John Howard Swain

John Howard Swain has done it all. Well, maybe not all, but he's done a lot. He's made a living as an actor for over forty years guest starring in such iconic TV shows as Hill Street Blues and Law and Order SVU. He's coached a myriad of people from first time performers to Emmy award-winning actors, Supreme Court Justices, and Fortune 500 executives. He's starred in nine New York stage productions plus he has staged over twenty plays including such hits as That Championship Season, Veronica’s Room and The Owl and the Pussycat. He has also directed four films: Whose Life, Uncommon, Stand-by, and the multi-award winning short, A Younger Man. Students from his classes can be see starring on Broadway, in television and on film.

A favorite memory was when he was working on the film Best Seller starring Brian Dennehy and James Woods. It was June and Brian was bitching about not having a day off until Thanksgiving. John reminded him that there were only two times when actors complained -- when they weren't working AND when they were working.

Remember, we're all in this together. Sometimes we get to lead the parade, other times we're supporting players. But we all count.