Arizona Acting Community Loses a Shining Star

Long time member of the Arizona council, acting teacher, voice technician, dialect coach and mentor to hundreds, Elayne Stein passed away suddenly on June 30, 2009. Dear to so many SAG and AFTRA members, Elayne will be remembered for her spirit, joy for living, and her untiring energy. Her devotion to her students and their success was unwavering.

Elayne served on the Arizona Branch council since 1992 and was a member of Screen Actors Guild for almost 30 years. Her career included film, television and commercials (both radio and television). She participated on the national communications committee, several Branch committees and for years was a contributor to “Screen Actor” for the Arizona Branch. She was a regular presenter for Conservatory events offering performers invaluable tips and disciplined training in our business. She was a volunteer for the SAG Foundation BookPALS program (Performing Artists for Literacy in Schools) for 10 years and read aloud to children at Orangewood Elementary School.

Arizona Branch Executive Don Livesay said, “Elayne will be remembered in many ways. She had a tremendous knack for connecting with people. Always positive, a great encourager, perhaps the common currency Elayne dealt in was hope.”

Branch President Lucky Hayes commented, “For her fellow actors, students, friends and family, her death is more than a normal part of life: it is the end of an era, and our hearts ache at her passing. It is very hard to think of her as gone from us. I prefer to remember not that she died, but that she lived.”

A “Celebration of Life” will be scheduled in August, tentatively the first week. Please stand by for updates.