Aaron Speiser

Aaron Speiser (born He is the founder of the Speiser/Sturges Acting Studio, formerly known as Aaron Speiser Acting Studio, an acting school based in Los Angeles, California. Speiser has coached some of the most notable individuals in film and television industry, including Academy Award winner Will Smith, Academy Award nominee Virginia Madsen, and Jennifer Lopez.

He is currently the co-owner and partner with Kay Aston at The Screen Acting Studio in Los Angeles, California.

Early life and education Aaron Speiser was born in in Manhattan, New York, to Pola and Julius Speiser and was raised in the Bronx. His parents were Holocaust survivors who were of Polish descent.

Later, he attended HB Studio in New York City, where he studied with Uta Hagen, Bill Hickey and his mentor Kenneth McMillan.

Coaching Speiser's coaching technique is recognized for its frank honesty, practical approach and personal connection to the character and the story. He is known for focusing specifically on the nuances of performing for the camera in the 21st century.

He is the longtime preferred coach for Will Smith, Virginia Madsen, and Jennifer Lopez. He has also taught or coached several other prominent film and television artists including Martin Lawrence, Heather Graham, Karyn Parsons, Kevin Ryan, Lauris Reiniks, Jeff Dunham, Gerard Butler, Elijah Kelley, Hrithik Roshan and many more. Speiser has also worked on the sets with several acclaimed directors and producers such as Michael Mann, Oliver Stone, F. Gary Gray, Peter Berg, Ang Lee, Reinaldo Green, Antoine Fuqua, Tim White, Trevor White and Barry Sonnenfeld. He has been credited with on-set coaching in the making of various films such as Hustlers, King Richard, Out of Sight, I Am Legend, Hancock, Olympus Has Fallen and The Pursuit of Happyness.

In 1994, Speiser directed the feature film, Talking About Sex, starring Kim Wayans, which he also co-wrote and produced. The film received accolades at Palm Springs International Film Festival, and won the Best Film Award at Breckenridge Film Festival. Aaron also directed two episodes of The Wayans Brothers, “The Son of Marlon” (season 4, ep.13), and “Pops Gets Evicted” (season 5, ep. 16).

Credits + Film credits of Aaron Speiser Year Title Credited as Notes 2022 Marry Me Acting coach to Jennifer Lopez 2021 King Richard Acting coach to Will Smith 2013 After Earth Acting coach to Will Smith 2013 Open Road Acting coach 2013 Parker Acting coach to Jennifer Lopez 2012 Chasing Mavericks Acting coach to Gerard Butler 2012 Men in Black 3 Acting coach to Will Smith 2012 The Magic of Belle Isle Acting coach to Virginia Madsen - uncredited 2012 About Cherry Acting coach to Heather Graham - uncredited 2011 Machine Gun Preacher Acting coach to Gerard Butler - uncredited 2011 Red Riding Hood Acting coach to Virginia Madsen 2009-2010 Hawthorne Acting coach to Jada Pinkett Smith 16 episodes 2010 Kites Acting coach to Hrithik Roshan 2010 The Back-Up Plan Acting coach to Jennifer Lopez 2010 The Losers Acting coach 2009 NCIS: Los Angeles Acting coach to LL Cool J 5 episodes 2009 Law Abiding Citizen Acting coach to Gerard Butler 2008 Seven Pounds Acting coach to Will Smith 2008 Hancock Acting coach to Will Smith 2007 The Man Acting coach to LL Cool J TV movie 2007 I Am Legend Acting coach to Will Smith 2007 The Number 23 Acting coach to Virginia Madsen 2006 El Cantante Acting coach to Jennifer Lopez 2006 Last Holiday Acting coach to LL Cool J 2005 House Acting coach to LL Cool J 1 episode 2005 Slow Burn Acting coach to LL Cool J 2005 Edison Acting coach to LL Cool J 2005 Be Cool Acting coach to Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson 2004 I, Robot Acting coach to Will Smith 2004 Mindhunters Acting coach to LL Cool J 2003 S.W.A.T. Acting coach to LL Cool J 2003 The Italian Job Acting coach 2003 Deliver Us from Eva Acting coach to LL Cool J 2002 Rollerball Acting coach to LL Cool J 2002 A Walk to Remember Acting coach to Mandy Moore 2001 Kingdom Come Acting coach to LL Cool J 2000 Charlie's Angels Acting coach to LL Cool J 2000 Daddio Acting coach to Donny Osmond 1 episode 1999 Any Given Sunday Acting coach to LL Cool J 1999 In Too Deep Acting coach to LL Cool J 1999 Deep Blue Sea Acting coach to LL Cool J 1995 The Jeff Foxworthy Show Acting coach to Jeff Foxworthy 1 episode