“I was born in Los Angeles, and my father worked for RKO Productions and worked on 81 films. As a child, I had the opportunity to go to Europe while he worked as head of production, and I started studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts,” Van Hessen said. “My dad was actually nominated for ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ for sound, so we also got to go to Bermuda for several years, where he ran a studio and I began my acting career there. Later, I studied at California State University at Northridge with a man named Jim Corey, and I became the artistic director for La Mama Hollywood, where I wrote, produced and directed more than 20 plays, and that’s when I began to teach acting. I also studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors’ Studio, which was an amazing opportunity.”
Leader & Times - NE