1) He helped create the Mercury Theatre with Orson Welles
Before becoming known as Robin Williams’s teacher at Juilliard, John Houseman co-founded the Mercury Theatre with Orson Welles in 1937, one of the most influential theater companies of the 20th century.

2) He helped produce the legendary “War of the Worlds” broadcast
Houseman was closely involved in the 1938 The War of the Worlds radio broadcast, the famous radio drama that convinced some listeners Martians were invading Earth.

3) He was the founding director of Juilliard’s drama division
In 1968, Houseman was hired to build the new drama division at The Juilliard School, where he later mentored students including Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve.

4) He taught both Robin Williams and Christopher Reeve
Williams and Reeve were among the standout early students in Juilliard’s drama program under Houseman’s leadership, and their friendship began there.

5) He won an Oscar later in life
After decades as a producer, director, and teacher, Houseman won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for playing Professor Kingsfield in The Paper Chase.

6) He was the first director of Voice of America
During World War II, Houseman became the first director of Voice of America and insisted that it report the truth, even when the news was unfavorable to the United States.

7) He was born in Romania as Jacques Haussmann
Before becoming John Houseman, he was born in Bucharest, Romania, as Jacques Haussmann in 1902.