John Cassavetes

Born: 1929-12-09

John Nicholas Cassavetes (December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director, and screenwriter. First known as an actor on television and in film, Cassavetes also became a pioneer of American independent cinema, writing and directing movies financed in part with income from his acting work. AllMovie called him "an iconoclastic maverick," while The New Yorker suggested that he "may be the most influential American director of the last half century." As an actor, Cassavetes starred in notable Hollywood films throughout the 1950s and 1960s, including Edge of the City (1957), The Dirty Dozen (1967), and Rosemary's Baby (1968). He began his directing career with the 1959 independent feature Shadows and followed with independent productions such as Faces (1968), Husbands (1970), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Opening Night (1977), and Love Streams (1984), in addition to intermittent studio work. Cassavetes' films employed an actor-centered approach which privileged character examination over traditional Hollywood storytelling or stylized production values. His films became associated with an improvisational, cinéma vérité aesthetic. He collaborated frequently with a rotating group of friends, crew members, and actors, including his wife Gena Rowlands, Peter Falk, Ben Gazzara, and Seymour Cassel. For his role in The Dirty Dozen, Cassavetes received a Best Supporting Actor nomination. As a filmmaker, he was nominated for Best Original Screenplay for Faces (1968) and Best Director for A Woman Under the Influence (1974). Description from the Wikipedia article John Cassavetes, licensed under CC-BY-SA.


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The Dirty Dozen

as Victor Franko
Released: 1967-06-15

12 American military prisoners in World War II are ordered to infiltrate a well-guarded enemy...

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Rosemary's Baby

as Guy Woodhouse
Released: 1968-06-12

A young couple, Rosemary and Guy, moves into an infamous New York apartment building, known by...

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Tempest

as Phillip
Released: 1982-08-13

A sobering mid-life crisis fuels dissatisfaction in Philip Dimitrius, to the extent where the...

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Shadows

as Pedestrian (uncredited)
Released: 1960-10-14

The relationship between Lelia, a light-skinned black woman, and Tony, a white man is put in...

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Capone

as Frankie Yale
Released: 1975-04-16

Young Al Capone catches the eye of Johnny Torrio, a criminal visiting New York from Chicago....

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The Fury

as Ben Childress
Released: 1978-03-10

When a devious plot separates CIA agent Peter Sandza from his son, Robin, the distraught father...

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The Killers

as Johnny North
Released: 1964-07-07

A hit man and his partner try to find out why their latest victim, a former race-car driver, did...

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Opening Night

as Maurice Aarons
Released: 1977-12-22

Actress Myrtle Gordon is a functioning alcoholic who is a few days from the opening night of her...

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Incubus

as Dr. Sam Cordell
Released: 1982-02-24

In the small New England town of Galen, a young teenage boy claims he has dreams of young women...

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Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films

as Robert Harmon (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 2014-10-06

A documentary about the rise and fall of the Cannon Film Group, the legendary independent film...

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Brass Target

as Maj. Joe De Lucca
Released: 1978-12-22

General George S. Patton died in a car accident in 1945. But was his death actually a murder. ...

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Love Streams

as Robert Harmon
Released: 1984-02-20

Two closely-bound, emotionally wounded siblings reunite after years apart.

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Husbands

as Gus Demetri
Released: 1970-12-01

A common friend's sudden death brings three men, married with children, to reconsider their...

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Fourteen Hours

as Reporter (uncredited)
Released: 1951-04-01

A young man, morally destroyed by his parents not loving him and by the fear of being not...

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Two-Minute Warning

as Sgt. Chris Button
Released: 1976-11-12

A psychotic sniper plans a massive killing spree in a Los Angeles football stadium during a...

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Mikey and Nicky

as Nicky
Released: 1976-12-21

In Philadelphia, a small-time bookie who stole mob money is in hiding and he begs a childhood...

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A Personal Journey with Martin Scorsese Through American Movies

as Self
Released: 1995-05-21

Martin Scorsese celebrates American movies from the silent classics to the Hollywood of the...

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If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium

as Steve
Released: 1969-04-24

A group of travelers from the United States race through seven European countries in 18 days.

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The Kid Stays in the Picture

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2002-08-16

Documentary about legendary Paramount producer Robert Evans, based on his famous 1994 autobiography.

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Machine Gun McCain

as Hank McCain
Released: 1969-04-01

After serving 12 years behind bars for armed robbery, tough guy Hank McCain finds himself the...

