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John Sayles (I)


A bright child, John Sayles began reading novels before age 9. A Williams grad in 1972, he shunned a corporate career to work various blue-collar jobs, moving to east Boston to take a factory job. He wrote stories and submitted them to various magazines, and the Atlantic Monthly gave him the idea of publishing them in a novel--thus "Pride of the Bimbos" (1975) was born... See full bio »

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Nominated for 2 Oscars. Another 28 wins & 23 nominations See more awards »

Known For


Filmography

Hide HideWriter (35 titles)
2010 Amigo (written by)
 
2008 The Spiderwick Chronicles (screenplay)
 
2007 Honeydripper (written by)
 
2004 Silver City (written by)
 
2003 Casa de los babys (written by)
 
2002 Sunshine State (written by)
 
1999 Limbo (written by)
 
1997/II Men with Guns (written by)
 
1996 Lone Star (written by)
 
1995 Piranha (TV movie) (original screenplay / story)
 
1994 The Secret of Roan Inish (screenplay)
 
1994 Men of War (screenplay)
 
1992 Passion Fish (written by)
 
1991 City of Hope (written by)
 
1990 Shannon's Deal (TV series)
Custody (1990) (written by)
Words to Music (1990) (written by)
 
1989 Breaking In (written by)
 
1989 Shannon's Deal (TV movie)
 
1988 Eight Men Out (screenplay)
 
1987 Matewan (written by)
 
1987 Wild Thing (screenplay / story)
 
1986 Unnatural Causes (TV movie)
 
1986 The Clan of the Cave Bear (screenplay)
 
1983 Baby It's You (screenplay)
 
1983 Lianna (written by)
 
1982 The Challenge (written by)
 
1981 The Howling (screenplay)
 
1980 A Perfect Match (TV movie)
 
1980 Battle Beyond the Stars (screenplay / story)
 
1980 Alligator (screenplay / story)
 
1979 The Lady in Red (written by)
 
1979 Return of the Secaucus Seven (writer)
 
1978 Piranha (screenplay / story)
 
Show ShowActor (29 titles)
2012 The Normals
Dr. Marx
 
2007 Honeydripper
Zeke
 
2003 Scene by Scene (TV series)
John Sayles (2003)
 
2000 Girlfight
Science Teacher
 
1997 Gridlock'd
Cop #1
 
1993 My Life's in Turnaround
Marginal Producer
 
1993 Matinee
Bob
 
1992 Malcolm X
FBI Agent
 
1992 Passion Fish
Doctor in Soap (uncredited)
 
1992 Straight Talk
Guy Girardi
 
1991 City of Hope
Carl
 
1991 Square One TV (TV series)
Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
 
1991 Mathnet (TV series)
Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
 
1990 Little Vegas
Mike
 
1990 Shannon's Deal (TV series)
Ronny Nash
Words to Music (1990) … Ronny Nash
 
1989 La fine della notte
Wayne
 
1989 Untama giru
 
1988 Eight Men Out
Ring Lardner
 
1987 Matewan
Hardshell Preacher
 
1986 Unnatural Causes (TV movie)
Lloyd
 
1986 Something Wild
Motorcycle Cop
 
1985 Hard Choices
Don
 
1984 The Brother from Another Planet
Man In Black
 
1983 Lianna
Jerry
 
1981 The Howling
Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
 
1978 Piranha
Army Sentry (uncredited)
 
Show ShowDirector (21 titles)
2010 Amigo
 
2007 Honeydripper
 
2004 Silver City
 
2002 Sunshine State
 
2001 Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000 (video documentary) (videos "Born in the U.S.A.", "I'm on Fire", "Glory Days")
 
1999 Limbo
 
1997/II Men with Guns
 
1996 Lone Star
 
1992 Passion Fish
 
1991 City of Hope
 
1990 Shannon's Deal (TV series)
 
1989 Bruce Springsteen: Video Anthology 1978-1988 (video documentary) (video "Born in the USA" / video "Glory Days" / video "I'm on Fire")
 
1988 Eight Men Out
 
1987 Matewan
 
1983 Baby It's You
 
1983 Lianna
 
Show ShowEditor (15 titles)
Show ShowSound Department (3 titles)
2013 Disney Cruise Line: Behind the Magic (TV documentary) (sound)
 
2012 Trip Flip (TV series) (audio - 7 episodes)
Rome (2012) (audio)
Las Vegas (2012) (audio)
Florence (2012) (audio)
San Diego (2012) (audio)
Maui (2012) (audio)
 
2010 My First Sale (TV series documentary) (audio - 1 episode)
Desperate to Sell Rowhouse (2010) (audio)
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (6 titles)
2007 Honeydripper (writer: "You Got to Choose", "China Doll", "The Music Keeps Rollin' On")
 
2003 Casa de los babys (writer: "Quién Sera" / lyrics: "Quién Sera")
 
2002 Sunshine State (lyrics: "Skeeter Pie", "Buccaneer Daze")
 
1999 Limbo (writer: "Loving You Is Hell Enough For Me")
 
1998 The Newton Boys (writer: "Guide Us to Thy Side")
 
1984 The Brother from Another Planet ("Homeboy", "Promised Land")
 
Show ShowMiscellaneous Crew (3 titles)
2011 La maleta mexicana (documentary) (advisor)
 
2008 P.O.V. (TV series documentary) (advisor - 1 episode)
Election Day (2008) (advisor)
 
1990 American Dream (documentary) (additional funding)
 
Show ShowProducer (3 titles)
2007 My Mexican Shivah (executive producer)
 
