Steve Eastin

Steve Eastin (born June 22, 1948) is an American character actor who has appeared in over 150 television and film roles throughout his decades-long career.

Eastin was born in Colorado, where he began studying acting at the age of six at his local theater. He received his Actor Equity card at age 16 after performing in two musicals choreographed by Michael Bennett. He later attended the University of Northern Colorado, where he appeared in several productions at the Little Theater of the Rockies, an institution whose alumni include Nick Nolte.

After college, Eastin received a fellowship to teach at the University of Arizona, where he appeared in his first SAG role opposite Clint Eastwood in *Joe Kidd*. Shortly after, he moved to Los Angeles to further pursue his acting career, enrolling in the Charles Conrad Studio upon his arrival in 1974.

While attending classes at the studio, Eastin became interested in teaching acting as well. In 1991, he founded his own acting school, The Steve Eastin Studio. The studio is based on what Eastin calls "Choiceless Awareness," a method in which actors do not read into the script, prepare their "beats," or think about how they will deliver their lines. Instead, actors are encouraged to be in the moment and allow their natural, emotional power to take over, thereby tapping into what Eastin describes as the collective unconscious accessible to all humans.

Eastin is best known for his roles in *Field of Dreams* (1989), *Con Air* (1997), and *A Man Apart* (2003), where he developed a reputation for playing tough characters with a heart of gold. He appeared in two pivotal scenes opposite Leonardo DiCaprio in *Catch Me if You Can* (2002). Eastin has worked with directors such as Steven Spielberg, Brian De Palma, and Jason Reitman.

He has also appeared in numerous television shows over the years, including *Little House on the Prairie*, *CHiPS*, *T.J. Hooker*, *St. Elsewhere*, and *L.A. Law*.