David Levy (psychologist)

David Levy is an American psychologist, professor, author, stage director, and actor. He is a professor of psychology at the Graduate School of Education and Psychology of Pepperdine University, near Malibu, California.[1] He has co-authored a textbook on cross-cultural psychology and critical thinking, and has appeared on radio and television.

David Levy
NationalityAmerican
Occupation(s)Psychologist, professor, author, stage director, actor

Education

Levy has a BA from the University of California, Los Angeles, where he won a Hugh O'Brian Acting Award.[2][3] He has an MA from Pepperdine University, and a second MA and a PhD from the University of California, Los Angeles.[1]

Psychotherapist

Levy holds professional licenses both in psychology[4] and in marriage and family therapy.[5]

Media consultant

Levy has appeared on television[6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13] and radio programs[14] to provide psychological perspectives on current events, examine issues and trends in the mental health field, and provide sport psychology analyses of the Los Angeles Lakers for the Los Angeles Times.[15][16][17][18]

Author

Levy has written numerous books including Life Is a 4-Letter Word: Laughing and Learning Through 40 Life Lessons, Tools of Critical Thinking: Metathoughts for Psychology,[19][20][21] and Cross-Cultural Psychology: Critical Thinking and Contemporary Applications, which was coauthored with Eric Shiraev.[22]

He is also the author of numerous satirical articles, including "The Emperor’s Postmodern Clothes: A Brief Guide to Deconstructing Academically Fashionable Phrases for the Uninitiated".[23]

Stage director

Levy co-created and directed the world premiere of Let's Call the Whole Thing Gershwin,[24][25] which marked the first theatrical revue of the music and lyrics of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Levy also directed the West Coast premiere of William Gibson’s Golda: A Partial Portrait,[26] starring Liz Sheridan. He assisted Steve Allen in directing Seymour Glick is Alive But Sick[27] (with Bill Maher), a satirical musical revue produced and written by Allen.

Actor

Levy had a starring role in the children’s television series Wonderbug,[28][29] for which he received an Emmy nomination[30] in 1977. In 1992 Levy was a guest star on the series Cheers,[31] where he portrayed the leader of Frasier’s “low self-esteem” therapy group. He accrued numerous other professional acting credits, including: The World's Greatest Lover[32] (directed by Gene Wilder), Ziegfeld: The Man and His Women,[33] and Little Vic.[34]

Notes