Movie Quiz

[Frayed Knot]

This actor appeared in just five feature films in his career but all five were nominated for Best Picture Oscars (three won) - name the actor, and the pictures while you're at it.

[Vic Sage]

john cazale -
* GODFATHER I & II, & DEER HUNTER won best picture Oscars,
* CONVERSATION & DOG DAY AFTERNOON were nominated
- died of bone cancer at age 43

[Edgy MD]

My first two guesses, which I correctly expected would turn out wrong:

Martin Scorcese's father.

Lee Strassburg.

Both had a somewhat longer list of credits than I expected.

[Frayed Knot]

Cazale is, of course, correct.
I hadn't realized he died so soon after making 'Deer Hunter' (before it was finished filming even) or that his resume was so short otherwise.

Quite an impressive resume even if a sucky way to get it.

[Vic Sage]

Cazale was a well regarded theater actor in NY when he started his film career. That's where he met Meryl Streep, doing work at Joe Papp's Public Theater. He was engaged to Streep while making DEERHUNTER. the director, Cimino, and Streep kept the fact that Cazale was sick from the studio, who would have had major insurance problems if they'd known. Not to be insensitive, but i think his sickliness added to the character.

[Edgy MD]

Oh, wow, he was the stupid sad sack in Dog Day Afternoon? That guy?

With that face, he could have worked as a character actor for 40 years.

[Frayed Knot]

The little I read up on Cazale recently mentioned that he also knew Pacino from his theatre days and it was Pacino who convinced the director to allow Cazale to read for the part in Dog Day - a part written for a much younger and more energetic street-wise kid, a far cry from how it eventually was portrayed by the then nearing-forty Cazale.
Another note had Streep threatening to quit 'Deer Hunter' if Cazale were taken off. The shooting was arranged to film his scenes early on in the process.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Frayed Knot wrote: This actor appeared in just five feature films in his career but all five were nominated for Best Picture Oscars (three won) - name the actor, and the pictures while you're at it.

The first name that I thought of was James Dean, but I knew right away that that was wrong because I know he only made three films. And I'm not sure that any of them were nominated for best picture. (Maybe Giant was?)

[ashie62]

Vic Sage wrote: Cazale was a well regarded theater actor in NY when he started his film career. That's where he met Meryl Streep, doing work at Joe Papp's Public Theater. He was engaged to Streep while making DEERHUNTER. the director, Cimino, and Streep kept the fact that Cazale was sick from the studio, who would have had major insurance problems if they'd known. Not to be insensitive, but i think his sickliness added to the character.

Meryl Streep used to work at an Arts & Crafts store in Morristown after school many moons ago. Sharp kid

[Fman99]

Cazale was a tremendous actor. I love the boathouse scene in Godfather II, specifically.

[ashie62]

Fman99 wrote: Cazale was a tremendous actor. I love the boathouse scene in Godfather II, specifically.

Again, that signature and that Avatar......