Rocco Landesman

Landesman was born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He is the nephew of writer, publisher and nightclub owner Jay Landesman and songwriter Fran Landesman. Rocco studied at Colby College and then the University of Wisconsin, Madison (BA English Literature 1969), and the Yale School of Drama (MFA Dramatic Literature and Criticism 1972, DFA 1976). At the Yale School of Drama, he became a protégé and friend of Robert Brustein. He also got to know novelist Jerzy Kosinski and worked with Kosinski on two of his novels, Being There and The Devil Tree. Landesman helped Kosinski, not a native speaker of English, with his English syntax and writing. While at Yale Landesman was also involved in managing a private mutual fund and a racehorse he had bought. ==Career==

After graduating from Yale, Landesman stayed there for four years as an assistant professor. In 1977, Landesman left to focus more time on his private investment fund, which he ran for many years. He also got involved in Broadway theater and was heavily involved in the genesis and development of Big River, a musical based on Huckleberry Finn. Landesman's involvement included persuading Roger Miller to write the music for the show. He has continued his relationship with the Yale School of Drama and Yale Rep, returning to teach there over the years. Landesman has also spoken at forums and written numerous articles (mostly in the New York Times arts section), focusing mainly on the problematic relationship between the commercial and not-for-profit sectors of the American theater. In May 2009 U.S. President Barack Obama nominated Landesman to become the next chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. His appointment was confirmed in August 2009. ==Memberships and honors==

Landesman has been active on numerous boards, including the Municipal Art Society, the Times Square Alliance, and The Educational Foundation of America. In June 2013 he was inducted into the St. Louis Walk of Fame. ==Personal life==

Landesman is married to Debby (Busch) Landesman, formerly the Executive Director of the Levi Strauss Foundation and currently a philanthropic advisor to corporations and foundations. Landesman was previously married to set designer Heidi (Landesman) Ettinger, and they have three sons: North, Nash and Dodge. ==References==