A quick guess for you all— name the actor in the history of Academy Awards who has seen all of his movies to get an Oscar Best Picture nomination. Whose name comes to our mind instantly? Daniel Day-Lewis? Or Robert De Niro , Meryl Streep, Leonardo DiCaprio? NO. Not anyone of them.
John Cazale Holds This Unique Oscar Record
John Cazale in Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Image Credit: Warner Bros.
It’s a dream for any actor to see their own movie to be recognized at the Oscars. To be cast in a great movie, and make an impact and to go to that highest award show is truly an achievement.
While some actors have an amazing track record of being in both nominated and winning Oscar films, only one actor has received nominations for every film in which he has appeared. Renowned actors that can take pride in playing iconic roles in classic movies include Robert De Niro in Martin Scorsese’s Taxi Driver and Al Pacino in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather, where he costarred with another legendary actor, Marlon Brando. Meryl Streep has an astounding 21 nominations, which puts her far ahead of her fellow nominees in terms of Oscar achievement.
Nevertheless, there’s one performer who could possibly surpass Streep. In just seven years, the famous individual acted in just five movies, all of which received Best Picture Academy Award nominations. Yes, we’re talking about John Cazale, who is most recognized for his role as Fredo in The Godfather, arguably the greatest drama film ever made. Sadly, the actor’s stay in Hollywood was brief as he died in 1978, hardly having made six movies in all. Even though John Cazale doesn’t have an extensive filmography to his name, he holds a record that no actor has been or will be able to break.
John Cazale earned recognition for his performances in The Godfather (1972), The Conversation (1974), The Godfather Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and The Deer Hunter (1978). Cazale received Best Picture nominations for each of the movies in which he starred.
At the 45th and 47th Academy Awards, respectively, Best Picture went to The Godfather and The Godfather Part II. The Conversation did not win any of the three categories in which it was nominated for the 47th Academy Awards. Regarding Dog Day Afternoon, it won the Best Original Screenplay Oscar after receiving six nominations. The Deer Hunter was nominated in nine categories and won a whopping number of five out of those.
Cazale’s most iconic movie moment most likely occurs in The Godfather Part II when Michael gives him the “kiss of death” and says, “I know it was you, Fredo.” Cazale is still regarded as one of the best actors of all time, despite having only five film roles.
John Cazale and the legacy
John Cazale in The Godfather (1972). Image Credit: Paramount Pictures
Cazale was born in Revere, Massachusetts, in 1935. After completing his studies in drama at Ohio’s Oberlin College, he went to Boston University to pursue acting studies. Cazale relocated to New York City to pursue a career in theater after graduating. His career as an actor took off, and he soon gained recognition for his work in Off-Broadway shows including The Indian Wants the Bronx and The Line.
Cazale starred in Coppola’s The Godfather in 1972, marking his film debut. He played Fredo Corleone, the youngest son of the Corleone family. Despite having a small part, Cazale’s influence on directors Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino in particular was long-lasting.
In an interview with The New York Times, Pacino heavily praised his co-star calling him “one of the greatest actors of our time.” Meryl Streep noted after his death that John was such a dedicated actor on set that he forced everyone to raise their bar in imitating his dedication and commitment to his craft.
The Deer Hunter (1978) was Cazale’s last film in which he starred alongside his real-life romantic partner Meryl Streep, and industry vets, Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and John Savage. The actor was diagnosed with lung cancer in 1977 but continued to work on the film, which was released after his death.
Despite having a brief Hollywood career, Cazale became one of the most successful actors of all time and will go down in history.
