[Watch the video interview on YouTube here]
Film Courage: Lynda, when you were 15, you had a successful director tell you about your acting and we’re curious if you can tell us exactly what happened.
Lynda Goodfriend, Actor/Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles: Oh my gosh, I tell this story to my students because it was just a highlight of my life and probably changed my life.
I wanted to be an actress like all high school students.
I went to a school up in Pittsburgh, actually for the summer at Carnegie Mellon. [A] very famous summer program for would-be actors, actresses.
After the program, we had to do a scene.
It was for the most famous director on Broadway would critique us.
So I stood there after I did my scene waiting for my critique.
He said, “You’re a terrible actress, you should never act. Get off the stage.”
I was 15.
The tears were coming down my face.
I was just devastated.
I picked up my stuff and I came home that week and I told my parents, well, he told me I’m no good, so I guess he’s right. He’s a famous director.
Story Questions book — Now on Payhip here!
I said, I love to sing. I love to dance. I’m going to put everything into that.
So, I did. I wanted to do Broadway.
I went to SMU.
I was a dance/theater major and then I went to New York.
About a year and a half later I was doing Broadway, off Broadway, off-off Broadway.
One of my cast members said, “You know, and those speaking parts that they have in the musicals, you’re pretty good with those. Did you ever think of acting?”
I said, well, yeah, but I was told I was no good…(Watch the video interview on YouTube here).
Our gratitude to Anthony Leone for crafting this set! And a special thanks to Christopher Pettoni for his work behind the scenes and making this possible!
About:
Lynda Goodfriend is the Creative Director for Acting for Film at New York Film Academy (NYFA) Los Angeles Lynda Goodfriend received her BFA from Southern Methodist University and did her acting study with legendary masters Lee Strasburg and Sandy Meisner. She has appeared in numerous shows on and Off-Broadway, including Good News, West Side Story, She Loves Me, Fiddler on the Roof, and The Boyfriend. For eight seasons, she played Richie’s (Ron Howard) girlfriend, Lori Beth, on the legendary sitcom Happy Days and guest-starred on shows like The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, and Vega$. Onscreen, she’s appeared in Pretty Woman, Taxi Driver, The Front, Nothing in Common, and Beaches. She founded the award-winning Actors Workout Theater in NoHo as well as the Actors Workout School. Behind the scenes, she has also worked in talent management, even opening her own firm, and has directed several television projects.
CONNECT WITH LYNDA GOODFRIEND:
About:
Founded in 1992 by Jerry Sherlock, the New York Film Academy (NYFA) provides an accessible, hands-on education in filmmaking, media, and the performing arts. With a mission to make the film industry more accessible to all, NYFA empowers students from diverse backgrounds to tell powerful stories through a project-based, immersive curriculum. Students work closely with industry professionals, gaining invaluable mentorship and real-world experience while building creative, technical, and collaborative skills. NYFA’s global community includes students from over 160 countries, fostering a network of passionate storytellers. From day one, students dive into creating projects that refine their craft and prepare them for successful careers. With a focus on practical experience and individualized support, NYFA equips students with the tools and confidence to excel in the competitive world of filmmaking and the arts.
CONNECT WITH NYFA
Nyfa.edu/location/nyfa-los-angeles
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New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
New book from Film Courage! – See it on Payhip here
