PAUL J. CURTIS
Founder of the American Mime Theatre
The Visionary Behind American Mime
Paul J. Curtis (1927–2012) was a pioneering director, actor, and teacher
who revolutionized movement-based theater by creating American Mime,
a new, distinct, and fully developed theatrical medium. A graduate
of Columbia University, Curtis combined his extensive background in
acting, dance, and movement arts to craft an art form that went beyond
traditional pantomime.
Curtis believed that mime was not about silence but about truth—a way to strip performance down to its essential human experience. He founded The American Mime Theatre in 1952, training and directing performers for over six decades. His rigorous Curtis Method emphasizes precision, motivation, and deep emotional connection, shaping actors, directors, and movement artists who carried his vision into theater, film, and television.
Curtis’s influence extends far beyond AMT, with his students performing and teaching worldwide. His legacy will remain at the heart of every performance and class at AMT today, inspiring new generations to explore the art of storytelling through movement.
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