James Lipton Stepping Down as “Inside the Actors Studio” Host

It’s the end of an era. 

James Lipton, longtime host and executive producer of Inside the Actors Studio is stepping down. Lipton who has served as host since 1994 is handing the reins over to a rotating list of guest hosts. 

“It’s very gratifying to see the legacy of Inside The Actors Studio being carried forward for a new generation to appreciate and enjoy,” Lipton said in a statement. “I made a vow early on that we would not deal in gossip — only in craft, and Ovation, as a network dedicated to the arts, will continue that tradition with the next seasons of the series. I’m excited to see the new hosts engage with the guests and students and continue to entertain viewers in the US and around the world.”

Whether Lipton will be involved in any way in the future of the interviews show at the Actors Studio MFA program at Pace University, is well up to him. 

“James Lipton’s future involvement will be determined based on his availability,” Scott Woodward, executive VP programming and production at Ovation, told The Hollywood Reporter. “But we’d love to have him involved.”

Over the last 24 years, the show earned 9 Emmy nominations and an Emmy win.