We have written for you the short but successful life of actor John Cazale, who worked in many jobs to make a living and took part in many productions by devoting himself to being an actor, but died at a young age due to cancer.
Cazale was born on August 12, 1935, in Revere, Massachusetts. He was born to Cecilia Holland, an Irish-American mother, and John Cazale, an Italian-American father. Cazale has an older sister named Catherine and a younger brother named Stephen. Growing up in Winchester, Cazale completed high school at Buxton School in Williamstown, where he joined the drama club. Continuing his education at Oberlin College in Ohio, Cazale studied drama there and continued with Boston University, where he worked with Peter Kass.
After graduation, Cazale started working as a taxi driver. He started his theatrical career with Charles Playhouse. Here, he appeared in the plays "Hotel Paradiso" and "Our Town" in 1959. His performance in the latter was described by critic Jean Pierre Frankenhuis as "absolutely enormous, funny, touching, exciting". Deciding to move to New York, Cazale had to make a living as a photographer while looking for an acting job. There he made one of his first appearances at the Equity Library theater company in the play "Paths of Glory", adapted from Sidney Howard's novel of the same name. With its depictions on the battlefield, the play did not find success at the box office.
"J.B." by Archibald MacLeish He took part in the off-Broadway production of the play Equity Library Theatre. Then, on March 17, 1962, the same play was performed at the Master Theatre. He also appeared in the short film "The American Way" directed by Marvin Starkman. In 1965, Cazale was part of the National Tour of Lorraine Hansberry's play "The Sign in Sydney Brustein's Window".
After working as a journalist for Standard Oil, Cazale met a promising actor, Al Pacino. In 1966, the two starred in Israel Horovitz's "The Indian Wants the Bronx" play at the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center in Connecticut. In 1968 the duo reprized their roles at the Off-Broadway Astor Place Theatre, both winning Obie Awards. That same year, Cazale appeared in Horovitz's one-act play "Line" as Dolan. He won another Obie Award for his performance.
In 1968, Cazale appeared on the police drama crime TV series "N.Y.P.D." He played Tom Andrews in the episode of "The Peep Freak" in his only television role. The following year, Cazale joined the Long Wharf Theater Company, where he remained for three seasons. During this time, he appeared in many productions such as "Tartuffe", "The Country People", "The Skin of Our Teeth", "The Iceman Cometh" and "You Can't Take It with You".
Cazale reprized his role in the play "Line" at the Theater De Lys in 1971. Along with Cazale, Richard Dreyfuss, Barnard Hughes, John Randolph and Ann Wedgeworth also took part in the play. During this work, Cazale was discovered once again by casting director Fred Roos and presented Cazale to director Francis Ford Coppola for the role of Fredo Corleone in "The Godfather" (1972).
He came up with the detective film "The Godfather" (1972), which is Cazale's first feature film and adapted from the novel of the same name. The lead star of the movie, Marlon Brando, was one of Cazale's idols. Released widely on March 24, 1972, the film broke box office records and became the highest-grossing film of 1972. Thus, he brought international fame to Cazale and several previously unknown co-stars. Cazale's talent in a small role was recognized by the film's director, Francis Ford Coppola. He chose Cazale for the role of Stan in the director's next film, the mystery thriller "The Conversation"(1974). The film, which received great acclaim and applause, was a minor financial success.
That same year, he reprized the significantly expanded role of Fredo Corleone in the sequel, "The Godfather Part II" (1974), the epic crime film. Released on December 20, 1974, the film garnered mixed reviews from critics. In addition to this, it has managed to make a healthy financial profit at the box office. It was also nominated for eleven Academy Awards, making it the first sequel to win Best Picture. The movie is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time. Cazale's performance, on the other hand, was lauded as "playing his character's wounded pride in a way that makes it unforgettable."
The following year, he appeared with Pacino again in "Dog Day Afternoon," a biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet. The film, which was released in theaters on September 21, 1975, was a great success in both critical and box office. He has also been nominated for many awards and awards. He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
While Cazale achieved success with his performances in the cinema, he continued his commitment to the stage. In May 1975, he returned to the Charles Playhouse to support Pacino in the play "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui". In a newspaper article covering the production, Cazale's performance "could be the best actor in America today" was written. In 1976, Cazale and Pacino made their last appearance together in the Public Theater's production of "The Local Stigmatic."
In the summer of the same year, Cazale appeared with Sam Waterston and Meryl Streep in the remake of Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure" at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. As the game continues, an affair begins between Cazale and Streep and the couple begins to live together.
Cazale's last stage appearance was on April 29, 1977, when he took the lead role in the play "Agamemnon" at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre. Appearing only in the first preview, Cazale fell ill after the show and made the decision to withdraw from the show. This play was Cazale's only Broadway performance, and he was diagnosed with lung cancer shortly afterward.
Despite his diagnosis, Cazale made his role in "The Deer Hunter," an epic war drama co-written and directed by Michael Cimino, working with Meryl Streep, Robert DeNiro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage. Having completed his scenes, Cazale died before the movie was released. The film, which was met with great praise and positive comments after its release, also managed to be successful at the box office. It has also received many awards and nominations in various categories. The movie topped lists of the best movies ever made.
Diagnosed with lung cancer in 1977 due to his history of chain smoking, Cazale, despite trying many treatments and protocols, the cancer progressed rapidly. Cazale, who died on March 13, 1978, at the age of 42, was by his side, as was his lover Meryl Streep throughout his illness. Cazale was buried at Holy Cross Cemetery in Malden, Massachusetts.
Often described as shy and emotionally sensitive, Cazale has met with many actors and directors. It has been called an influence by many famous actors in the generations after Cazale. Cazale's life and career is described in the documentary film "I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale" directed by Richard Shepard.