John Cassavetes
Biography
John Nicholas Cassavetes (December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter born in New York City. He began his career as a television and film actor, appearing in titles such as Edge of the City (1957), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Using earnings from his acting work, Cassavetes launched a directing career with his first film in 1959 and became a pioneer of modern American independent cinema. AllMovie described him as an “iconoclastic maverick,” and The New Yorker suggested he may be the most influential American director of the last half‑century. He died in Los Angeles, California.
Career overview
John Cassavetes began his directing career in 1959. He is known for pioneering modern American independent cinema as a writer and director. Cassavetes' work in this field was often characterized by its iconoclastic nature.
Cassavetes' directing career involved writing and directing movies that were financed in part with income from his acting work. This allowed him to maintain creative control and produce films that were not bound by traditional Hollywood conventions. His influence on American cinema is significant, with many considering him to be one of the most influential directors of the last half century.
Cassavetes' directing credits include a significant number of films, although the exact number is not specified in the provided sources. His work in this field has had a lasting impact on the American film industry, and he remains a notable figure in the history of independent cinema.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
129 titles- Mass State Lottery (2025) Thanks
- John Cassavetes par Thierry Jousse (2024)
- 150 Miles of Rotting, Rutted, Lumpy, Dilapidated Pavement (2021) as Man Talking
- Peter Falk versus Columbo (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Gena Rowlands: A Life on Film (2019) as Self (archive footage)
- Iconic Couples of Hollywood (2015) as Self (archive footage)
- Castanha (2014) Thanks
- Electric Boogaloo: The Wild, Untold Story of Cannon Films (2014) as Robert Harmon (archive footage) (uncredited)
- Before Opening Night (2011) Story
- Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired (2008) as Guy Woodhouse (archive footage)
- Operation Dirty Dozen (2006) as Self
- A Constant Forge (2000) as Self (archive footage)
- Gloria (1999) Original Film Writer
- She's So Lovely (1997) Writer
- Anything for John (1993) as Self (archive footage)
- Out of the Shadows: The Films of John Cassavetes (1993) as Self
- Arena - John Cassavetes (1989) as Self
- Movies Are My Life (1988) as Self
- Big Trouble (1986) Director
- Marvin & Tige (1985) as Marvin
- Nederland C (1985) as Self - Portrait of the actor / cinematographer
- Love Streams (1984) as Robert Harmon
- Love Streams (1984) Director
- Love Streams (1984) Screenplay
- Fräulein Berlin (1984) as himself
- I'm Almost Not Crazy: John Cassavetes — The Man and His Work (1984) as Self
- Incubus (1982) as Dr. Sam Cordell
- Incubus (1982) Screenplay
- Tempest (1982) as Phillip
- The Haircut (1982) as Music Industry Executive
- Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) as Dr. Michael Emerson
- Gloria (1980) Director
- Gloria (1980) Writer
- Flesh & Blood (1979) as Gus Caputo
- Flesh & Blood (1979) as Gus Caputo
- The Fury (1978) as Ben Childress
- Brass Target (1978) as Maj. Joe De Lucca
- Opening Night (1977) as Maurice Aarons
- Opening Night (1977) Director
- Opening Night (1977) Writer
- Heroes (1977) as VA Doctor (uncredited)
- Mikey and Nicky (1976) as Nicky
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) Director
- The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) Writer
- Two-Minute Warning (1976) as Sgt. Chris Button
- Les Rendez-vous du dimanche (1975) as Self
- Capone (1975) as Frankie Yale
- A Woman Under the Influence (1974) Director
- A Woman Under the Influence (1974) Writer
- Nightside (1973) as Carmine Kelly
- Columbo (1971) as Alex Benedict
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) as Jim