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Minnie and Moskowitz

as Jim (uncredited)
Released: 1971-12-22

Depressed and jaded after being dumped by her married boyfriend, aging beauty Minnie Moore...

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Heroes

as VA Doctor (uncredited)
Released: 1977-11-04

A Vietnam veteran suffering from post traumatic stress disorder breaks out of a VA hospital and...

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Virgin Island

as Evan
Released: 1959-08-07

A British woman marries an American writer in spite of her family's disapproval and goes to live...

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Marvin & Tige

as Marvin
Released: 1985-03-08

Marvin, a heavy-drinking widower meets Tige, an 11-year-old orphan. With nowhere else to go,...

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Flesh & Blood

as Gus Caputo
Released: 1979-10-14

A young street-tough-turned-boxer struggles to reach the top while finding his romance with an...

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Saddle the Wind

as Tony Sinclair
Released: 1958-03-20

Steve Sinclair is a world a world-weary former gunslinger, now living as a peaceful farmer....

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Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired

as Guy Woodhouse (archive footage)
Released: 2008-01-18

Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's...

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Taxi

as Man (uncredited)
Released: 1953-01-21

A New York cab driver helps an Irish immigrant with a baby locate her missing husband.

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Whose Life Is It Anyway?

as Dr. Michael Emerson
Released: 1981-12-02

Ken Harrison is an artist that lives to make sculptures. One day he is involved in a car...

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Edge of the City

as Axel Nordmann
Released: 1957-01-04

An army deserter and a black dock worker join forces against a corrupt manager.

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Edge of Outside

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2006-06-11

An hour-long documentary designed to celebrate the spirit of the independent filmmaker from D.W....

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Terror in the Aisles

as Guy Woodhouse (archive footage) (uncredited)
Released: 1984-10-26

A non-stop roller coaster ride through the scariest moments of the greatest terror films of all...

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Nightside

as Carmine Kelly
Released: 1973-04-05

The story of three people - a press agent, a private detective and a nightclub owner - whose...

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The Night Holds Terror

as Robert Batsford
Released: 1955-07-13

A group of escaped convicts holds a household prisoner as the police close in.

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Bandits in Rome

as Mario Corda
Released: 1968-11-20

After professional stickup man Mario Corda is jailed, his young, ambitious partner -- who covets...

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Devil's Angels

as Cody
Released: 1967-04-14

A gang of outlaw bikers strike a bargain with the Sheriff of a small beach town; let them stay...

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Crime in the Streets

as Frankie Dane
Released: 1956-06-10

A social worker tries to end juvenile crime by getting involved with a street gang.

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Affair in Havana

as Nick Douglas
Released: 1957-10-01

While in Havana, a musician gets involved with a crippled man and his beautiful wife... with...

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A Constant Forge

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2000-01-01

One of the great mavericks of cinema, John Cassavetes has earned a reputation as the godfather...

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Hedda Hopper's Hollywood

as Self
Released: 1960-01-10

A look at the past, present and future of Hollywood as seen through the eyes of the movie columnist.

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Alexander The Great

as Karonos
Released: 1968-01-26

An historical film that follows the life of Alexander the Great, the Macedonian king that united...

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The Making of 'Husbands'

as Self
Released: 1971-03-28

A documentary behind the scenes of John Cassavetes' 'Husbands' (1970).

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Anything for John

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 1993-09-06

An intimate portrait of actor-writer-director John Cassavetes and a loving tribute to his genius...

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Out of the Shadows: The Films of John Cassavetes

as Self
Released: 1993-10-02

Get the scoop on the legendary actor-director-New Yorker John Cassavetes straight from the mouth...

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I'm Almost Not Crazy: John Cassavetes - The Man and His Work

as Self
Released: 1984-07-01

Filmmaker Michael Ventura follows Cassavetes around as the actor/director labors on his final...

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Movies Are My Life

as Self
Released: 1978-10-06

The very first full-length documentary on Scorsese offers an invaluable look at how he was...

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Operation Dirty Dozen

as Self
Released: 2006-01-01

A short film looking behind the scenes at the making of The Dirty Dozen. Showing many scenes...

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Gena Rowlands: A Life on Film

as Self (archive footage)
Released: 2019-06-05

An intimate portrait of the superb actress Gena Rowlands, icon of independent cinema. Together...

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The Webster Boy

as Vance Miller
Released: 1962-06-01

A gambler comes out of prison, returns to his old-flame, and finds that she has a teenage son,...

