Joanne Baron (born February 3, 1953) is an American actress and Meisner technique acting coach.^[1] She was raised in Providence, Rhode Island and attended Classical and Pawtucket High Schools.^[2] She received early acceptance to the University of Connecticut, then pursued Broadway opportunities and sang in Reno Sweeny's with Cissy Houston, Whitney Houston's mother. ^{[citation needed]}

Actress, producer

Baron's film acting credits include Valley Girl, National Lampoon's Joy of Sex, Real Genius, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, Drag Me to Hell, Spider-Man 2, The Prince & Me, Allie & Me, Universal Soldier, Someone to Watch Over Me. Television appearances include roles on the Emmy award winning television show Mad Men, Law & Order, The Shield, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and the ABC series Lovers and Other Strangers.^[3] She acted as executive producer for the TV movie Profoundly Normal starring Kirstie Alley and as producer on the films Perfume, Brooklyn Babylon, and Allie & Me, for which she won Best Actress at the River Run Film Festival. ^{[citation needed]} Joanne also has extensive stage credits including There Once Was a Girl from Pawtucket staged in Los Angeles and which received two Dramalogue Awards in 1997.^[4]

Meisner Technique master teacher

Baron is known for her dedication to the work of Sanford Meisner and is a teacher of the Meisner technique, having owned a studio specializing in that technique since 1975.^[5] She trained with Neighborhood Playhouse alum and master Meisner teacher, William Esper, who founded the MFA and BFA Professional Actor Training Programs at Rutgers University.^[6] Her past students include Halle Berry, Robin Wright,^[7] Mariska Hargitay, Patrick Dempsey, Leslie Mann,^[8] and directors Martha Coolidge and Tom Shadyac.

Joanne Baron / D.W. Brown Acting Studio

For nearly fifty years, Baron has been co-owner and artistic director of the Joanne Baron / DW Brown Studio in Santa Monica, California, (an offshoot of The William Esper Studio in New York) with her husband, actor, acting coach and director, D.W. Brown.^[9] Former students include Luca Bercovici, Ekin Tunçay Turan, Leslie Mann,^[10] Channon Roe, Haley Webb, and Robin Wright.^[11]

Filmography

Film

Television