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Alum Howard Fine authors book on acting


Howard Fine
Noted acting teacher and RIC graduate Howard Fine ’81, MA ’04, who received an honorary doctor of fine arts degree from the college in 2008, has written the book “Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft,” with Chris Freeman.

The book, released in October, discusses the techniques that have made Fine a premier acting teacher and one of the most sought after coaches in the entertainment industry. According to a product description on amazon.com, the book covers rehearsals, auditions, comedy vs. drama, stage vs. TV and film acting, and also includes advice on dealing with challenging acting situations.

The foreword was written by Michael Chiklis, an Emmy Award-winning actor who starred in the TV series ‘The Commish,” describes Fine’s philosophy and approach to the craft of acting as “the most helpful, encouraging and practically applicable I’ve ever encountered,” according to amazon.com.


Fine, a Rhode Island native, is the founder of Howard Fine Acting Studio in Hollywood, Calif. His career as an acting educator has roots in New York, primarily at the American Music and Dramatic Academy, where he also headed the Acting Department. His passion for coaching professional actors and actresses led to his relocating to Hollywood in 1985.

Past and present students include stars such as Brad Pitt, Salma Hayek, Justin Timberlake, Val Kilmer, Jennifer Connelly, Jim Belushi and dozens of others.

Fine is also a theatre director who began directing in New England, staging a variety of productions from the dramatic works of Ibsen and Chekhov to musicals, such as “Anything Goes” and “Stop the World, I Want To Get Off.”

He received a DramaLogue Award and an Ovation Award nomination for direction for Lee Blessing’s “Fortinbras,” and was director of the award-winning production of “G.R. Point,” starring Craig Sheffer, at the Callboard Theater.

Fine has also provided analysis on the acting of Oscar nominees for the Los Angeles Times, “Access Hollywood,” the BBC and CNN.

“Fine on Acting: A Vision of the Craft” is available at www.amazon.com.