John Sayles
Directing Born Sep 28, 1950 Schenectady, New York, USA 154 credits
Biography
John Sayles works in directing. Born September 28, 1950 in Schenectady, New York, USA. Archytele tracks 154 screen credits across canonical film and television databases.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
The Gray House · WriterThe Gray House · Creator
John Sayles and Gregory Nava
Poker Face
Corona Film ClubTexas RedAlgren
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All TimeTime Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot · Executive ProducerSonora: The Devil’s Highway · WriterThem That WorkThem That Work · Thanks
The Alienist · TeleplayThe Alienist · Consulting Producer
The UmbrellaRichard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny · ThanksElsie Hooper · Executive ProducerDr. Del · Executive ProducerDr. Del · Writer
Talents · Executive ProducerThe Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence
That Guy Dick Miller
Go for Sisters · DirectorGo for Sisters · WriterGo for Sisters · Editor
The NormalsCasting By
The Story of Film: An OdysseyAmigo · EditorAmigo · DirectorAmigo · WriterCorman's World
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
In the Electric MistGreat DirectorsThe Toe Tactic
The Spiderwick Chronicles · ScreenplayObscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
HoneydripperHoneydripper · DirectorHoneydripper · WriterHoneydripper · EditorMy Mexican Shivah · Executive Producer
Edge of OutsideHoward Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States
Tell Them Who You AreSilver City · DirectorSilver City · WriterSilver City · Editor
Casa de los Babys · EditorCasa de los Babys · DirectorCasa de los Babys · WriterUnleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
Sunshine StateSunshine State · DirectorSunshine State · WriterSunshine State · Editor
Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000 · Director
GirlfightGirlfight · Executive ProducerA Constant ForgeWhen It Was a Game 3
Limbo · DirectorLimbo · WriterLimbo · EditorLittle Saints · Executive Producer
Independent FocusMen with Guns · WriterMen with Guns · DirectorMen with Guns · Editor
Scene by SceneMimic · Additional WritingGridlock'dBig Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Lone Star · EditorLone Star · DirectorLone Star · Writer
Piranha · Story
BaseballThe Secret of Roan Inish · ScreenplayThe Secret of Roan Inish · DirectorThe Secret of Roan Inish · EditorMen of War · Screenplay
Matinee
Full Filmography
154 titles- The Gray House (2026) Writer
- The Gray House (2026) Creator
- John Sayles and Gregory Nava (2024) as Themself
- Poker Face (2023) as Chief Hal
- Corona Film Club (2021) as Self
- Texas Red (2021) as Governor Johnson (voice)
- Algren (2021) as Self
- Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time (2020) as Self
- Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi (2020) as Self
- The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2019) Executive Producer
- Sonora: The Devil’s Highway (2019) Writer
- Them That Work (2019) as Self
- Them That Work (2019) Thanks
- The Alienist (2018) Teleplay
- The Alienist (2018) Consulting Producer
- The Umbrella (2016) as Pastor Jim
- Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny (2016) Thanks
- Elsie Hooper (2016) Executive Producer
- Dr. Del (2016) Executive Producer
- Dr. Del (2016) Writer
- Talents (2015) Executive Producer
- The Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence (2015) as Self
- That Guy Dick Miller (2014) as Self
- Go for Sisters (2013) Director
- Go for Sisters (2013) Writer
- Go for Sisters (2013) Editor
- The Normals (2012) as Dr. Marx
- Casting By (2012) as Self
- The Story of Film: An Odyssey (2011) as Self
- Amigo (2011) Editor
- Amigo (2011) Director
- Amigo (2011) Writer
- Corman's World (2011) as Self - Filmmaker
- Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (2010) as Self
- In the Electric Mist (2009) as Michael Goldman
- Great Directors (2009) as Self
- The Toe Tactic (2009) as Cramden
- The Spiderwick Chronicles (2008) Screenplay
- Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press (2008) as Self
- Honeydripper (2007) as Zeke
- Honeydripper (2007) Director
- Honeydripper (2007) Writer
- Honeydripper (2007) Editor
- My Mexican Shivah (2007) Executive Producer
- Alligator Author (2007) as Self
- Edge of Outside (2006) as Self
- Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States (2006) as Self
- Tell Them Who You Are (2004) as Self
- Silver City (2004) Director
- Silver City (2004) Writer
- Silver City (2004) Editor
- Casa de los Babys (2003) Editor
- Casa de los Babys (2003) Director
- Casa de los Babys (2003) Writer
- Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’ (2003)
- Sunshine State (2002) as Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
