Search a film or person :
FacebookConnectionRegistration
John Cazale is a Actor American born on 12 august 1935 at Revere (USA)

John Cazale

John Cazale
If you like this person, let us know!
Birth name John Holland Cazale
Nationality USA
Birth 12 august 1935 at Revere (USA)
Death 12 march 1978 (at 42 years) at New York City (USA)

John Holland Cazale (/kəˈzeɪl/; [kaˈdzaːle]; August 12, 1935 – March 12, 1978) was an American actor. He appeared in five films during six years that were nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture: The Godfather, The Conversation, The Godfather Part II, Dog Day Afternoon, and The Deer Hunter. He appeared in archival footage in The Godfather Part III, also nominated for Best Picture, making him the only actor to have this multi-film distinction. From his start as a theater actor, he became one of Hollywood's premier character actors, starting with his role as the doomed, weak-minded Fredo Corleone opposite longtime friend Al Pacino in Francis Ford Coppola's film The Godfather and its 1974 sequel. Cazale chose to continue acting despite being diagnosed with lung cancer. He died in New York City on March 12, 1978, shortly after completing his role in The Deer Hunter.

Theatre producer Joseph Papp called Cazale "an amazing intellect, an extraordinary person and a fine, dedicated artist". A film documentary tribute to Cazale, I Knew It Was You, was screened at the 2009 Sundance Film Festival and featured interviews with Al Pacino, Steve Buscemi, Meryl Streep, Robert De Niro, Gene Hackman, Richard Dreyfuss, Francis Ford Coppola, and Sidney Lumet.

Biography

John Cazale est d'origine sicilienne. Ami d'enfance d'Al Pacino, Cazale est formé à l'Oberlin College et au cours d'art dramatique de Boston.

Il commence sa carrière au théâtre, remportant deux Obie Awards pour L'Indien cherche dans le Bronx puis un autre pour Line d'Israël Horovitz. En 1976, il rencontre Meryl Streep, tous deux jouant dans une adaptation de la pièce Mesure pour mesure de William Shakespeare. Ils se fiancent.

Au cinéma, il reste surtout connu pour avoir incarné Fredo Corleone, un des frères de Michael Corleone, joué par Al Pacino, dans Le Parrain (1972) de Francis Ford Coppola, personnage qui prend toute son importance dans Le Parrain 2. Ensuite, il interprète le complice du même Al Pacino lors d'un braquage dans Un après-midi de chien (1975) de Sidney Lumet ; puis il joue son dernier rôle dans Voyage au bout de l'enfer (1978) de Michael Cimino, où il incarne un ouvrier dont les trois amis partent pour la guerre du Viêt Nam.

Meryl Streep accepte un rôle dans Voyage au bout de l'enfer pour être aux côtés de John Cazale, qui lutte alors contre un cancer du poumon. Lorsque commence le tournage du film, Cazale est déjà très atteint par la maladie. Cimino, qui ne l'ignore pas, tourne en premier les scènes le concernant. Quand les producteurs apprennent sa situation, ils souhaitent le remplacer, mais Meryl Streep menace de quitter le tournage. Cazale n'est donc pas renvoyé, parvient à terminer l'ensemble des scènes qui impliquent son personnage et il meurt avant la fin du tournage du film.

Francis Ford Coppola lui rend hommage dans Le Parrain 3 (1990) en incluant des images d'archives de son personnage.

Il n'a joué que dans très peu de films, mais qui ont tous marqué l'histoire du cinéma et ont été salués comme des chefs-d'œuvre.

Best films

The Deer Hunter (1979)
(Actor)
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
(Actor)

Usually with

Source : Wikidata

Filmography of John Cazale (7 films)

