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Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes, in his desire to create personal films marked by narrative authenticity and universal resonance, embraces the tools of classical filmmaking while always remaining true to his independent roots. Cassavetes directed the New Line Cinema hit film John Q., starring Oscar-winner Denzel Washington, where he evidences a deft blending of craft and intensity, the timeless and the immediate. Prior to that, Cassavetes directed She's So Lovely, a bold and unflinching drama about the inexorable bonds of love starring Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn and John Travolta, the only film to win two awards at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival, including the Best Actor Award for Sean Penn and a Best Cinematography Award.

Cassavetes' facility for character-driven intimacy was evidenced when he made his feature film directorial debut with the critically acclaimed Unhook the Stars, starring Marissa Tomei, Gerard Depardieu and Gena Rowlands. An incisive and deeply felt drama about a lonely widow whose lust for life is rekindled through a series of unlikely relationships, this critically acclaimed film was recognized by the National Board of Review, while also garnering Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Rowlands and Tomei.

A one-time student at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Cassavetes began his career as an actor, appearing in such films as Just Like Dad, Blind Fury, Quiet Cool, The Wraith and Twogether, as well as on television in NBC's L.A. Law and Quantum Leap, and in CBS's critically acclaimed Shannon's Deal. Most recently he starred opposite William H. Macy in Henry Bromell's Panic, with Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron in New Line's The Astronaut's Wife and opposite Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence in Ted Demme's Life. In addition, Cassavetes appeared as playwright Robert E. Sherwood in Alan Rudolph's Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle, and opposite John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in John Woo's Face/Off.

In addition, Cassavetes has penned several projects including Blow, The Godforsaken and Unless That Someone is You.

Cassavetes is the son of the late director John Cassavetes and Gena Rowlands.


Note: This profile was written in or before 2004.
Read earlier biographies on this page.

Nick Cassavetes Facts

Birth Name Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes
OccupationDirector, Actor
BirthdayMay 21, 1959 (64)
SignGemini
BirthplaceNew York, New York, USA
Height6' 4" (1m93)  How tall is Nick Cassavetes compared to you?

Selected Filmography

The Other Woman
The Notebook
Alpha Dog
My Sister's Keeper
4 Film Favorites: Nicholas Sparks
John Q
4 Film Favorites: Denzel Washington
Unhook The Stars
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