| John Cassavetes Quick Info | |
|---|---|
| Height | 5 ft 7 in |
| Weight | 66 kg |
| Date of Birth | December 9, 1929 |
| Zodiac Sign | Sagittarius |
| Date of Death | February 3, 1989 |
John Cassavetes was a talented American filmmaker and actor who is celebrated for pioneering American cinema verité and is most renowned for directing films like Shadows (1959), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976), A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Gloria (1980), Love Streams (1984), Opening Night (1977), Faces (1968), etc. Furthermore, he gave noteworthy performances as an actor in films such as Rosemary’s Baby (1968), The Dirty Dozen (1967), The Fury (1978), etc.
Born Name
John Nicholas Cassavetes
Nick Name
John
Age
He was born on December 9, 1929.
Died
He passed away at the age of 59 years due to complications arising from cirrhosis of the liver in Los Angeles, California, on February 3, 1989.
Sun Sign
Sagittarius
Born Place
New York City, New York, United States
Nationality
Occupation
Actor, Filmmaker
Family
- Father – Nicholas John Cassavetes
- Mother – Katherine Demetre (Actress)
- Siblings – He had an older brother.
Build
Slim
Height
5 ft 7 in or 170 cm
Weight
66 kg or 145.5 lbs
Girlfriend / Spouse
John Cassavetes had dated –
- Gena Rowlands (1953-1989) – He married actress Gena Rowlands on April 9, 1954, after meeting and falling in love with her the previous year. The couple frequently collaborated together including on films like A Woman Under the Influence (1974), Gloria (1980), Opening Night (1977), among many others. They were parents to 3 children: son Nick Cassavetes (b. May 21, 1959) and daughters Alexandra Cassavetes and Zoe Cassavetes (b. June 29, 1970). The two stayed together until John’s death on February 3, 1989.
Race / Ethnicity
White
He had Greek ancestry.
Hair Color
Black
Eye Color
Green
Sexual Orientation
Straight
Distinctive Features
Directed his films in a documentary style
John Cassavetes Facts
- He was considered to play the character of Tom Hagen in Francis Ford Coppola‘s masterpiece, The Godfather (1972) before Robert Duvall landed the part.
- Cassavetes had directed 3 actors: Seymour Cassel, Lynn Carlin, and Gena Rowlands to Oscar-nominated performances. Cassel for his role as Chet in Faces (1968), Lynn Carlin for playing Maria Forst in Faces (1968), and Gena Rowlands for starring as Mabel Longhetti in A Woman Under the Influence (1974) and Gloria Swenson in Gloria (1980).
- In 1984, he starred as the onscreen brother of his real-life spouse Gena Rowlands in his penultimate directorial film, Love Streams. The film was awarded the ‘Golden Bear’ at the 34th Berlin International Film Festival.
- The Library of Congress included 3 of John’s directed films in the National Film Registry for being ‘culturally, historically or aesthetically’ significant:Â Shadows (1958), Faces (1968), and A Woman Under the Influence (1974). Additionally, Rosemary’s Baby (1968) is his only film as an actor that is included in the registry.
- In 2013, the New Yorker Magazine called him “may be the most influential American director of the last half-century”.
- Ben Gazzara, who was one of John’s closest friends, died on his 23rd death anniversary i.e., February 3, 2012.
- The Thessaloniki Film Festival features a screening room that is named in his honor.
Featured Image by NBC Television / Wikimedia / Public Domain
