Ben Gazzara

Ben Gazzara, born Biagio Anthony Gazzara, was a well-known actor in the entertainment industry, with a career that spanned several decades and included roles in both film and television. He began his career in the late 1950s with notable roles in films, then transitioned to television in the 1960s. However, he made a successful return to the big screen in the 1970s with roles in three John Cassavetes films. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Gazzara continued to work consistently, primarily in character parts. Despite not becoming the leading man that his early work promised, he had a long and respected career. Gazzara was born on August 28, 1930, in New York City to Sicilian immigrant parents and grew up in the tough Lower East Side. After being inspired by Laurette Taylor's performance in "The Glass Menagerie," Gazzara pursued a career in acting and eventually joined the Actors Studio. He received recognition for his performances in various Broadway productions, including "End as a Man," "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," and "A Hatful of Rain." Gazzara made his film debut in "The Strange One" in 1957 and subsequently appeared in "Anatomy of a Murder." He also worked on Italian and Hollywood films, such as "The Passionate Thief," "The Young Doctors," and "Convicts 4." In the 1960s, Gazzara turned to television and appeared in series like "Arrest and Trial" and "Run for Your Life." He took on notable roles in films like "Husbands," "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie," and "Opening Night," which were directed by John Cassavetes. In the 1980s, he worked on films like "Saint Jack" and "Road House," as well as the television movie "An Early Frost." Gazzara's career continued to thrive in the 1990s, where he appeared in numerous films and television shows, including "The Spanish Prisoner," "The Big Lebowski," "Happiness," and "Summer of Sam." He also made a guest appearance on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit." Throughout his career, Gazzara returned to the stage and occasionally worked as a director. Some of his notable stage performances include "The Night Circus," "Strange Interlude," and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" He passed away at the age of 81 on February 3, 2012, due to pancreatic cancer.