Clyde Ventura; Theater Director

Clyde Ventura, a director of several acclaimed small theater productions in Los Angeles, has died of the complications of AIDS at 54.

A spokeswoman for Theater West, where he was artistic director for four years before moving to the Actors Studio as managing director, said he died at a Marina del Rey hospital on Friday.

Ventura taught and acted on both coasts, making his acting debut in Tennessee Williams’ “The Milk Train Doesn’t Stop Here Anymore.”

He studied with Peggy Feury and Lee Strasberg and made his directing debut at the Strasberg Institute here.

Many of the plays he directed were nominated for or won awards from the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, among them “Joe Egg,” “Sweet Bird of Youth,” “Kingdom of Earth,” “Like One of the Family” and “Vieux Carre.”

Ventura also taught, at UCLA and Immaculate Heart College.

Survivors include his father, Clyde Sr., a brother, a sister, and his longtime companion Tim Wegman.

A memorial celebration will be held Saturday at 10 at the Canon Theatre in Beverly Hills.