Ben Gazzara
Biography
Ben Gazzara was an American actor and director who worked in film, stage, and television. Born in New York City, he studied at The New School and later joined the Actors Studio. He broke through on Broadway as Brick in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, then moved to a successful screen career with Anatomy of a Murder (1959). He starred in the television series Run for Your Life and won an Emmy for his role in the TV movie Hysterical Blindness (2002). He worked several times with John Cassavetes, including Husbands (1970), Opening Night (1977), and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976). His other films included The Bridge at Remagen (1969), Capone (1975), Road House (1989), The Spanish Prisoner (1997), Buffalo '66 (1998), Happiness (1998), Summer of Sam (1999), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), and Paris, Je T'Aime (2006). He also directed episodes of Columbo.
81years old at death
- Born Manhattan
- Died New York City
- Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
- Biagio Anthony Gazzarra (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 27
- Career span
- 49 years1957 to 2006
First and latest
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Big break
Gazzara's breakthrough came as Brick in Tennessee Williams's Cat on a Hot Tin Roof on Broadway, opposite Barbara Bel Geddes and directed by Elia Kazan.
A change of course
Before acting, Gazzara spent two years studying electrical engineering at City College of New York, then left the subject for acting classes at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School under Erwin Piscator.
Behind the camera
Besides acting, Gazzara sometimes directed for television. His directing credits include the Columbo episodes A Friend in Deed (1974) and Troubled Waters (1975).
About the name
Gazzara modified his original surname from Gazzarra and in 1954 began appearing in NBC's legal drama Justice, based on Legal Aid Society of New York case studies.
Ben Gazzara movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Anatomy of a Murder1959 Crime, Drama, Mystery, Thrilleras Lt. Frederick Manion
IMDb rating 8.079K votes
Most often with
John Cassavetes directed three of these films. Two actors appear in four of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Gena Rowlands's page
John Cassavetes's page
Seymour Cassel's page
Pat Hingle's page
Peter Falk's page
Terry O'Quinn's page
Also two films together11 more actors
- Timothy CareyThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Convicts 4 (1962)
- Audrey HepburnThey All Laughed (1981) and Bloodline (1979)
- Arthur J. NascarellaSummer of Sam (1999) and Happiness (1998)
- Robert PhillipsThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Capone (1975)
- Angelo GrisantiOpening Night (1977) and Capone (1975)
- Eleanor ZeeOpening Night (1977) and Husbands (1970)
- Al RubanA Constant Forge (2000) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
- David RowlandsOpening Night (1977) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
- Carol WarrenOpening Night (1977) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
- John KullersThe Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Husbands (1970)
- Meade RobertsOpening Night (1977) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Box office
What Ben Gazzara's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$231 million
12 of the 27 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 27 films: 12 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 4 never in cinemas; 10 figure not found.
- 12Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 4Never in cinemas
- 10Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 97% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1$124M53.7% of the total
- 2$30M13.0% of the total
- 3$19M8.3% of the total
- 4$17M7.6% of the total
- 5$14M6.0% of the total
- 6$8.2M3.5% of the total
- 7$8.0M3.5% of the total
- 8$2.8M1.2% of the total
$7.4 millionfrom the other 4 films with a worldwide figure, 3% of the total
Awards
Three awards and honors from 1954 to 2005, one of them major.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emmy Awards | |||
| 2003 | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | Hysterical Blindness | Won |
| Other honors | |||
| 2005 | Donostia Award | Won | |
| 1954 | Theatre World Award | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.