Daniel Seltzer

Daniel Seltzer (February 13, 1933 – March 1, 1980) was an American Shakespeare scholar, actor, director, and educator. A specialist in English Renaissance theatre and theatrical performance, he taught for most of his career at Princeton University, where he founded and directed Princeton's Program in Theater and Dance. As an actor, he received a nomination for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in Jules Feiffer's Knock Knock.

Early life and education

Seltzer was born in Passaic, New Jersey, on February 13, 1933. He graduated summa cum laude from Princeton University in 1954.

In 1965, Seltzer became associate director of Harvard's Loeb Drama Center, a position he held until 1970.

Acting career

Alongside his academic work, Seltzer maintained an active professional career as an actor and director. He also received a Theatre World Award for the role. At the time of his death he was rehearsing a production of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters.

He is remembered both for his scholarship on Shakespeare and for his role in transforming theater education at Princeton University. The Program in Theater and Dance that he helped create became a foundation for Princeton's later expansion of the performing arts through the Lewis Center for the Arts.