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No Right to Kill

as McCloud
Released: 1956-08-09

This is a special series of lost classic programs from the Golden Age of TV. The series has been...

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150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement

as Man Talking
Released: 2021-03-03

A Woman Watches People.

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Columbo

as Alex Benedict
First aired: 1971-09-15

Columbo is a friendly, verbose, disheveled-looking police detective who is consistently...

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The Mike Douglas Show

as Self
First aired: 1961-12-11

The Mike Douglas Show is an American daytime television talk show hosted by Mike Douglas that...

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Les Rendez-vous du dimanche

as Self
First aired: 1975-01-12

A talk show presented by Michel Drucker

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The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Lee Griffin
First aired: 1962-09-20

A continuation of the anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of...

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The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

as Rusty Connors
First aired: 1962-09-20

A continuation of the anthology series “Alfred Hitchcock Presents”, hosted by the master of...

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Robert Montgomery Presents

as uncredited
First aired: 1950-01-30

Robert Montgomery Presents is an American dramatic television series which was produced by NBC...

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The Philco Television Playhouse

as uncredited
First aired: 1948-10-03

The Philco Television Playhouse is an American anthology series that was broadcast live on NBC...

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Burke's Law

as Eddie Dineen
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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Burke's Law

as Carlos de Vega
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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Burke's Law

as Stephen Collins
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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Burke's Law

as Alfred Algernon
First aired: 1963-09-20

Burke's Law is an American detective series that ran on ABC from 1963 to 1965 and was revived on...

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The Dick Cavett Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1968-06-06

The Dick Cavett Show has been the title of several talk shows hosted by Dick Cavett on various...

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The Ed Sullivan Show

as Self - Guest
First aired: 1948-06-20

The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June...

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Studio One

as Paul Greco
First aired: 1948-11-07

An American radio–television anthology series, created in 1947 by Canadian director Fletcher...

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Kraft Suspense Theatre

as Peter Chandler
First aired: 1963-10-10

Kraft Suspense Theatre is an American anthology series that was telecast from 1963 to 1965 on...

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The 20th Century Fox Hour

as uncredited
First aired: 1955-10-05

The 20th Century Fox Hour is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States...

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The United States Steel Hour

as Johnny
First aired: 1953-10-27

The United States Steel Hour is an anthology series which brought hour-long dramas to television...

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Alfred Hitchcock Presents

as Sam Cobbett
First aired: 1955-10-02

A television anthology series hosted by Alfred Hitchcock featuring dramas, thrillers, and mysteries.

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The Virginian

as Jonah MacIntosh
First aired: 1962-09-19

The Shiloh Ranch in Wyoming Territory of the 1890s is owned in sequence by Judge Henry Garth,...

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The Dick Clark Show

as Self
First aired: 1958-02-15

The Dick Clark Show is an American musical variety show broadcast weekly in the United States on...

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Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea

as uncredited
First aired: 1964-09-14

Join the crew of the Seaview aboard their super high-tech submarine, where no mission is too...

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Combat!

as Kalb
First aired: 1962-10-02

Combat! is an American television program that originally aired on ABC from 1962 until 1967. The...

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Dr. Kildare

as Makin Saund
First aired: 1961-09-27

The story of a young intern in a large metropolitan hospital trying to learn his profession,...

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The Legend of Jesse James

as Blackie Dolan
First aired: 1965-09-13

The Legend of Jesse James is an American western series starring Christopher Jones in the tile...

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Climax!

as Malcolm McCloud
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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Climax!

as Abel Winter
First aired: 1954-10-07

Climax! is an American anthology series that aired on CBS from 1954 to 1958. The series was...

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Rawhide

as Cal Fletcher
First aired: 1959-01-09

The tale of trail boss Gil Favor and his trusty foreman Rowdy Yates as they drives cattle across...

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Johnny Staccato

as Johnny Staccato
First aired: 1959-09-10

Johnny Staccato is an American private detective series which ran for 27 episodes on NBC from...

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Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

as uncredited
First aired: 1951-10-05

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars is an anthology series that was telecast from 1951 until 1959 on CBS....

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General Electric Theater

as Johnny
First aired: 1953-02-01

General Electric Theater is an American anthology series hosted by Ronald Reagan that was...

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Channing

as Lloyd Sullivan
First aired: 1963-09-18

Professor Joe Howe is a Korean War veteran who is hired to teach English at Channing College....

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