Constantin Stanislavski was a Russian stage actor and director who developed the

naturalistic performance technique known as the "Stanislavski Method" or

method acting.
Who Was Constantin Stanislavski?
Constantin Stanislavski started working in theater as a teen, going on to become
an acclaimed thespian and director of stage productions. He co-founded the
Moscow Art Theatre in 1897 and developed a performance process known as
method acting, allowing actors to use their personal histories to express authentic
emotion and create rich characters. Continually honing his theories throughout
his career, he died in Moscow in 1938.
Early Life and Career
Stanislavski was born Konstantin Sergeyevich Alekseyev in Moscow, Russia, in
January 1863. (Sources offer varying information on the exact day of his birth.) He
was part of a wealthy clan who loved theater: His maternal grandmother was a
French actress and his father constructed a stage on the family's estate.
Alekseyev started acting at the age of 14, joining the family drama circle. He
developed his theatrical skills considerably over time, performing with other
acting groups while working in his clan's manufacturing business. In 1885, he gave
himself the stage moniker of Stanislavski — the name of a fellow actor he'd
met. He married teacher Maria Perevoshchikova three years later, and she would
join her husband in the serious study and pursuit of acting.