John Sayles
Biography
John Sayles is an American filmmaker known for writing and directing independent features, and he also works as a screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist. Born in Schenectady, New York, he attended Williams College and later published his first book, The Pride of the Bimbos. Sayles entered the film industry by writing scripts for low-budget producer Roger Corman, including Piranha, and made his directorial debut with Return of the Secaucus 7 (1980), which received near-unanimous critical praise and entered the National Film Registry in 1997. He went on to write and direct Lianna (1983), Eight Men Out (1988), Passion Fish, Lone Star, and Sunshine State. His screenplays for Passion Fish and Lone Star brought Academy Award nominations for Best Original Screenplay, and Eight Men Out earned a USC Scripter Award nomination. He won an Edgar Award for the pilot of Shannon's Deal, and his fiction includes the National Book Award finalist Union Dues.
76years old
Turns 77 on September 28in 351 days
- Born Schenectady
- Star sign: LibraThe sign runs September 23 to October 22
- Also credited as John Thomas Sayles
Movie Career
- Films
- 12
- Career span
- 31 years1980 to 2011
Genres
- Drama67%, 8 films
- Comedy33%, 4 films
- Romance33%, 4 films
- Crime25%, 3 films
- Documentary25%, 3 films
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Big break
Frances Doel, who worked as script supervisor at Roger Corman's New World Pictures, spotted Sayles and gave him the job of rewriting a Jaws knockoff in development, which turned into the film Piranha.
Behind the camera
Sayles wrote a genre script called Night Skies that inspired the film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. Its director, Steven Spielberg, later hired Sayles to write an unused script for the fourth Jurassic Park film.
Beyond film
During the 1980s, John Sayles directed music videos for three songs that appeared on Bruce Springsteen's Born in the USA album.
Behind the award
Sayles wrote and created the pilot episode of Shannon's Deal, a short-lived television show about a down-and-out Philadelphia lawyer, in 1989. His teleplay for that pilot earned him a 1990 Edgar Award.
Behind the award
An O. Henry Award went to "I-80 Nebraska," the first story Sayles published. His novel Union Dues drew nominations for a National Book Award and a National Book Critics Circle Award.
First role
Sayles spent the summer of 1974 at the Eastern Slope Playhouse in North Conway, New Hampshire, where he both acted and directed.
John Sayles movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
Most often with
Ten actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
John Goodman's page
David Strathairn's page
Peter Bogdanovich's page
John Waters's page
Charles Fleischer's page
Gordon Clapp's page
Also two films together4 more actors
- Maggie RenziLianna (1983) and Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)
- Nancy MetteLianna (1983) and Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)
- Betsy Julia RobinsonLianna (1983) and Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)
- Jean PassananteLianna (1983) and Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.
Awards
Four awards and honors from 1983 to 2013.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2013 | Phyllis Franklin Award | Won | |
| 1991 | Eugene V. Debs Award | Won | |
| 1990 | Edgar Awards | Won | |
| 1983 | MacArthur Fellows Program | Won | |
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.