John Cazale Appreciation Thread.

[maveric]

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001030/
A great actor cut down in his prime by bone cancer. Was famous for playing troubled and pathetic characters like Fredo (The Godfather I & II), Sal (Dog Day Afternoon), and the obnoxious Stanley Tosh (The Deerhunter).
Did you know that he was engaged to Meryl Streep?

[Lautremont]

1. I didn't know that, but count me in to his fan club.

I had a college radio show some years back, a movie-themed one, and I sang his praises often, trying to win converts.

[maveric]

2. "It ain't the way I wanted it! I can handle things! I'm smart!"

"Not like everybody says... like dumb... I'm smart and I want respect!"

Poor guy still gets no respect 28 years after his death due to the characters he portrayed.
I loved him in "Dog Day Afternoon". He thought Wyoming was a foreign country.

[mitchum]

3. He was a brilliant actor

Rest In Peace, John

[maveric]

4. I always liked him.

A great character actor.

[hyphenate]

5. I loved him in Dog Day Afternoon

He would have gone far if he had lived longer. He had the kind of movie temperament that showed he had a gift for playing certain kinds of people, those whose anger was pent up, that they were on the edge of being totally dangerous, that if one word was said the wrong way, they would explode.

Reminds me a little sometimes of the early Al Pacino, with whom he acted on several occasions. A good man.

[Blue_Tires]

9. i agree

his career was gonna skyrocket

[LostinVA]

6. Excellent as Fredo...

[cemaphonic]

7. He was only in 5 movies, all of them classic.

The ones mentioned in the OP, and The Conversation. Amazing.

[Starbucks Anarchist]

8. And all of them nominated for Best Picture, three winning.

A fantastic actor. Ironically, I was watching a Seinfeld episode today involving a dead parrot named Fredo.

Kramer: "But Fredo was weak and stupid!" :rofl:

Also, welcome to DU! :hi:

[NYYFan]

10. I did. He was taken much too soon.

Would have loved to have seen what else he could have done.

[CBGLuthier]

11. He really was something

The scene in Godfather II where he is slumped in a chair in Mike's house and looks just like a younger Vito Corleone always blows me away.

Dog Day Afternoon was probably his best role.

Can only imagine what he could have gone on to do.