(CNN) James Lipton, whose serious interviews with high-profile stars "Inside the Actors Studio" for more than 20 years made him a well-known pop-culture figure, has died at the age of 93.

News of his death was confirmed by Ovation TV, which currently airs "Inside the Actors Studio" after a long run on Bravo.

Lipton founded the TV program in 1994, conducting one-on-one discussions with actors in front of audiences of students as a collaborative effort between the Actors Studio and the New School. He became dean of the Actors Studio Drama School, which offered degrees in acting.

The high-minded showcase of the acting craft attracted a who's who of Hollywood over the years, including Paul Newman, Barbra Streisand, Meryl Streep, Dustin Hoffman, Robin Williams and Anthony Hopkins. The Los Angeles Times called him "the interviewer who could book pretty much everybody."

The nature of Lipton's baritone voice and the studios conversation also made the program a ripe object for parody. Will Ferrell introduced Lipton to a different audience by impersonating him on "Saturday Night Live," and the popularity of "Inside the Actors Studio" led to cameos in other series, including "Arrested Development" and the animated "Family Guy."

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