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) Director
- Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) Writer
- The Making of 'Husbands' (1971) as Self
- Husbands (1970) as Gus Demetri
- Husbands (1970) Director
- Husbands (1970) Writer
- Husbands (1970) Editor
- Machine Gun McCain (1969) as Hank McCain
- If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969) as Steve
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Rosemary's Baby (1968) as Guy Woodhouse
- Alexander The Great (1968) as Karonos
- Faces (1968) Director
- Faces (1968) Producer
- Faces (1968) Editor
- Faces (1968) Writer
- Bandits in Rome (1968) as Mario Corda
- The Dirty Dozen (1967) as Victor Franko
- Devil's Angels (1967) as Cody
- The Legend of Jesse James (1965) as Blackie Dolan
- Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea (1964)
- Profiles in Courage (1964) as Parsons
- The Killers (1964) as Johnny North
- Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (1963)
- Burke's Law (1963) as Eddie Dineen
- Burke's Law (1963) as Stephen Collins
- Burke's Law (1963) as Alfred Algernon
- Burke's Law (1963) as Carlos de Vega
- Kraft Suspense Theatre (1963) as Peter Chandler
- Channing (1963) as Lloyd Sullivan
- A Child Is Waiting (1963) Director
- The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) as Self
- The Virginian (1962) as Jonah MacIntosh
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Rusty Connors
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) as Lee Griffin
- Combat! (1962) as Kalb
- The Lloyd Bridges Show (1962) Director
- The Webster Boy (1962) as Vance Miller
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
- Dr. Kildare (1961) as Makin Saund
- Too Late Blues (1961) Director
- Too Late Blues (1961) Writer
- Too Late Blues (1961) Producer
- Shadows (1960) as Pedestrian (uncredited)
- Shadows (1960) Director
- Shadows (1960) Writer
- Shadows (1960) Editor
- Hedda Hopper's Hollywood (1960) as Self
- Rawhide (1959) as Cal Fletcher
- Johnny Staccato (1959) as Johnny Staccato
- Johnny Staccato (1959) Director
- Virgin Island (1959) as Evan
- The Dick Clark Show (1958) as Self
- Saddle the Wind (1958) as Tony Sinclair
- Affair in Havana (1957) as Nick Douglas
- Edge of the City (1957) as Axel Nordmann
- Crime in the Streets (1956) as Frankie Dane
- No Right to Kill (1956) as McCloud
- Alfred Hitchcock Presents (1955) as Sam Cobbett
- The 20th Century Fox Hour (1955) as Max Markheim
- Appointment with Adventure (1955) as Danny Loomis
- The Night Holds Terror (1955) as Robert Batsford
- Climax! (1954) as Malcolm McCloud
- Climax! (1954) as Abel Winter
- The United States Steel Hour (1953) as Johnny
- General Electric Theater (1953) as Johnny
- Taxi (1953) as Man (uncredited)
- Omnibus (1952) as Pepe
- Omnibus (1952)
- Fourteen Hours (1951) as Reporter (uncredited)
- Schlitz Playhouse of Stars (1951)
- Robert Montgomery Presents (1950)
- The Philco Television Playhouse (1948)
- The Ed Sullivan Show (1948) as Self
- Studio One (1948) as Paul Greco
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Nominee
- Golden Globe Awards (1944) as Self - Presenter
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Cassavetes best known for?
John Cassavetes is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Love Streams (1984), Love Streams (1984), Love Streams (1984), Nero Wolfe (1969).
When and where was John Cassavetes born?
John Cassavetes was born on December 9, 1929 in New York City, New York, USA. They passed away on February 3, 1989.
How many credits does John Cassavetes have?
John Cassavetes has accumulated over 129 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1944 to 2025.
What is John Cassavetes's background in cinema and television?
John Nicholas Cassavetes (December 9, 1929 – February 3, 1989) was an American actor, film director and screenwriter born in New York City. He began his career as a television and film actor, appearing in titles such as Edge of the City (1957), The Dirty Dozen (1967) and Rosemary’s Baby (1968). Using earnings from his ...