- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Holland Cazale
- Height5′ 10½″ (1.79 m)
- John Cazale was born in Boston, Massachusetts, to an Irish-American mother, Cecilia (Holland), and an Italian-American father, John Cazale. Cazale made only five feature films in his career, which fans and critics alike call classics. But before his film debut, in the short The American Way (1962), he won Obie Awards for his off-Broadway performances in "The Indian Wants the Bronx" and "The Line".
Cazale scored the role of Fredo Corleone in Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather (1972), after his long-time friend, Al Pacino, invited him to audition. He reprised his role as the troubled Fredo in The Godfather Part II (1974), where his character endures one of the most infamous movie moments in the history of cinema.
Cazale also starred with Gene Hackman and Harrison Ford in the thriller, The Conversation (1974), as Hackman's assistant, Stan. The Godfather's director, Francis Ford Coppola, also directed the movie.
Cazale's fourth feature film, Dog Day Afternoon (1975), earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Sal, a bank robber. His long-time friend and Godfather costar, Al Pacino, played his partner, Sonny.
His final film, The Deer Hunter (1978), was filmed whilst he was ill with cancer. He was in a relationship with his costar, Meryl Streep, whilst filming The Deer Hunter (1978), whom he met when they both appeared in the New York Public Theater's 1976 production of Shakespeare's Measure for Measure.
Controversy occurred during the filming. While the studio was unaware of his condition, the director, Michael Cimino, knew about it. As Cazale was evidently weak, he was forced to film his scenes first. When the studio discovered he was suffering from cancer, they wanted him removed from the film. His costar and girlfriend, Meryl Streep, threatened to quit if he was fired. He died shortly after filming was completed.
- IMDb mini biography by: Jessica Kaitse
- ParentsCecilia M HollandJohn Joseph Cazale
- RelativesCatherine Anne Cazale (Benjamin)(Sibling)Steve Cazale(Sibling)
- Playing deadbeat, loser characters.
- Vibrant voice.
- Often played depressed characters.
- Profoundly subtle and emotional performances.
- Expressive eyes.
- Cazale appeared in only five feature films in his career, and all of them were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar.
- Years after his death he appeared in a sixth feature film, The Godfather Part III (1990) in archive footage. That film, like all of the films Cazale appeared in, was nominated for Best Picture.
- Was dying of cancer while filming The Deer Hunter (1978) and ultimately passed before the film actually premiered.
- Was in a relationship with Meryl Streep at the time of his death.
- Greatly impressed with his performance in The Godfather (1972), director Francis Ford Coppola wrote a much bigger and central role for Cazale in the sequel, The Godfather Part II (1974).
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