Actress An Miller reacts emotionally to Gorissen’s death. She received lessons from him at Studio Herman Teirlinck in the 1990s. “We had incredible lessons from him at the Studio. At one point we even lived together in a squat. I learned an immense amount from him,” Miller tells VRT NWS.
“After my studies, we worked together on various theater productions. For every piece I still perform in, the benchmark for me is: how would Peter approach this? I hear the same from many colleagues.”
“Peter was an incredible actor. When you played with him, you could just look at him and all you had to do was respond. That’s his incredible power: you believe everything he brings.”
Despite his long career, Gorissen was not the best-known actor in our country. “That’s right, but above all he went all out for his passion. Peter was not the man to make concessions. But he was without a doubt one of our best actors, if not the very best in Flanders.”
In addition to their professional collaboration, a friendship has grown between Miller and Gorissen over the years. “Peter and I have always stayed in touch. My husband Filip (Peeters, ed.) played with him in ‘The Hell of Tangier’. Peter has become one of our family friends. He often came over and also knew our children.”
A Lasting Legacy: The Impact of the Late Peter Gorissen
In an emotional revelation worthy of the finest theatrical performances, actress Ann Miller has responded to the passing of Peter Gorissen—a name that might not command the spotlight like some of his contemporaries but certainly shines bright in the hearts of those he influenced. Let’s not kid ourselves; in the swirling world of the arts, visibility doesn’t always equate to talent, and Gorissen was the kind of actor whose brilliance lay just beneath the surface. If diamonds are formed under pressure, Gorissen was practically a geological wonder!
Miller recounted her time at Studio Herman Teirlinck in the ’90s, where she described their eclectic lessons that were as enriching as they were, well, possibly a little bit mad. Living together in a squat? Now that’s the kind of artistry that would make even Shakespeare scratch his head—in a good way, of course! “We had incredible lessons from him,” she reminisces, suggesting Gorissen was not just teaching lines, but imparting life lessons that one could only learn through, shall we say, unconventional living arrangements. Perhaps it was an early version of method acting where the method involved just… living.
“For every piece I still perform in, the benchmark for me is: how would Peter approach this?” Miller articulated, and it’s frankly stunning. It’s as if the ghost of Gorissen sits on her shoulder, whispering sweet theatrical nothings into her ear, which beats my ghost, who generally just complains about the lack of milk in the fridge. Her sentiment is echoed by many of her peers, indicating that Gorissen’s influence transcended mere technique. It was about believing in the moment, which—as anyone who’s crossed paths with him would attest—was his superpower.
It’s undeniable that Gorissen, despite his undeniable talent, was not a household name. “Peter was not the man to make concessions,” Miller soberly notes. Is that code for “he was too good for this world”? Possibly. Sometimes, staying true to one’s art is a lonely road, and in the case of Gorissen, it appears that road may not have been paved in gold, but rather in the rich soil of authenticity. His abilities set the gold standard, with Miller suggesting he might just be Flanders’ best-kept secret. Or, well, the hidden gem that everyone wishes they had discovered just a bit earlier—like that old vinyl album your hipster friend swears is the coolest thing ever.
The friendship that blossomed between Miller and Gorissen is a poignant reminder that great teachers don’t just educate; they enrich the fabric of life. “He often came over and knew our children,” she said, painting a picture of a man who, despite his theatrical intensity, was very much a family man—a character in the ongoing play of life. Imagine the dinner parties! “So, tell me, Peter—what did you think of my last performance?” might have been interrupted by a child asking for a snack. An endearing juxtaposition of actorly ego and parenthood, revealing that even the greats have to balance their artistry with the everyday grind.
In a world enamored with flash, it’s time we celebrate those who exhibit the quiet strength that comes from true passion. So, let’s raise a glass (or two) to Peter Gorissen—a man who may not have worn the crown of celebrity, but was undoubtedly a king among actors. His legacy will echo through the performances of his students, immortalized in every emotion they project on stage. Because at the end of the day, it’s not just about the applause—it’s about how long the echoes of that applause last.
