Markus Flanagan

Markus studied with Mr. Meisner for two years and graduated from The Neighborhood Playhouse in NYC.  The benefit of this first hand instruction is that Markus teaches it as Mr. Meisner taught it to him. The exercises and the ideals of his technique, honed over 42 years, have proven reliable for any actor seeking authentic, spontaneous, repeatable, performances.

Alongside his command of the technique Markus believes that anyone brave enough to attempt being an actor deserves all the compassion and help a class can offer. This is why class will always be about exploring, risking and encouraging one another, it will never be competitive or harsh.

Markus is still a working actor with a 35+ year career that includes stage roles like the New York production of Bus Stop (which later traveled to London) and the premiere of Lee Blessing’s Down the Road at the Humana Festival in Louisville, Kentucky.

 Markus has been a regular in film and television, as a series regular on ABC, NBC and Nickelodeon and over one hundred and fifty TV episodes on shows like The Morning Show, Better Things, The Rookie, Seinfeld, Friends, CSI, NCIS, and many more. His film roles include Biloxi Blues, Life As We Know It, Blue Steel, Born on the 4th of July. Markus has also directed episodic TV for Nickelodeon.

As a writer, Markus has seen seven of his stage plays produced, sold screenplays to Fox and Hallmark. He is the author of One Less Bitter Actor, an mentoring handbook for actors trying to make it today. The book is constructive dialog from a career working actor with smart advice on the daunting task of reconciling the actor’s ego with the harsh edge of show business.

In addition to directing the Westlake Acting Studio, Markus lectures and guest teaches at theater programs all over the country. Watch Markus Flanagan on Good Morning Colorado discussing his experience in the industry. Find him on the Internet Movie Database.

Markus has taught Meisner Masterclasses in Dublin, London, Manchester and Bristol.