John Sayles
- Known For
- Directing
- Born
- September 28, 1950 in Schenectady, New York, USA
- Active Years
- 1978–2026 (49 Years)
- Total Credits
- 154 credits in database
Biography
John Thomas Sayles was born on September 28, 1950, in Schenectady, New York. He is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He graduated from Williams College in 1972, after which he worked various blue-collar jobs and a factory job in east Boston while writing stories. Sayles is known for writing and directing several films, including The Brother from Another Planet in 1984, Matewan in 1987, Eight Men Out in 1988, Passion Fish in 1992, and The Secret of Roan Inish in 1994, as well as Lone Star. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay for his work on Passion Fish and Lone Star.
Career overview
John Thomas Sayles was born on September 28, 1950, in Schenectady, New York, USA. He is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. After graduating from Williams College in 1972, Sayles shunned a corporate career to work various blue-collar jobs, moving to east Boston to take a factory job. During this time, he wrote stories and submitted them to various magazines.
Sayles is known for writing and directing several films, including The Brother from Another Planet released in 1984, Matewan in 1987, Eight Men Out in 1988, Passion Fish in 1992, and The Secret of Roan Inish in 1994. He has twice been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay, earning nominations for Passion Fish in 1992 and Lone Star, which is also among his notable works alongside Matewan. With ninety-six known credits spanning his career, Sayles continues to work across film and literature as an independent filmmaker and novelist.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
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), The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot (2019), Sonora: The Devil’s Highway (2019).
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 was born on September 28, 1950, in Schenectady, New York. He is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. He graduated from Williams College in 1972, after which he worked various blue-collar jobs and a factory job in east Boston while writing stories. Sayles i...
John Sayles by the numbers
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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