Gary’s former students have gone on to star in countless television and film projects including, but not

limited to the following:

 

Television:

 

"My So Called Life", "Felicity", "Malcolm in the Middle", "Wonder Years", “That 70s Show”, "Full House",

"Step By Step", "Growing Pains", "Beverly Hills 90210", "Scrubs", "City Guys", "Evening Shade", "Buffy

the Vampire Slayer", "Summerland", "Melrose Place", "The Nanny", "All That", "Recess", "The Suite

Life of Zach and Cody", “Lizzie McGuire”, “Everybody Loves Raymond”, "True Jackson, VP", "The

Secret Life of The American Teenager", and "Gossip Girl".

Film:

"Bratz", "Drillbit Taylor", Terminator Salvation", Jurassic Park", "Spy Kids", “Boys Don’t Cry”, "October

Sky", "Stuart Little", "The Believer", Planet Of The Apes", IMAX "The Magic Box", "Mighty Ducks II & III",

"Honey I Shrunk the Kids", "Phantoms", "Camp Nowhere", "Honey I Blew-Up The Baby", "Forever

Young", "Sleepless In Seattle", "The Brady Bunch", "M.I.III", "The Next Karate Kid", "Dutch", "Newsies",

"Great Expectations", "Radio Flyer", “Murder by Numbers”, “ Lord of the Rings”, “Dickie Roberts”,

“Beethoven I, II & III", “The Hunted”, "The Notebook" , “The Missing”, "Million Dollar Baby" and "Super 8".

 

Gary Spatz's Resume

 

• EXPERIENCE

 

Currently teaching classes for beginning and professional child actors and coaching many young

actors for interviews, “callbacks”, and screen tests for feature films, theater and episodic television.

 

• TEACHER

 

The Playground – A Young Actors’ Conservatory (Owner/Director) / 2005 – present

Actorsite – Children and Adult Workshops – Scene Study / Improvisation / 2000-2003

Young Actors’ Space – Scene Study / Improvisation for Children (6-18) / 1985-2000

American Theater Arts Conservatory – Games / Improvisations for Adults / 1981 – 1985

 

• ACTING COACH

 

“The Suite Life of Zack and Cody” – The Disney Channel / 2004 – 2008

“Everybody Loves Raymond” – CBS / 2003 – 2005

“Triple Play” – (Pilot) – Disney Channel / 2004

“Magicbox” – (IMAX/3-D) – Director / Brett Leonard

“Sister, Sister” – Paramount / 1994 – 1998

“The Smart Guy” – Disney Television

“Roseanne” – Carsey / Werner / 1990-1997

“Jeff Foxworthy Show” – Brillstein / Grey / NBC

“Daisy Mom” – (Pilot) Director / Andy Weyman / ABC Production / 1996

“Mickey Mouse Club” – Disney Television / 1990-1995

“Davis Rules” – Carsey / Werner

“Honey, I Shrunk The Kids” – Disney Feature

Creative Consultant to The Disney Channel / 1990-1995

 

• References

 

Irene Dreayer – Executive Producer, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”

Bonnie Liedtke – VP, Head of Youth Division, William Morris Agency

Joe Johnston – Film Director, “October Sky”, “Jurassic Park 3”

Judy Savage – Judy Savage Agency

Jay Daniel – Executive Producer, “Cybill”, “The Naked Truth”

Danny Jacobson – Executive Producer, “Mad About You”

Danny Kallis – Executive Producer, “The Suite Life of Zack and Cody”

Gayle Mancuso – TV Director, “Friends”, “Dharma and Greg”

Howard Gould – Executive Producer, “The Jeff Foxworthy Show”

Cindy Osbrink – Owner, Osbrink Talent Agency

Bob Meyer – Executive Producer, “Roseanne”, “Cybill”

Patty Gary Cox – Producer, “Cory in the House”

Dava Savel – Executive Producer, “Ellen”, “That’s So Raven”

Phil Rosenthal – Executive Producer, “Everybody Loves Raymond”