2000 Girlfight (executive producer)
 
1999 Santitos (executive producer)
 
Show ShowThanks (7 titles)
2011 The Story of Film: An Odyssey (TV series documentary) (thanks - 3 episodes)
Episode #1.12 (2011) (thanks)
Episode #1.9 (2011) (thanks)
Episode #1.6 (2011) (thanks)
 
2011 Union Square (very special thanks)
 
2010 Committed: The Toronto International Film Festival (TV documentary) (special thanks)
 
2009 Accidents Happen (special thanks)
 
2007 Lost Revolution (very special thanks)
 
2006 American Pets (video short) (special thanks)
 
2003 Secondhand Lions (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (40 titles)
2013 Costas at the Movies (TV series)
Himself
Eight Men Out (2013) … Himself
 
2012 Let Fury Have the Hour (documentary)
Himself
 
2012 Casting By (documentary)
Himself
 
2011 The Story of Film: An Odyssey (TV series documentary)
Himself - Interviewee
Episode #1.12 (2011) … Himself - Interviewee
 
2011 The Legend of Ivan Tors (documentary)
Himself - Interviewee
 
2011 Democracy Now! (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 4 July 2011 (2011) … Himself
Episode dated 17 June 2011 (2011) … Himself
 
2011 Bottomline (TV series)
Himself
John Sayles (2011) … Himself
 
2011 Corman's World: Exploits of a Hollywood Rebel (documentary)
Himself
 
2010 Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (TV mini-series documentary)
Director / Himself - Writer
Fade Out, Fade In (2010) … Himself - Writer / Director
 
2010 Miradas 2 (TV series documentary)
Himself
Episode dated 23 September 2010 (2010) … Himself
 
2010 Sodankylä ikuisesti (TV series documentary)
Himself
Ensimmäisen elokuvamuiston kaiho (2010) … Himself
Elokuvan vuosisata (2010) … Himself
 
2009 Studs Terkel: Listening to America (TV documentary short)
 
2009 Great Directors (documentary)
Himself
 
2008 Trailers from Hell (documentary)
Himself
 
2008 Shootout (TV series)
Himself
Palm Springs Film Festival (2008) … Himself
 
2008 Up Close with Carrie Keagan (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 4 January 2008 (2008) … Himself
 
2007 IFP's Independent Filmmaker Conference (video short)
Himself - Film Director
 
2007 Obscene (documentary)
 
2006 Edge of Outside (documentary)
Himself
 
2006 American Pets (video short)
Himself
 
2006 Who Needs Sleep? (documentary)
 
2005 Tavis Smiley (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 27 April 2005 (2005) … Himself
 
2004 The Difference (video documentary short)
Himself
 
1999-2004 Cinema 3 (TV series)
Himself
Episode dated 16 October 2004 (2004) … Himself
Episode dated 2 November 1999 (1999) … Himself
 
2004 Tell Them Who You Are (documentary)
Himself
 
2004 Now (TV series documentary)
Himself
Episode dated 6 August 2004 (2004) … Himself
 
2003 Dinner for Five (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.13 (2003) … Himself
 
2003 Beyond Borders: John Sayles in Mexico (documentary)
Himself
 
2003 Unleashing the Beast: Making 'The Howling' (video documentary)
Himself
 
2003 American Storytellers (documentary)
Himself
 
2000 A Constant Forge (documentary)
 
1999 The Panel (TV series)
Himself
Episode #2.31 (1999) … Himself
 
1995-1999 Charlie Rose (TV series)
Himself - Guest / Himself
Episode dated 15 June 1999 (1999) … Himself - Guest
Episode dated 20 March 1998 (1998) … Himself - Guest
Episode dated 26 June 1996 (1996) … Himself - Guest
Episode dated 15 March 1995 (1995) … Himself
Episode dated 17 February 1995 (1995) … Himself
 
1999 Film-Fest DVD: Issue 2 - Cannes (video documentary)
Himself
 
1997 Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western (TV documentary)
Himself
 
1994 Baseball (TV mini-series documentary)
Himself
The Faith of Fifty Million People (1994) … Himself
 
1991 Naked Hollywood (TV mini-series)
Himself
 
1989 The Media Show (TV series)
Himself
Episode #4.13 (1989) … Himself
 
Show ShowArchive Footage (1 title)

Related Videos

Return of the Secaucus Seven -- Drama is set at the eight-year reunion of 7 student activists who were arrested together in Secaucus, NJ on their way to a protest in Washington; at the reunion we learn of the groups' dense romantic histories. In the Electric Mist -- Academy Award winner Tommy Lee Jones leads an all-star cast in this psychological thriller based on the bestselling novel by James Lee Burke. Let Fury Have the Hour -- A documentary that chronicles how a generation of artists, thinkers, and activists used their creativity as a response to the reactionary politics that came to define our culture in the 1980s.
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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1991) Book: "Los Gusanos". See more »

Publicity Listings:

3 Print Biographies  | 9 Interviews  | 13 Articles  | See more »

Official Sites:

Official Site | ThFacebook | See more »

Height:

6' 4" (1.93 m)
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Did You Know?

Personal Quote:

The scariest movie I ever saw was John Carpenter's The Thing with special effects by Rob Bottin. The theater was full, and I had to sit in the front row. See more »

Trivia:

Speaks fluent Spanish See more »

Trademark:

Frequently casts 'Mary McDonnell', Chris Cooper, Angela Bassett, 'Tom Wright', 'Gordon Clapp', Joe Morton,Vincent Spano, and David Strathairn. See more »

Star Sign:

Libra