World famous author and talk show host, James Lipton passed away on Monday.

An actor-turned-academic James who became an unlikely celebrity and got hundreds of master actors and Hollywood luminaries to open up about their craft as the long time host of Inside the Actors Studio, died of bladder cancer at his New York home. He was 93.

The Detroit-born Lipton began the Bravo show in 1994 that also served as a class for his students at the Actors Studio, where he was then dean.

He often said his only requirement for a guest was whether they had something to teach his students. His first guest, Paul Newman, set a standard of stardom for those that would follow, including Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Glenn Close, Steven Spielberg and Barbra Streisand.

Lipton was known, and often parodied, for his highbrow and sometimes worshipful tone with his subjects, and for his intensive preparation, represented by a stack of blue note-cards that held his meticulously researched questions.

Many otherwise media-shy actors were willing to appear on Inside the Actors Studio because Lipton focused on their art and not the usual celebrity chatter or project promotion.