Henry Jaglom

Henry Jaglom, an influential figure in American cinema, was born in London, England, into a Jewish family on January 26, 1938. His parents, Marie and Simon M. Jaglom, fled Europe due to the rise of the Nazi regime; Simon hailed from a wealthy Russian lineage, while Marie was of German descent and a descendant of philosopher Moses Mendelssohn.

Jaglom honed his craft at the Actors Studio in New York under the mentorship of Lee Strasberg, where he engaged in acting, writing, and directing for off-Broadway theater. He moved to Hollywood in the late 1960s, where he acted in popular TV series like Gidget and The Flying Nun, alongside notable films such as The Thousand Plane Raid (1969) and Jack Nicholson's Drive, He Said (1971).

Inspired by Federico Fellini's 8½, Jaglom transitioned to filmmaking, beginning with editing on Easy Rider (1969) and making his directorial debut with A Safe Place (1971), featuring Nicholson and Orson Welles. His film Tracks (1976) tackled the psychological impacts of the Vietnam War, while Sitting Ducks (1980) became his first commercial success.

Jaglom's personal films often featured him in leading roles, including Always, But Not Forever (1985) and Venice/Venice (1992). His collaboration with Orson Welles in 1983 led to a collection of their conversations published in 2013. As a playwright, he has produced several successful works in Los Angeles, including The Waiting Room (1974) and Just 45 Minutes from Broadway (2009). Jaglom's impact on film and theater continues to resonate today.