F. Murray Abraham Career Retrospective | SAG-AFTRA Foundation Conversations

F. Murray Abraham shares stories from his performances in Amadeus, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and Mythic Quest. He discusses his early interest in acting, theater experiences, and gives advice on getting through a dry spell for struggling actors. This Q&A moderated by Jenelle Riley, Variety, is part of the SAG-AFTRA Conversations series, an essential resource for actors, filmmakers and students of discussions with performers, exploring the process and profession of acting.

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The SAG-AFTRA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing the most comprehensive, educational and state-of-the-art resources to SAG-AFTRA members. The Foundation believes that the contributions made to our culture by performing artists are not only valuable, but essential.

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0:00 - Intro
1:01 - SAG Card
2:16 - Interest in Acting
4:02 - Uta Hagan
6:26 - Hopes for Career Path
13:33 - Dealing with Dry Spells
17:16 - Auditioning Advice
20:31 - Amadeus (1984)
28:28 - Playing a role with existing material
32:24 - Choosing roles
34:50 - Comedy / Curb Your Enthusiasm
37:58 - Learning New Things
40:03 - Shakespeare and Theater Experiences
46:37 - Most Challenging Role / Criticism
54:02 - What people want to talk about most.
56:06 - What’s Next