Ben Gazzara
Biography
Ben Gazzara was an American actor and director. Born on August 28, 1930, in Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA, he was active in the film, stage, and television industries. He appeared in numerous notable films, including Anatomy of a Murder, Voyage of the Damned, and The Big Lebowski. Gazzara also collaborated with John Cassavetes on several projects, such as Husbands and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie. He starred in the television series Run for Your Life from 1965 to 1968. Gazzara's career spanned over 50 years, with a total of 151 known credits. He passed away on February 3, 2012, at the age of 81.
Career overview
Ben Gazzara was an American actor who appeared in a variety of film, stage, and television productions. His acting career spanned several decades and included collaborations with notable directors. Gazzara worked with John Cassavetes on several projects, including Husbands, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, and Opening Night.
Gazzara's filmography includes a range of notable titles. He appeared in Anatomy of a Murder, Voyage of the Damned, Inchon, Road House, The Big Lebowski, Happiness, The Thomas Crown Affair, Summer of Sam, Dogville, and Paris, je t'aime, among others. His television work included a recurring role in the series Run for Your Life, which aired from 1965 to 1968. During his time on this show, Gazzara received multiple award nominations, including three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy nominations.
Throughout his career, Gazzara accumulated a significant number of acting credits. He appeared in over 150 productions, demonstrating his versatility and range as a performer. Gazzara's work in film, television, and theater showcased his ability to adapt to various roles and genres, leaving a lasting impact on the entertainment industry.
Ask the Vault
Ask anything about Ben Gazzara.
Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full filmography
- Il camorrista - Una serie di Giuseppe Tornatore (2025) as 'O Professore di Vesuviano
- Broadway: Beyond the Golden Age (2021) as Self
- One Day Since Yesterday: Peter Bogdanovich & the Lost American Film (2014) as Self
- Giuseppe Tornatore - Ogni film un'opera prima (2014) as Self
- Pupetta, Woman of Honor (2013) as Don Otello Di Bella
- Ristabbanna (2012)
- Chez Gino (2011) as Oncle Giovanni
- 13 (2010) as Schlondorff
- Christopher Roth (2010) as Paul Andersen
- Il Volo (2010)
- Holy Money (2009) as Vatican's Banker
- The Story of Husbands: A Tribute to John Cassavetes (2009) as Self
- Looking for Palladin (2008) as Jack Palladin
- Empire State Building Murders (2008) as Paulie Genovese
- Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies (2008)
- Eve (2008) as Joe
- Donne sbagliate (2007) as Franco Maresco
- A Prince Called Toto (2007) as Self
- L'onore e il rispetto (2006) as Don Fred Di Venanzio
- Quiet Flows the Don (2006) as General Secretov
- Paris Je T'aime (2006) as Ben (Quartier Latin)
- Quiet Flows The Don (2006) as Secretov
- Pope John Paul II (2005) as Kardinal Agostino Casaroli
- The Shore (2005) as Mr. Bob Harris
- Pope John Paul II (2005)
- Bonjour Michel (2005) as michele Terranova
- The Tony Danza Show (2004) as Self - Guest
- Dogville Confessions (2004) as Self
- Dogville (2003) as Jack McKay
- Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There (2003) as Self
- L'ospite segreto (2003) as Ispettore di Polizia Solomos
- Hysterical Blindness (2002) as Nick
- Brian's Song (2001) as Coach Halas
- Home Sweet Hoboken (2001)
- Poor Liza (2000) as The Narrator
- The List (2000) as D.A. Bernard Salman
- Very Mean Men (2000) as Gino Minetti
- A Constant Forge (2000) as Self
- Blue Moon (2000) as Frank Cavallo
- Believe (2000)
- Shark in a Bottle (2000) as The Arranger
- Jack of Hearts (2000) as Batossa
- Undertaker's Paradise (2000) as Jim
- Piovuto dal cielo (2000)
- Nella terra di nessuno (2000) as L'avvocato Scalzi
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as E.A.D.A.
