John Cazale | |
|---|---|
 Cazale inDog Day Afternoon (1975) | |
| Born | John Holland Cazale (1935-08-12)August 12, 1935 Revere, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | March 13, 1978(1978-03-13) (aged 42) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | Oberlin College Boston University (BFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–1978 |
| Partner | Meryl Streep (1976–1978)[1] |
John Holland Cazale (/kəˈzæl/; August 12, 1935 – March 13, 1978)[2] was an American actor. He appeared in five films over seven years, each of which was nominated for theAcademy Award for Best Picture at their respective awards ceremonies. Cazale started as a theater actor in New York City, ranging from regional, to off-Broadway, toBroadway acting alongsideAl Pacino,Meryl Streep, andSam Waterston. Cazale soon became one of Hollywood's premiercharacter actors, starting with his role as the doomed, weak-mindedFredo Corleone alongside longtime friend Pacino inFrancis Ford Coppola'sThe Godfather (1972) andThe Godfather Part II (1974). He then appeared in Coppola'sThe Conversation (1974) andSidney Lumet'sDog Day Afternoon (1975), the latter of which earned him aGolden Globe Award nomination. In 1977, Cazale was diagnosed with lung cancer, but chose to complete his role inThe Deer Hunter (1978). Shortly after filming was completed, he died in New York City on March 13, 1978, aged 42. Archive footage of Cazale in the role of Fredo appears inThe Godfather Part III (1990).
Theatrical producerJoseph Papp called Cazale "an amazing intellect, an extraordinary person and a fine, dedicated artist".[3]David Thomson writes that "It is the lives and works of people like John Cazale that make filmgoing worthwhile."[4] A documentary tribute to Cazale,I Knew It Was You, was screened at the 2009Sundance Film Festival featuring interviews with Pacino, Streep,Robert De Niro,Gene Hackman,Richard Dreyfuss, Francis Ford Coppola, Sidney Lumet andSteve Buscemi.[5]
Cazale was born inRevere, Massachusetts,[6] the son of John Joseph Cazale and Cecilia Holland. He had an older sister, Catherine, and a younger brother, Stephen.[7][2]: 20 He grew up inWinchester and attended high school at theBuxton School inWilliamstown where he joined the drama club. He studied drama atOberlin College in Ohio, transferring toBoston University, where he studied underPeter Kass.[8][9]
Upon graduation, Cazale worked as a cab driver, as he started his theatrical career at theCharles Playhouse in Boston, appearing inHotel Paradiso andOur Town in 1959.[2] Reviewing his performance as George Gibbs inOur Town, critic Jean Pierre Frankenhuis said: "[Cazale's] portrayal is absolutely stupendous, hilarious, touching, thrilling. We found ourselves wishing that there were more scenes with him, such is the enjoyable performance he gives: a comedian of the first order!".[10] Cazale moved to New York City and supported himself as a photographer while looking for acting work. He made one of his first appearances there in the Equity Library's production of Sidney Howard'sPaths of Glory.[2]
AnOff-Broadway production ofArchibald MacLeish'sJ.B. by the Equity Library Theatre followed on March 17, 1962, at the Master Theater.[11] He also acted in a 1962short film titledThe American Way, directed by Marvin Starkman.[12]
In 1965, Cazale was part of the National Tour ofLorraine Hansberry'sThe Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window.[13]
He worked as a messenger atStandard Oil, where he metAl Pacino, another aspiring actor. Pacino recalled: "When I first saw John, I instantly thought he was so interesting. Everybody was always around him because he had a very congenial way of expressing himself."[14] In 1966, the two were cast in a play byIsrael Horovitz,The Indian Wants the Bronx, playing at theEugene O'Neill Theatre Center inWaterford, Connecticut. They reprised their roles in 1968 at the Off-BroadwayAstor Place Theatre, for which they both wonObie Awards.[15][16] That same year, Cazale won another Obie for his role as Dolan in Horovitz'sLine.
