Strasberg was born on November 17, 1901 in Budzanów, Austrian Poland (now in Ukraine). He was married to Nora Krecaun from 1926 until her death in 1929. Then he was married to Paula Miller from 1934 until her death in 1966. He was married to Anna Mizrahi from 1967 until his death in 1982. They had four children. Strasberg died on February 17, 1982 in New York City from a heart attack, aged 80.