Remembering the Life and Legacy of Joanna Merlin: Actress and Casting Director

Joanna Merlin, a famous actress and casting director who’s best known for her role in the Broadway musical “Fiddler On The Roof,” has passed away at the age of 92.

The news of her death was announced on the Instagram page of New York University’s Tisch Graduate School of Acting. She had been a part of the school’s faculty since 1998 and taught acting techniques and classes to many actors.

Joanna Merlin was also the founder and honorary president of the Michael Chekhov Association. She passed away in Los Angeles, and the cause of her death is not yet known.

She had a remarkable career, working with renowned directors like Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim, Bernardo Bertolucci, and James Ivory. She played a significant role in casting actors for original Broadway productions of famous musicals.

Joanna Merlin was born as Joann Ratner in 1931 and began her career as an actress after studying with Michael Chekhov. She was the last living student of the famous acting teacher.

She made her first appearance in the movie “The Ten Commandments” in 1956 and played various roles in films and television before becoming famous for her role in “Fiddler on the Roof” on Broadway in 1964.

Throughout her career, she balanced acting in movies, TV, and on stage while also working as a casting director for various films. She even had a recurring role on “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”

Joanna Merlin’s husband, David Dretzin, passed away in 2006, and she is survived by their two daughters, Julie Dretzin and Rachel Dretzin.

The Michael Chekhov Association shared a statement in memory of Joanna Merlin, encouraging others to perform a special actor’s exercise in her honor. This exercise was a part of her acting classes and was a way to enter a creative space.

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