Oscar-winning actor Kevin Spacey has dug deep into his pockets once again to help a struggling theatre company.

He has used his own money to help keep the play Cobb running for two more weeks at the Lucille Lortel Theater in New York when it was in danger of closing.

Earlier this year the actor invested �100,000 in Old Vic Productions in London, a venture to support new plays.

The actor has not revealed how much money he has sunk into the Lucille Lortel Theater.

He is also in discussions with the world-famous Juilliard School in New York about setting up a scholarship in his name for acting students.

Spacey, who won an Oscar this year for his performance in American Beauty, has maintained his connection with the stage.

'Allegiance'

His performance on the London stage and on Broadway in The Iceman Cometh was considered a triumph.

Spacey has said that no matter how important film had become in his career, he was committed to the stage.

"This has been my whole life, my primary allegiance," he told the New York Times.

He added: "I think it's unfortunate that people use theatre as a stepping stone to film and then they don't come back.

"I never viewed it that way. It is a solid rock on which I'm happy to stand.

"If I step forward, maybe others will. Anybody who wants to try it, the water's fine."