Ben Gazzara, whose powerful dramatic performances brought an intensity to a variety of roles and made him a memorable presence in such iconic productions over the decades as the original "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" on Broadway and the film "The Big Lebowski," has died at age 81.
RIP, Ben. From someone who shares your birthday.
ReplyDeleteyes, I remember that he was in so many tv shows and always really good. RIP ben! we will miss you!
ReplyDeleteRoadhouse!
ReplyDeleteMy condolences to his family, always loved you Ben.
ReplyDeleteWhat an AMAZING person and actor. The best fun anyone could have (with clothes on) was getting drunk with Ben and terrorizing the guests and the Wyndham. Good times (long time ago!). As a young man I was at Zoe Cassavetes b'day party, and Ben and I wound up playing poker until 4am after everyone else passed out! A real man! He could talk you through some really tough times too, because he'd been there. He'd say: "Kid? Just do what you're gonna do, try to hurt no one, and pick up the pieces later. No excuses kid. Suck it up and keep moving. That's the secret to life".
ReplyDeleteHe was THE standard for Broadway acting. I'll miss him horribly. Thanks Ben, for being the loveable rogue and sage teacher.
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ReplyDeleteWas he ever hot....I used to catch reruns of RUN FOR YOUR LIFE....I need to see if Hulu has it....
ReplyDeleteA great actor. Loved him in Buffalo 66' and those Cassavetes films.
ReplyDeleteWill he make it in the Oscar's In Memoriam segment? They cut that piece together about 4 weeks before the show and they only allow 25 names in it.
I always thought he was married to Gena Rowlands. Devastated when I found out she was really married to John Cassevetes.
ReplyDeleteI loved LOVED Ben Gazzara.
RIP
Jason B E, good question.
ReplyDeleteMy first views of Ben Gazzara were as Robbie Benson's father in The Death of Richie and as Aiden Quinn's in An Early Frost. Already impressed, then I saw much more going back to Anatomy of a Murder. Terrific actor. Wish I'd seen him on the stage.
This made me so sad. I had such a crush on him....
ReplyDeleteHe died on the same date as John Cassevetes. A bittersweet coincidence.
ReplyDeleteThat's spooky, Mooshki.
ReplyDeleteFunny how the Wyndam and Gena Rowlands were mentioned...years ago in NYC I saw her getting off the elevator at that hotel. God, I loved that old place.
Ben was a great actor and so damn sexy. They don't make 'em like that anymore. Wasn't he married to Janice Rule at one time?
RIP, Ben. And thank you.
ReplyDeleteROADHOUSE !!!
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