In 1968, Cazale appeared in his only television role, playing Tom Andrews in the episode "The Peep Freak" on the cop dramaN.Y.P.D.[17]
In 1969, Cazale joined theLong Wharf Theatre Company, where he appeared for the next three seasons in a number of productions, includingTartuffe, The Country People,The Skin of Our Teeth,The Iceman Cometh, andYou Can't Take It With You.[13]
Cazale reprised his role inLine in a 1971 production at theTheatre De Lys (now theLucille Lortel Theatre). Appearing with him wereRichard Dreyfuss as Stephen,Barnard Hughes as Arnall,John Randolph as Fleming, andAnn Wedgeworth as Molly.[18] During this run, Cazale was spotted by casting directorFred Roos, who then suggested him to directorFrancis Ford Coppola for the role ofFredo Corleone inThe Godfather (1972).[6][19][20]
The Godfather was Cazale's feature film debut. The film's star,Marlon Brando, was one of Cazale's idols.[citation needed] The film broke box office records and made Cazale and several other previously unknown co-stars famous. Coppola, impressed with Cazale's abilities in the small role, wrote the part of Stan for him in his next film,The Conversation (1974), in which he co-starred withGene Hackman. In 1974, he reprised his role as Fredo Corleone, now significantly expanded, inThe Godfather Part II. Bruce Fretts, inEntertainment Weekly, wrote that "Cazale makes his character’s wounded pride hauntingly palpable".[21]
He again starred alongside Pacino inSidney Lumet's 1975 filmDog Day Afternoon. The film's screenwriterFrank Pierson said "the film had been cast with many of the actors that Al Pacino had worked with in New York, including John Cazale, who was a close friend and collaborator inThe Godfather".[22] For his role as Sal he was nominated for theGolden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. Lumet declared:
One of the things that I love about the casting of John Cazale was that he had a tremendous sadness about him. I don't know where it came from; I don't believe in invading the privacy of the actors that I work with, or getting into their heads. But, my God—it's there—every shot of him. And not just in this movie, but inGodfather II also.[23]
While achieving success in film, Cazale's commitment to the stage continued. In addition to his work with the Long Wharf Theatre, he appeared in a number of plays by Israel Horovitz. In May 1975, he returned to the Charles Playhouse to support Pacino inThe Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui. Ross Wetzston ofThe Village Voice, reporting on the production, said Cazale "may be the finest actor in America today".[24] In 1976, ten years after their first collaboration, Cazale and Pacino appeared together for the final time in the Public Theater's production ofThe Local Stigmatic.
In the summer of that year, Cazale starred at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park withSam Waterston inShakespeare'sMeasure for Measure. His leading lady was the recentYale School of Drama graduateMeryl Streep.Mel Gussow ofThe New York Times wrote: "Mr. Cazale, often cast as a quirky, weak outsider, as inThe Godfather, here demonstrates sterner mettle as a quietly imperious Angelo who sweeps down, vulturelike, to deposit virtue."[3] During the run of the play, Cazale and Streep began a romance and moved in together. Streep humorously praised her co-star's abilities by saying, "The jerk made everything mean something." Then she added, "Such good judgment, such uncluttered thought!".[25][26]
Cazale's final stage appearance was on April 29, 1977, in the title role ofAgamemnon at theVivian Beaumont Theater. He appeared only in the first preview. After the performance, he took ill and withdrew from the show. It was his only Broadway performance. Shortly afterwards, he was diagnosed withlung cancer.[27]
Despite the terminal diagnosis, Cazale continued work with his romantic partner,Meryl Streep, along withRobert De Niro,Christopher Walken, andJohn Savage inThe Deer Hunter. According to author Andy Dougan, directorMichael Cimino "rearranged the shooting schedule with Cazale and Streep's consent, so that he could film all his scenes first". He completed his scenes, but died before the film was released.[28] Cazale was considered all but uninsurable due to his illness, jeopardizing his participation in the film, but according to Streep the costs were paid by De Niro, who wanted Cazale to be in it.[29]
Cazale was diagnosed withlung cancer in 1977, likely related to his history ofchain smoking.[1] Despite trying a number of treatments and protocols, he rapidly declined as the cancermetastasized to his bones. On March 13, 1978, Cazale died at the age of 42.Meryl Streep was at his side, as the actress had been throughout his illness. Close friend andGodfather co-starAl Pacino said "I've hardly ever seen a person [Streep] so devoted to someone who is falling away like John was. To see her in that act of love for this man was overwhelming."[14] Pacino later lamented that Cazale was not better recognized for his skill, saying that Cazale "was one of the great actors of our time—that time, any time".[30]
His close friend and frequent collaborator,Israel Horovitz, wrote a eulogy, published inThe Village Voice on March 27, 1978. In it, he said:
John Cazale happens once in a lifetime. He was an invention, a small perfection. It is no wonder his friends feel such anger upon waking from their sleep to discover that Cazale sleeps on with kings and counselors, with Booth and Kean, with Jimmy Dean, with Bernhardt, Guitry, and Duse, with Stanislavsky, with Groucho, Benny, and Allen. He will make fast friends in his new place. He is easy to love.[31]
