Ivan Markota

Ivan Markota, Paratrooper in WWII, Actor, CEO Van Mar Academy Motion Picture & Television Action - State Approved for over 40 years, former President of the Acting Coaches and Teachers Association and devout catholic passed away August 6, 2013 of natural causes. Ivan studied acting himself and as early as 1967 appeared in classics such as In Like Flint and Land of the Giants. After studying with some of the greatest acting coaches at 22 different schools and workshops, Ivan decided to teach. Ivan had a scholarship program that allowed actors to participate in four weeks of classes and if they decided to sign up, to do so without the normally standard contract. As of August 6, 2013 there are 1849 documented series out of Ivan's school, Van Mar Academy. Where Ivan took great pride in teaching potential stars how to go out and get a career going by offering classes that covered how to get a job, scene work, cold reading, on camera work, working with the director and many others. Ivan also had casting directors like Susan Johnston hire his students while they were in school which immediately started a legit career for new talent. A no holds barred giver, Ivan Markota helped countless talent that arrived on the doorsteps of Hollywood to become stars. Ivan and Jay Bernstein (one of Hollywood's most influential publicists and managers (1937-2006)) were dear friends and often would refer their talent to the other, all to help catapult that talent to stardom. This was an era of "The Great Ones" of Hollywood that churned out stars with talent and vigor such as some of the actors Ivan coached. A partial list of actors Ivan Markota coached: Bryan Cranston Sherri Shepherd T.K. Carter Rick Dees Miguel Nunez John Larroquette Traci Lords Denice Duff Mariska Hargitay Reginald Dorsey Adrian Carr Michael Cutt Glenn Withrow Walter Okewicz Casper Van Dien Paul Tuerpe Bobby Hosea Stephen Nichols Mary Hart Susan Johnston Tony Boldi Above list submitted by Billy Hornbuckle, a teacher at Van Mar Academy