About Us
The Professional Actors Lab was founded by the late David Rotenberg in 2004. David was a master acting teacher for over 40 years. The roster of his past students reads like a who's-who in the ranks of Canadian actors, including Tatiana Maslany, Rachel McAdams, Scott Speedman, Sarah Gadon, Ennis Esmer, Patrick Adams, Shamier Anderson, David Hirsh, Jonas Chernick, and Shawn Doyle.
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David directed on Broadway, in major regional theatres, for television, and has published thirteen novels. His five Zhong Fong novels are under consideration by HBO; his best selling historical fiction novel, SHANGHAI, was optioned by Darius Films; his trilogy – THE JUNCTION CHRONICLES has been optioned by Don Kurt who produced the Emmy award winning series Justified. THE DREAM CHRONICLES is also available in bookstores. In 2021, David's published ACT! The Modern Actors Handbook, which is a comprehensive overview of his acting principles and techniques.
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David taught at York University, the National Theatre School of Canada, the Shanghai Theatre Academy, the University of Cape Town, and Princeton. He taught across Canada and North America, from Halifax to Montreal to Vancouver and to Los Angeles. He directed the first Canadian play in the People's Republic of China. David directed at Penn State University, and also adapted and directed F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby. His unique techniques have drawn students from as far a field as Turkey, South Africa, Mexico, China, the UK, and of course, across Canada and the USA.
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He will be missed dearly by many.
Jeff Clarke
Co-Artistic Director
Jeff Clarke is a working actor and teacher. He received his BFA in Performance with Distinction from Concordia University, and completed his MFA in Performance from York University.
He regularly appears on popular American TV series such as, Titans, Jett, Suits, 12 Monkeys, Fargo, The Expanse, The Girlfriend Experience, Cardinal, Designated Survivor, Monday Mornings, Rizzoli & Isles, Up All Night. Two and a Half Men, Without a Trace, Criminal Minds, Ugly Betty and more. Jeff also completed a five-episode arc as Howard Dawes on Mad Men. He has appeared in over twenty MOW’s for CBS, Lifetime, A&E, Hallmark, and Disney, as well as more than 70 national commercials in Canada and the U.S. combined.
Feature films include Chicago, Clear Blue, Coconut Hero, Downsizing, Seven In Heaven, and Giant Little Ones.
Jeff has taught extensively in LA and Toronto, running workshops on audition technique, commercial acting, and on-camera scene study.
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He is currently based in Toronto with his wife and son.
Marvin Hinz
Co-Artistic Director
Marvin Hinz has been teaching at PRO ACTORS LAB since 2006, and is proud to continue the acting courses and methods established by David Rotenberg and Bruce Clayton over twenty years ago. We have come a long way since VCRs and videotape at Equity Showcase!
Marvin has worked in theatre and television for over 30 years, and holds an MFA in Acting from York University, where he first met and studied under David Rotenberg in 1994. Marvin also holds a Bachelor of Education from OISE, specializing in Intermediate-Senior, Literature and Theatre Studies.
Film and television credits include: Murdoch Mysteries, Impact (series); Believe Me (feature); Reign; The Firm (series); The Echo (feature); the CBC short “Unlocked”; CFC short “Two Brothers”; Mayday; Kevin Hill; Riding the Bus with My Sister; Street Time; Brian’s Song (feature); and Nero Wolfe. Marvin has shot over 40 professional commercials, and was featured in two Clio-Award winning campaigns.
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Selected theatre credits include: Carl in The Tank Range Project (Meaford Arts Collective /Springworks); Harry Brock in Born Yesterday (Capital Theatre, Port Hope); The Laramie Project (Studio180/ Buddies); Victor in Private Lives (The Globe, Regina); Joey in The Old Neighborhood (East-West, John Gordon).
Since 2015, Marvin has also operated the PRO ACTORS LAB STRATFORD studio in Stratford, Ontario, where he resides with his wife and two children.
