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John Cazale was an American actor who appeared in five acclaimed films, including The Godfather and The Deer Hunter. He died of lung cancer in 1978 at the age of 42, after completing his final role.
John Cazale was an American actor who starred in five classic films, including The Godfather and The Conversation. He died of lung cancer in 1978, shortly after filming The Deer Hunter with Meryl Streep, his girlfriend and costar.
- January 1, 1
- Boston, Massachusetts, USA
- January 1, 1
- New York City, New York, USA
- Early Life
- Theatre
- The Godfather
- The Conversation
- The Godfather Part II
- Dog Day Afternoon
- Return to Theatre
- The Deer Hunter
- Death and Legacy
John Holland Cazale was born on August 12, 1935, in Revere, Massachusetts, just outside Boston. His namesake Italian-American father traveled around New England selling coal, while his Irish-American mother Cecilia raised John and his two siblings. Little is known of his childhood, but after moving away to attend high school at the Buxton School in...
Cazale began his acting career on stage in 1959 at the Charles Playhouse in Boston. After appearing in Hotel Paradiso and Our Town, he moved to New York but struggled to find stage work. Like many actors before and since, he was forced to do odd jobs, including driving a taxi and working as a photographer. In 1962, Cazale made his film debut, albei...
In 1971, Cazale reprised his role in a new production of the play Line, this time with a young Richard Dreyfuss. Producer Fred Roos was in New York casting The Godfatherfor director Francis Ford Coppola and upon seeing Cazale's performance, thought him perfect for the role of Fredo Corleone. Cazale's first feature role was small but memorable. He i...
After working with Cazale on The Godfather, Francis Ford Coppola wrote a part specifically for him in his next picture, The Conversation, starring Gene Hackman. Though still clearly second fiddle, viewers got a glimpse of a different Cazale, playing a good-natured professional, the assistant Stan. Hackman later remembered, "John pushed me and manag...
The lines and scenes that most fans remember from Fredo Corleone are actually in The Godfather Part II. A sequel is always risky, and perhaps even riskier was making Fredo such a central character, as Cazale's role was greatly expanded. The movie's plot is divided between young Vito (Robert De Niro) and older Michael (Al Pacino), with much of Micha...
When director Sidney Lumet decided to make Dog Day Afternoon with Al Pacino, he wanted a young actor to play the part of Sal, just like the young man who took part in the real-life bank robberythat inspired the movie. But Pacino pushed for the 39-year-old Cazale to read for the part, and Lumet was convinced. Cazale brought intensity to the role but...
Despite his success on screen, Cazale continued his work in theatre. In 1975, he returned to where it all began, the Charles Playhouse, to appear in a play with Pacino. The following year they appeared together on stage for the third and final time at Joe Papp's Public Theater in New York City. "All I wanted to do was work with John for the rest of...
Despite his diagnosis, Cazale remained optimistic and wanted to keep working. He had been cast in The Deer Hunter with Robert De Niro, and as was only recently confirmed, De Niro personally paid for Cazale's insurance to ensure his participation. Streep accepted a role, so she could remain at Cazale's side. Director Michael Cimino adjusted the shoo...
John Cazale died in the early morning of March 13, 1978, at Sloan Kettering Memorial Hospital, nine months before The Deer Hunter was released. He was only 42 years old. Streep stayed at his side until the end. In his eulogy, collaborator Israel Horovitz called John Cazale "a small perfection." To this day, Al Pacino continues to praise Cazale, say...
Jul 10, 2024 · John Cazale's death brought an early end to an amazing acting career. Learn the nature of his illness and how old he was at the time of his death.
Oct 25, 2023 · John Cazale starred in five Best Picture-nominated films, including The Godfather and The Deer Hunter, before dying of lung cancer at 41. Learn about his stage work, his romance with Meryl Streep, and his legacy in this article.
John Cazale was an American actor who starred in five classic films, including The Godfather and The Deer Hunter. He died of lung cancer in 1978, shortly after filming his final role with Meryl Streep.
Mar 15, 2022 · Cazale is only in the first Godfather for a matter of minutes, but his performance lays the groundwork for Fredo’s tragic, consequential arc in The Godfather II.