Display filmography as list

Actor

The Godfather Part III, 2h43
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Mob film, Action, Crime
Themes Films about immigration, Mafia films, Seafaring films, Films about religion, Transport films, Gangster films
Actors Al Pacino, Andy García, Diane Keaton, Talia Shire, Sofia Coppola, Eli Wallach
Roles Fredo Corleone (archival footage)
Rating75% 3.798773.798773.798773.798773.79877
In 1979, as Michael Corleone is approaching 60, he regrets his ruthless rise to power, and is especially guilt-ridden for having his brother, Fredo, murdered. He has semi-retired from the Mafia, leaving the Corleone family's criminal interests under enforcer Joey Zasa's control. Michael uses his tremendous wealth and power in an attempt to rehabilitate his reputation via numerous charitable acts. Michael and Kay divorced in 1960, and Kay was given custody of their children, Anthony and Mary.
The Freshman, 1h38
Directed by Andrew Bergman
Origin USA
Genres Thriller, Comedy, Action, Crime
Themes Films about immigration, Mafia films, Seafaring films, Transport films, Gangster films
Actors Marlon Brando, Matthew Broderick, Bruno Kirby, Penelope Ann Miller, Frank Whaley, Jon Polito
Roles Fredo Corleone (archive footage) (uncredited)
Rating64% 3.24873.24873.24873.24873.2487
Clark Kellogg (Matthew Broderick) leaves his mother (Pamela Payton-Wright) and environmental activist stepfather Dwight (Kenneth Welsh) in Vermont to go to New York University (NYU) to study film. After arriving at Grand Central Terminal, he's approached by Victor Ray (Bruno Kirby), who at first offers to carry Clark's bags, then offers a ride. As soon as Clark steps out of the car, Victor drives off with Clark's luggage still in the trunk.
The Deer Hunter, 3h2
Directed by Michael Cimino
Origin USA
Genres Drama, War
Themes Politique, Prison films, Political films, Évasion, United States Armed Forces in films
Actors Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, John Savage, John Cazale, Meryl Streep, George Dzundza
Roles Stan
Rating80% 4.04954.04954.04954.04954.0495
In Clairton, a small working-class town in western Pennsylvania, in late 1967, Russian American steel workers Michael "Mike" Vronsky (Robert De Niro), Steven Pushkov (John Savage), and Nikanor "Nick" Chebotarevich (Christopher Walken), with the support of their friends and coworkers Stan (John Cazale) and Peter "Axel" Axelrod (Chuck Aspegren) and local bar owner and friend John Welsh (George Dzundza), prepare for two rites of passage: marriage and military service.
Dog Day Afternoon, 2h4
Directed by Sidney Lumet
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Comedy-drama, Documentary, Mob film, Crime
Themes L'action se déroule en une journée, Psychologie, Films about sexuality, Bisexuality-related films, LGBT-related films, Transgender in film, Heist films, Gangster films, Escroquerie, LGBT-related films, LGBT-related film
Actors Al Pacino, John Cazale, Charles Durning, James Broderick, Chris Sarandon, Carol Kane
Roles Salvatore 'Sal' Naturile
Rating79% 3.999093.999093.999093.999093.99909
First-time crook Sonny Wortzik (Al Pacino), his friend Salvatore "Sal" Naturale (John Cazale), and Stevie (Gary Springer) attempt to rob the First Brooklyn Savings Bank. The plan immediately goes awry when Stevie loses his nerve shortly after Sal pulls out his gun, and Sonny is forced to let him flee the scene. In the vault, Sonny discovers that he and Sal have arrived after the daily cash pickup, and only $1,100 in cash remains in the bank.
The Conversation, 1h49
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Thriller, Spy, Crime
Themes Psychologie
Actors Gene Hackman, John Cazale, Allen Garfield, Cindy Williams, Frederic Forrest, Harrison Ford
Roles Stan
Rating76% 3.8487253.8487253.8487253.8487253.848725
Harry Caul (Gene Hackman) is a surveillance expert who runs his own company in San Francisco. He is highly respected by others in the profession. Caul is obsessed with his own privacy; his apartment is almost bare behind its triple-locked door and burglar alarm, he uses pay phones to make calls, claims to have no home telephone and his office is enclosed in wire mesh in a corner of a much larger warehouse. Caul is utterly professional at work but finds personal contact extremely difficult because he is intensely secretive about even the most trivial aspects of his life. Dense crowds make him feel uncomfortable and he is withdrawn and taciturn in more intimate social situations. He is also reticent and obsessively secretive with work colleagues. His appearance is nondescript, except for his habit of wearing a translucent grey plastic raincoat almost everywhere he goes, even when it is not raining.
The Godfather Part II, 3h22
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Mob film, Crime
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about immigration, Mafia films, Seafaring films, Transport films, La précarité, Gangster films, L'émigration
Actors Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, Diane Keaton, Robert De Niro, Talia Shire, Morgana King
Roles Frederico 'Fredo' Corleone
Rating86% 4.3080654.3080654.3080654.3080654.308065
In 1901, Corleone, Sicily, nine-year-old Vito Andolini’s family is killed after his father insults local Mafia chieftain Don Ciccio. He escapes to New York and is registered as "Vito Corleone" on Ellis Island.
The Godfather, 2h55
Directed by Francis Ford Coppola, Tommy Wiseau
Origin USA
Genres Drama, Mob film, Crime
Themes Films about alcoholism, Films about immigration, Mafia films, Seafaring films, Transport films, La précarité, Gangster films, Films about marriage
Actors Marlon Brando, Megan Fox, Al Pacino, James Caan, Richard S. Castellano, Robert Duvall
Roles Fredo Corleone
Rating87% 4.3695054.3695054.3695054.3695054.369505
On the occasion of his daughter Connie's wedding, Vito Corleone hears requests in his role as the Godfather, the Don of a New York crime family. Vito's youngest son, Michael, wearing a Marine Corps uniform, introduces his girlfriend, Kay Adams, to his family at the reception. Johnny Fontane, a famous singer and godson to Vito, seeks his help in securing a movie role; Vito dispatches his consigliere, Tom Hagen, to Los Angeles to talk the abrasive studio head, Jack Woltz, into giving Johnny the part. Woltz is unmoved until he wakes up in bed with the severed head of his prized stallion.