Person
John Cassavetes
New York City, New York, USA
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, Cassavete…
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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).
Filmography
Movies and shows, newest first
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2025
Mass State Lottery
Movie Thanks
- 2024
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2021
150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement
Movie Man Talking
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2019
Gena Rowlands: A Life on Film
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2019
Peter Falk versus Columbo
Movie Self (archive footage)
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2015
Iconic Couples of Hollywood
TV show Self (archive footage)
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2014
Castanha
Movie Thanks
-
2011
Before Opening Night
Movie Story
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2008
Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
Movie Guy Woodhouse (archive footage)
-
2006
Operation Dirty Dozen
Movie Self
-
2000
A Constant Forge
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1999
Gloria
Movie Original Film Writer
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1997
She's So Lovely
Movie Writer
- 1993
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1993
Anything for John
Movie Self (archive footage)
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1989
Arena - John Cassavetes
Movie Self
More credits
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1988
Movies Are My Life
Movie Self
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1986
Big Trouble
Movie Director
-
1985
Marvin & Tige
Movie Marvin
-
1985
Nederland C
Movie Self - Portrait of the actor / cinematographer
- 1984
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1984
Love Streams
Movie Robert Harmon
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1984
Fräulein Berlin
Movie himself
-
1982
The Haircut
Movie Music Industry Executive
-
1982
Tempest
Movie Phillip
-
1982
Incubus
Movie Dr. Sam Cordell
-
1981
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Movie Dr. Michael Emerson
-
1980
Gloria
Movie Director
-
1979
Flesh & Blood
Movie Gus Caputo
-
1979
Flesh & Blood
TV show Gus Caputo
-
1978
Brass Target
Movie Maj. Joe De Lucca
-
1978
The Fury
Movie Ben Childress
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1977
Opening Night
Movie Maurice Aarons
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1977
Heroes
Movie VA Doctor (uncredited)
-
1976
Mikey and Nicky
Movie Nicky
-
1976
Two-Minute Warning
Movie Sgt. Chris Button
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1976
The Killing of a Chinese Bookie
Movie Director
-
1975
Capone
Movie Frankie Yale
-
1975
Les Rendez-vous du dimanche
TV show Self
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1974
A Woman Under the Influence
Movie Director
