Nick Cassavetes | |
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 Cassavetes in June 2009 | |
| Born | Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes (1959-05-21)May 21, 1959 (age 66) New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 1970–present |
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| Children | 3 |
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Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes (born May 21, 1959)[1] is an American actor, director, and writer. He has directed such films asShe's So Lovely (1997),John Q. (2002),The Notebook (2004),Alpha Dog (2006), andMy Sister's Keeper (2009). His acting credits include an uncredited role inHusbands (1970)—which was directed by his father,John Cassavetes—as well as roles in the filmsThe Wraith (1986),Face/Off (1997), andBlow (2001).
Cassavetes was born in New York City,[2] the son ofGreek-American actor and film directorJohn Cassavetes and actressGena Rowlands.[1] As a child, he appeared in his father's filmHusbands (1970). After spending so much of his youth surrounded by the film industry, Cassavetes initially decided he did not want to go into the field. He instead attendedSyracuse University on a basketball scholarship, but after an injury effectively ended his athletic career, he decided to rethink his aspirations, ultimately deciding to attend his parents' alma mater, theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.[3]
He has appeared in the filmsFace/Off,The Wraith,Life,Class of 1999 II: The Substitute,Backstreet Dreams andThe Astronaut's Wife, among others.[1] He has directed several films, includingJohn Q,Alpha Dog,She's So Lovely,Unhook the Stars,The Notebook, andMy Sister's Keeper.[1] He also adapted the screenplay forBlow[3] and wrote the dialogue for theJustin Timberlake music video "What Goes Around... Comes Around".[4]
Cassavetes finished in fifth place in theWorld Poker Tour Invitational Season 5, attempting a bluff.[5] He also appeared on season 5 of TheGame Show Network'sHigh Stakes Poker.[6]
He also has played himself in the season 7 opener ofEntourage on HBO and Tattoo Joe as a cameo inThe Hangover: Part II, replacingLiam Neeson from the cast due to scheduling conflicts.[7]
In 1985, Cassavetes married Isabelle Rafalovich.[8] They had two daughters together before divorcing. Their daughter Sasha was born with a heart defect and underwent substantial surgery; Cassavetes' filmJohn Q. was dedicated to Sasha, and his later adaptation ofMy Sister's Keeper was based in part on Sasha's medical experience.[9]
Cassavetes later marriedHeather "Queenie" Wahlquist,[8] and they have a daughter together. Wahlquist has appeared in several of his films, including a small role inThe Notebook as Sara, a secondary character and best friend to the female lead Allie Hamilton, portrayed byRachel McAdams.[10] Cassavetes' mother,Gena Rowlands, appears as the older, married Allie (Hamilton) Calhoun.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970 | Husbands | Nick | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Mask | T.J. | |
| 1986 | The Wraith | Packard Walsh | |
| Black Moon Rising | Luis | ||
| Quiet Cool | Valence | ||
| 1988 | Under the Gun | Tony Braxton | |
| Assault of the Killer Bimbos | Wayne-O | ||
| 1989 | Blind Fury | Lyle Pike | |
| 1990 | Backstreet Dreams | Mikey | |
| 1991 | Delta Force 3: The Killing Game | Charlie | Direct-to-DVD |
| 1992 | Twogether | Wolfgang Amadeus "John" Madler | |
| 1993 | Sins of Desire | Barry Mitchum | |
| Sins of the Night | Jack Neitsche | ||
| Broken Trust | Alan Brogan | ||
| 1994 | Class of 1999 II: The Substitute | Emmett Grazer | |
| Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle | Robert Sherwood | ||
| 1996 | Black Rose of Harlem | Johnny | |
| 1997 | Face/Off | Dietrich Hassler | |
| Farticus | Adonis Papadapadopounopoulopoulos | ||
| 1999 | Life | Sergeant Dillard | |
| The Astronaut's Wife | Capt. Alex Streck | ||
| 2001 | Blow | Man in Derek's Salon | Uncredited |
| 2011 | The Hangover Part II | Tattoo Joe | |
| 2013 | Love and Skin | Uncle Nicky | Short film |
| 2021 | Prisoners of the Ghostland | Psycho | [11] |
| Queenpins | Captain Pain |
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Reunion | Steve Cowan | TV movie |
| 1987 | Matlock | Foley | Episode: "The Convict" |
| L.A. Law | Richard Bertrand | Episode: "Sparky Brackman R.I.P. ????-1987" | |
| 1988 | Shooter | Tex | TV movie |
| 1989 | Quantum Leap | Primo La Palma | Episode: "Double Identity - November 8, 1965" |
| 1990 | The Marshall Chronicles | Gus | Episode: "Do the Write Thing" |
| 2010 | Entourage | Nick Cassavetes | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Tales | Rodney King | Episode: "F*ck the Police" |
| Year | Title | Director | Writer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Unhook the Stars | Yes | Yes | Directorial debut |
| 1997 | She's So Lovely | Yes | No | |
| 2001 | Blow | No | Yes | Co-writer withDavid McKenna; directed byTed Demme |
| 2002 | John Q. | Yes | No | Also songwriter: "The Voice Inside My Heart" |
| 2004 | The Notebook | Yes | No | |
| 2006 | Alpha Dog | Yes | Yes | Also soundtrack producer and songwriter: "At The Site/Driving To The Site" |
| 2009 | My Sister's Keeper | Yes | Yes | Co-writer withJeremy Leven |
| 2012 | Yellow | Yes | Yes | Co-writer withHeather Wahlquist |
| 2014 | The Other Woman | Yes | No | |
| 2023 | God Is a Bullet | Yes | Yes | |
| 2025 | Marked Men: Rule + Shaw | Yes | No |
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