Cazale was buried atHoly Cross Cemetery inMalden, Massachusetts.[32]
| Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | The American Way | Beatnik | Marvin Starkman | Short film |
| 1968 | N.Y.P.D. | Tom Andrews | David Pressman | Episode: "The Peep Freak" |
| 1972 | The Godfather | Fredo Corleone | Francis Ford Coppola | |
| 1974 | The Conversation | Stan | Francis Ford Coppola | |
| 1974 | The Godfather Part II | Fredo Corleone | Francis Ford Coppola | |
| 1975 | Dog Day Afternoon | Salvatore Naturile | Sidney Lumet | |
| 1978 | The Deer Hunter | Stan Stosh | Michael Cimino | Posthumous release; final film role |
| Year | Title | Role | Theater |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | J.B | Performer | Master Theater, New York |
| 1968 | The Indian Wants the Bronx It's Called the Sugar Plum | Gupta East Indian | Astor Place Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1969 | Line | Dolan | Astor Place Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1970 | Spoon River Anthology | Performer | Long Wharf Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1970 | Country People | Vassya | Long Wharf Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1970 | Black Comedy & The White Liars | Performer | Long Wharf Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1971 | Acrobats & Line | Dolan (line) | Lucille Lortel Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1972 | The Iceman Cometh | Performer | Long Wharf Theatre, Off-Broadway |
| 1973 | Alfred The Great | Will | Pittsburgh Playhouse, Off-Broadway |
| 1975 | The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui | Performer | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 1976 | The Local Stigmatic | Performer | The Public Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 1976 | Measure for Measure | Angelo | Delacorte Theater, Off-Broadway |
| 1977 | Agamemnon | Agamemnon Aegisthu | Vivian Beaumont Theater, Broadway |
Cazale was awarded twice for "Distinguished Performance" by theOff-BroadwayObie Awards in the 1967−1968 season for his performances inIsrael Horovitz's playsThe Indian Wants the Bronx andLine. His only major film acting recognition came in 1976, when he was nominated for aGolden Globe for Best Supporting Actor forDog Day Afternoon. He lost toRichard Benjamin, who won the award for his work inThe Sunshine Boys.
Although Cazale never received an Oscar nomination, according to Bruce Fretts, he "was the walking embodiment of theaphorism, 'acting is reacting', providing the perfect counterbalance to his recurring co-stars, the more emotionally volatile Al Pacino andRobert De Niro".[citation needed] Cazale had learned to put the lack of recognition into context. While filmingThe Deer Hunter, he said toPittsburgh Press reporter Edward L. Blank:
If you have any inclination toward paranoia, that sort of thing will bring it out in you. You say to yourself, "What do I have to do to get recognition of that sort?" Then you put it back into perspective and ask yourself how much that or any award really matters.[33]
Cazale was described by those close to him to be "often shy" and "very emotionally sensitive". He collaborated with a number of artists repeatedly: Israel Horovitz dedicated the entire cycle of his "Wakefield Plays" to Cazale's memory, saying he "played in most of my plays, from 67–77, includingAlfred the Great andOur Father's Failing".[34] DirectorsJames Hammerstein andArvin Brown used him multiple times. He did two plays forJoseph Papp. Francis Ford Coppola was responsible for the majority of Cazale's film roles, having cast him three times. Meryl Streep acted with him twice. Close friend and frequent co-starAl Pacino collaborated with him six times: on three films and three stage productions. Pacino once commented: "All I wanted to do was work with John for the rest of my life. He was my acting partner."[14]
In an interview celebratingThe Godfather 50th anniversary, when asked about actors that did not get enough credit, Al Pacino said:
John Cazale, in general, was one of the great actors of our time — that time, any time. I learned so much from him. I had done a lot of theater and three films with him. He was inspiring, he just was. And he didn't get credit for any of it. He was in five films, all Oscar-nominated films, and he was great in all of them. He was particularly great inGodfather II and I don't think he got that kind of recognition.[35]
In following generations, celebrated actors such asPhilip Seymour Hoffman,Steve Buscemi,Sam Rockwell, andMichael Fassbender named Cazale as an influence.[36]
The Boston Globe asked: "Why was Cazale so influential? In part, it was because of his commitment to the craft of acting." To Streep, he was "monomaniacal", which had an effect on his co-stars, who were then "challenged to take their own games up a notch".[37]
Cazale has a theater named after him, theMcGinn/Cazale Theater (currently inhabited by the companySecond Stage Theater), located at 2162 Broadway at 76th Street in New York City. The theater is co-named for Cazale and his friend, the actorWalter McGinn, who had died in a car accident in 1977. The theater was dedicated on March 12, 1984.[38][39]
His life and career were profiled in the documentary film,I Knew It Was You, directed byRichard Shepard, which premiered at the 2009Sundance Film Festival.[5]
All five of the films that he starred in would later be selected for preservation in theU.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress.[40]