- Sunshine State (2002) Director
- Sunshine State (2002) Writer
- Sunshine State (2002) Editor
- Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000 (2001) Director
- Girlfight (2000) as Science Teacher
- Girlfight (2000) Executive Producer
- A Constant Forge (2000) as Self
- When It Was a Game 3 (2000) as Self (voice)
- Limbo (1999) Director
- Limbo (1999) Writer
- Limbo (1999) Editor
- Little Saints (1999) Executive Producer
- Independent Focus (1998) as Self
- Men with Guns (1998) Writer
- Men with Guns (1998) Director
- Men with Guns (1998) Editor
- Scene by Scene (1997) as Self
- Mimic (1997) Additional Writing
- Gridlock'd (1997) as Cop #1
- Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (1997) as Self
- Lone Star (1996) Editor
- Lone Star (1996) Director
- Lone Star (1996) Writer
- Piranha (1995) Story
- Baseball (1994) as Self
- The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) Screenplay
- The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) Director
- The Secret of Roan Inish (1994) Editor
- Men of War (1994) Screenplay
- My Life's in Turnaround (1994) as Marginal producer
- Matinee (1993) as Bob
- Malcolm X (1992) as FBI Agent
- Passion Fish (1992) as Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
- Passion Fish (1992) Writer
- Passion Fish (1992) Director
- Passion Fish (1992) Editor
- Straight Talk (1992) as Guy Girardi
- City of Hope (1991) as Carl
- City of Hope (1991) Director
- City of Hope (1991) Editor
- City of Hope (1991) Writer
- Shannon's Deal (1990) as Ronnie Nash
- Shannon's Deal (1990) Writer
- Shannon's Deal (1990) Creator
- Little Vegas (1990) as Mike
- Untamagiru (1989) as US High Commissioner
- Breaking In (1989) Writer
- Shannon's Deal (1989) Writer
- La fine della notte (1989) as Wayne
- Mountain View (1989) Director
- Eight Men Out (1988) as Ring Lardner
- Eight Men Out (1988) Director
- Eight Men Out (1988) Writer
- Square One Television (1987) as Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
- Matewan (1987) as Hardshell Preacher
- Matewan (1987) Director
- Matewan (1987) Writer
- Wild Thing (1987) Screenplay
- Wild Thing (1987) Story
- Something Wild (1986) as Motorcycle Cop
- The Clan of the Cave Bear (1986) Screenplay
- The ChuckleHounds (1986) Writer
- Unnatural Causes (1986) as Lloyd
- Unnatural Causes (1986) Writer
- Unnatural Causes (1986) Teleplay
- Hard Choices (1985) as Don
- The Brother from Another Planet (1984) as Man in Black
- The Brother from Another Planet (1984) Editor
- The Brother from Another Planet (1984) Screenplay
- The Brother from Another Planet (1984) Director
- Baby It's You (1983) Director
- Baby It's You (1983) Screenplay
- Lianna (1983) as Jerry
- Lianna (1983) Editor
- Lianna (1983) Director
- Lianna (1983) Writer
- Enormous Changes at the Last Minute (1983) Writer
- The Challenge (1982) Writer
- The Howling (1981) as Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
- The Howling (1981) Screenplay
- Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) Story
- Battle Beyond the Stars (1980) Screenplay
- Alligator (1980) Screenplay
- Alligator (1980) Story
- Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) as Howie
- Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) Director
- Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) Writer
- Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980) Editor
- A Perfect Match (1980) Teleplay
- The Lady in Red (1979) Writer
- Piranha (1978) as Army Sentry (uncredited)
- Piranha (1978) Screenplay
- Piranha (1978) Story
- Django Lives! Writer
- Grendel Executive Producer
- I Passed This Way Director
- I Passed This Way Writer
- An Ode to Mary Jo
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is John Sayles best known for?
John Sayles is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Poker Face (2023), Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi (2020), Ice Bound (2003), Ice Bound (2003).
When and where was John Sayles born?
John Sayles was born on September 28, 1950 in Schenectady, New York, USA.
How many credits does John Sayles have?
John Sayles has accumulated over 154 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1978 to 2026.
What is John Sayles's background in cinema and television?
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
John Sayles by the numbers
154credits
138films
16TV series
1978–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Shannon's Deal (1990) as Ronnie Nash — aged about 39
- Malcolm X (1992) as FBI Agent — aged about 41
- Poker Face (2023) as Chief Hal — aged about 72
- Baseball (1994) as Self — aged about 43
- Matewan (1987) as Hardshell Preacher — aged about 36
- Passion Fish (1992) as Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited) — aged about 41
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