Actor
John Cazale
Born 8 December 1935 · Boston, Massachusetts, USA — died 13 March 1978
John Cazale was an American stage and screen actor who emerged from the New York theater world. He is best remembered as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather films. His short career spanned just five feature films, each nominated for the Best Picture Oscar, and he remains a revered character actor.
Key films
The Godfather (1972)On Cinespective
Breakout film role as Fredo Corleone, the weak-willed older brother of Michael, opposite his friend Al Pacino.
The Conversation (1974)
Played Stan, the assistant to Gene Hackman's surveillance expert, in Coppola's paranoid thriller.
The Godfather Part II (1974)
Gave his defining performance as Fredo, whose betrayal drives the tragic heart of the film.
Dog Day Afternoon (1975)
Played Sal, the nervous accomplice to Pacino's bank robber in Sidney Lumet's acclaimed drama.
The Deer Hunter (1978)
His final film, in which he played Stan, one of the steelworker friends affected by the Vietnam War.
Key awards
No major awards are documented here.
On Cinespective
Full filmography · 11
- 1962The American Way · as BeatnikActor
- 1972The Godfather · as Fredo CorleoneActor
- 1974The Godfather Part II · as Frederico 'Fredo' CorleoneActor
- 1974The Conversation · as StanActor
- 1975Dog Day Afternoon · as SalActor
- 1978The Deer Hunter · as StanActor
- 1990The Godfather Part III · as Fredo Corleone (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1990The Freshman · as Fredo Corleone (archive footage) (uncredited)Actor
- 1992The Godfather Trilogy: 1901-1980 · as Fredo CorleoneActor
- 2006The Making of 'Dog Day Afternoon'Actor
- 2009I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale · as SelfActor
Filmography data from TMDB. The profile text is a draft written for Cinespective.