Bob Ari

Born into the great tradition of Yiddish Theatre through his grandfather, producer Sol Dickstein, Bob began performing at the age of eight at the Anderson Theatre on 2nd Ave. After graduating from Carnegie-Mellon University, Bob began his professional career as a company member of the American Conservatory Theatre under the esteemed mentoring of William Ball. Later he was closely associated with the Loretto-Hilton Repertory of St. Louis and artistic director, Davey Marlin-Jones.

An actor, teacher, director, guitarist and songwriter, Bob has appeared on Broadway in THE CONSTANT WIFE, BELLS ARE RINGING, LAUGHTER ON THE 23rd FLOOR and as the stand-by for Richard Nixon in FROST/NIXON. His credits include tours of FROST/NIXON (in which he finally got to play Nixon), GUYS AND DOLLS and WEST SIDE STORY. Off Broadway, he’s been seen in ROCK AND ROLL MAN, SENIOR MOMENT, WITNESSED BY THE WORLD, IT MUST BE HIM, THE LATE CHRISTOPHER BEAN, DIE MOMMIE DIE!, JOLSON & COMPANY, PICASSO AT THE LAPIN AGILE and BABY ANGER.

Bob has performed at many of the leading regional theaters in this country including The Shakespeare Theater, D.C. (KISS ME KATE - D.C. Metro Award), Denver Theatre Center /Seattle Rep (THE GREAT LEAP), George St. Playhouse/Cleveland Playhouse (RED), Cleveland Playhouse/Arizona Theatre Co. (LOMBARDI), George St. Playhouse (MY NAME IS ASHER LEV), Olney Theatre Center (WITNESS FOR THE PROSECUTION and SLEUTH), Pioneer Theatre Co. (12 ANGRY MEN and DRACULA), Galveston Outdoor Musicals (FIDDLER ON THE ROOF), Long Wharf (THE FRONT PAGE), Coconut Grove Playhouse (THE TALE OF THE ALLERGIST’S WIFE), Wilma Theatre (BIG LOVE and ENEMIES, A LOVE STORY ), Walnut St. Theatre (ART and HOTEL SUITE), La Jolla Playhouse (LIGHT UP THE SKY), Syracuse Stage (TWELFTH NIGHT and AWAKE AND SING), Delaware Theatre Co. (BORN YESTERDAY and THE PRICE), American Conservatory Theatre, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, Virginia Stage Co., Virginia Museum Theatre, Hartford Stage, GEVA, and the New Jersey and Utah Shakespeare Festivals and many others.

Bob was a company member of Los Angeles’ Colony Studio Theatre for six years serving as an actor and director. He performed in WATCH ON THE RHINE, THE SUICIDE, BEARCAT, EXECUTION OF JUSTICE, A DAY OUT OF TIME and A MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S DREAM. As a director he staged TALLEY’S FOLLY, STORMLESS VOWS, THATAWAY JACK and SIDE BY SIDE BY SONDHEIM.

In New York he was a company member of The Drama Dept., appearing in JUNE MOON and FREE TO BE YOU…AND ME.

Film work includes BLEECKER, TWO LOVERS, WANTED, KISSING JESSICA STEIN, MUSIC OF THE HEART, CRADLE WILL ROCK and BLIND DATE. Bob’s been seen on the smaller screen on ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, F.B.I. MOST WANTED, THE GOOD WIFE, ONION NEWS NETWORK, DELOCATED, ED, DELLAVENTURA, LAW AND ORDER, L.A. LAW, CAGNEY AND LACEY, DIFF’RENT STROKES, CHEERS, SOAP and LAW AND ORDER SVU.

He received an M.F.A. from Carnegie-Mellon University/Moscow Art Theatre School’s joint program. At the Moscow Art Theatre he was seen in “GRAPES OF WRATH” and as Chebutykin in “THE THREE SISTERS” and taught Chekhov Scene Study at the Stella Adler Institute.  He has also taught Shakespeare Scene Study at the Dorset Summer Theatre Festival.