From L.A. to Uniontown, Marty Schiff has done it all
Marty Schiff had it all. It was the 1980s, and Schiff was settled in Los Angeles. “Cable (TV) was just getting its feet wet. There was no ‘reality TV,’ so jobs were plentiful,” Schiff said. “You only see the bad about Hollywood in the news. But there was always a lot of good going on.”
A Point Park College (now university) theater arts graduate, Schiff had already paid his dues. He had lived in a one-bedroom L.A. apartment he shared with three friends, supporting himself between gigs by doing the books of a local liquor store.
He had studied at the Lee Strasburg Institute and attended three or four acting workshops a week. He put in his time and learned his craft.
He was making a good living now, doing a steady diet of live theater. Radio and television commercials – national ones – filled his resume. Clients included 7-Up, Hyundai Motor Company, Little Caesars Pizza, First Interstate Bank and Bold Detergent.
He had gained many directing credits and was honored with the L.A. Drama Critics Award and a Drama Logue award for production. Schiff was also cast as Hern Berferd in “Out of Control” in 1984-85, the first series produced in the United States for Nickelodeon. Dave Coulier who later appeared for eight seasons as Joey Gladstone on “Full House” hosted the program.
Schiff developed a recurring role on “Dallas.” On the “Dallas” cast list, Del Greco, his character, is listed directly above Sheila Foley, the character played by Susan Lucci of “All My Children” daytime soap opera fame.
He played characters on “Matlock,” “Matt Houston,” “Knight Rider” and “Newhart” among others.
Schiff was featured in movie roles as well. “Dawn of the Dead” and “Creepshow” to name just two.
He and his wife, Sheree, also a Pittsburgh native, whom he met when she cleaned his teeth, were living the good life.
“Sheree also had a great business. She was a dental hygienist to the stars,” said Schiff of his wife.
Their daughter, Macey, now a freshman at Uniontown Area Senior High School, was just 3 years old.
Then came the 15 seconds that would change their lives forever. It was Jan. 17, 1994, and the North Ridge Earthquake (6.7 Richter Scale) shook their world. The time was 4:30:55 a.m. PST.
The Schiffs were among 22,000 people left homeless.
“For some reason, Macey slept with us that night,” Schiff said. “It was a good thing she did. Her room was gone.
“Our condo sandwiched, one floor falling on the next lower,” he continued. If anyone had been standing up, they would have been killed. We were homeless, and Sheree’s business was also destroyed.”
His national McDonald’s commercial, scheduled for that morning, would not be rescheduled.
The North Ridge quake left 51 people dead and 90,000 injured. More than 25,000 dwellings were uninhabitable. Total estimated cost was billion $44.
In retrospect, Schiff said, “It was an amazing experience, but never again …”
Schiff brought his family back to his roots. They took up residence in the family homestead in Farmington. What was to be a “stopgap” measure, was not. They stayed.
Schiff, western Pennsylvania born and bred, had attended Churchill Area High School and studied theater under the tutelage of Larry Cervi.
“They really had a great program with Mr. Cervi,” Schiff said, “there must be 40 to 60 graduates who are now in film, on TV or on Broadway.”
At Point Park College, Schiff had continued his theatrical studies.
“At that time the Pittsburgh Playhouse was bankrupt,” he said, “and it was a
great learning experience for the students, because we had to do everything. There were three working theaters there.
“Students at Point Park at that time could go out, design the theater, design
the set, sell the tickets, act in the play and tear down the show.”
Now he would use all his talents to make a living in the Pittsburgh market. He said the landscape for producing, directing and acting is changing.
“This area is a great place to live. You don’t need Hollywood or New York to make a living in the theater anymore,” he concluded.