Laura Malin Arbeit

By VARIETY STAFF

Actress and director Laura Malin Arbeit died July 21 at the Miami Jewish Home of stroke complications, following by just one month the death of her husband of 62 years, Carl Malin,. She was 81.

She was the daughter of Max Malin of Malin Studios and the Yiddish Theater and sister of playwright Ella Malin of the American National Theater Assn. (ANTA).

Malin Arbeit trained with Stella Adler and Lee Strasberg and appeared with Earl Jones in the controversial production of "The Hammer" by Howard Fast, directed by Al Saxe for New Playwrights Inc.and featuring Earl Jones, as well as in numerous TV shows including "Playhouse 90" and "Philco Television Playhouse."

With sister Ella and Vivian Schectman of United Artists, she founded Director's Studio during the 1950s. Based in New York, it served as a counterpart to Actor's Studio and provided a training ground for directors.

Malin Arbeit taught acting and directing and served as assistant to renowned director Jose Quintero at Circle in the Square prior to working at Broadway Theater Alliance, the Theater Guild and Actor's Studio.

She is survived by a daughter, two grandchildren and five great grandchildren.

Family suggests donations be made to the Actors' Fund Home in Englewood, N.J.