- The Thomas Crown Affair (1999) as Andrew Wallace
- Summer of Sam (1999) as Luigi
- Paradise Cove (1999) as Duke Mantee
- The Big Lebowski (1998) as Jackie Treehorn
- Buffalo '66 (1998) as Jimmy Brown
- Happiness (1998) as Lenny Jordan
- Marilyn in Manhattan (1998) as Self
- Too Tired to Die (1998) as John Sage
- Valentine's Day (1998) as Joe Buddha
- Illuminata (1998) as Old Flavio
- Il tesoro di Damasco (1998) as Gregorio Kos
- Angelo Nero (1998) as Padre Guelfi
- Shadow Conspiracy (1997) as Vicepresident Saxon
- The Spanish Prisoner (1997) as Mr. Klein
- Vicious Circles (1997) as March
- Farmer & Chase (1997) as Farmer
- Stag (1997) as Frank Grieco
- Strangers (1996) as Doctor
- John Cassavetes: To Risk Everything to Express It All (1996) as Self
- Ladykiller (1996) as Lt. Jack 'Jigsaw' Lasky
- Convict Cowboy (1995) as Warden Ferguson
- The Zone (1995) as Dick Althorp
- Bandits (1995) as Amos
- Parallel Lives (1994) as Charlie Duke
- Nefertiti: Daughter of the Sun (1994) as Amenophis III
- Swallows Never Die in Jerusalem (1994) as Moshe
- The Window Over the Way (1993)
- Anything for John (1993) as Self
- Blindsided (1993) as Ira Gold
- Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage (1993) as Joseph Bonanno
- Forever (1991) as Marcelo
- Lies Before Kisses (1991) as Grant Sanders
- People Like Us (1990) as Gus Bailey
- Beyond the Ocean (1990) as John Tana
- Beyond the Ocean (1990) Writer
- Beyond the Ocean (1990) Director
- Road House (1989) as Brad Wesley
- Quicker Than the Eye (1989) as Ben Norell
- Arena - John Cassavetes (1989) as Self
- Don Bosco (1988) as Don Giovanni Bosco
- Police Story: The Freeway Killings (1987) as Capt. Tom Wright
- James Stewart: A Wonderful Life (1987) as Self (archive footage)
- Control (1987) as Mike Zella
- Downpayment on Murder (1987) as Harry Cardell
- The Professor (1986) as 'O Professore di Vesuviano
- Bitter Champagne (1986) as Paul Rivière
- Night of 100 Stars II (1985) as Self
- An Early Frost (1985) as Nick Pierson
- My Dearest Son (1985) as Antonio Morelli
- Woman of Wonders (1985) as Alberto
- A Letter to Three Wives (1985) as Porter Holloway
- Uno scandalo perbene (1984) as The man with no memory
- Ninho da Serpente (1982) as Self
- The Girl from Trieste (1982) as Dino Romani
- A Question of Honor (1982) as Detective Joe DeFalco
- Oops, Those Hollywood Bloopers! (1982) as Self (archive footage)
- Tales of Ordinary Madness (1981) as Charles Serking
- Inchon (1981) as Maj. Frank Hallsworth
- Droit de Réponse (1981) as Self
- They All Laughed (1981) as John Russo
- Saint Jack (1979) as Jack Flowers
- Bloodline (1979) as Rhys Williams
- The Death of Richie (1977) as George Werner
- Opening Night (1977) as Manny Victor
- The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (1977) as Anson 'Kip' Roberts
- Voyage of the Damned (1976) as Morris Troper
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) as Cosmo Vittelli
- High Velocity (1976)
- Capone (1975) as Al Capone
- Dinah! (1974) as Self
- QB VII (1974) as Abe Cady
- The Neptune Factor (1973) as Cmdr. Adrian Blake
- Maneater (1973) as Nick Baron
- The Family Rico (1972) as Eddie Rico
- Fireball Forward (1972) as Maj. Gen Joe Barrett
- The Sicilian Connection (1972) as Joseph Coppola
- When Michael Calls (1972) as Doremus Connelly
- Pursuit (1972) as Steven Graves
- Columbo (1971) Director
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The Making of 'Husbands' (1971) as Self
- Husbands (1970) as Harry
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) as Self (archive footage)
- The Bridge at Remagen (1969) as Sgt. Angelo
- If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) as Card Player
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- The Name of the Game (1968) Director
- Run for Your Life (1965) as Paul Bryan
- Run for Your Life (1965) Director
- A Rage to Live (1965) as Roger Bannon
- Carol for Another Christmas (1964) as Fred
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963) as Sidney
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Paul Bryan
- Arrest and Trial (1963) as Nick Anderson
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- Conquered City (1962) as Captain George Stubbs
- Convicts 4 (1962) as John Resko
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self - Co-Host
- The Young Doctors (1961) as Dr. David Coleman
- The Passionate Thief (1960) as Lello
- Anatomy of a Murder (1959) as Lieutenant Frederick "Manny" Manion
- You'll Never See Me Again (1959) as Jim Mason
- Three Plays by Tennessee Williams (1958) as Moony (Segment "Moony's Kid Don't Cry")
- The Strange One (1957) as Jocko de Paris
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Armchair Theatre (1956) as Jim Mason
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Mystery Guest
- What's My Line? (1950) as Self - Panelist
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee / Presenter