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Ben Gazzara

Ben Gazzara

Actor · Died February 3, 2012, aged 81 · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA

Biagio Anthony Gazzarra (August 28, 1930 – February 3, 2012), known as Ben Gazzara, was an American film, stage, and television actor and director. His best known films include Anatomy of a Murder (1959), Voyage of the Damned (1976), Inchon (1981), Road House (1989), The Big Lebowski (1998), Happiness (1998), The Thomas Crown Affair (1999), Summer of Sam (1999), Dogville (2003) and Paris, je t'aime (2006). He was a recurring collaborator with John Cassavetes, working with him on Husbands (1970), The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976) and Opening Night (1977). As the star of the television series Run for Your Life (1965-1968), Gazzarra was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards. He won his first, and only, Emmy Award for his role in the television film Hysterical Blindness (2002).

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
August 28, 1930
Died
February 3, 2012 (aged 81)
From
Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
49 on MovieCove · 123 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 32% in 30 days

What are Ben Gazzara's films like?

Across their 40 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Genres

Drama19 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Drama movies
Comedy6 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 69th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Comedy movies
Crime5 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 84th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Crime movies
Action4 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 59th percentile
: browse their Action movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 45th percentile
: browse their Biography movies
Documentary2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 57th percentile
: browse their Documentary movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Survival
21%
Bonds
15%
Self
14%
Power
9%
Society
6%
Ideas
4%
Justice7 titles, browse their movies with this themeFamily bonds6 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception7 titles, browse their movies with this themeRedemption6 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose6 titles, browse their movies with this themeGrief6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 40 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Dark: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their dark movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 1 · Serious 18 · Dark 21

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 28 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 4 · Charged 18 · Intense 18

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 22 · Shifting 14 · Whiplash 4

Straight-faced: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their straight-faced movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 31 · Some laughs 9 · Funny 0

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 24 · Even-paced 16 · Relentless 0

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 12 · Engaged 21 · Full focus 7

Heavy: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their heavy movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 2 · Affecting 18 · Heavy 20

Open-ended: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their open-ended movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

A split, not a type: Resolved 25 · Open-ended 8 · Ambiguous 7

Roles they play

29 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 14 of 29 analyzed roles.

Hero
14 of 29
Shadow
6 of 29
Ally
5 of 29
Mentor
2 of 29
Threshold guardian
1 of 29
Shapeshifter
1 of 29
Show the 29 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
32
Melancholic
20
Contemplative
10
Dread
8
Bittersweet
4
Other
29

How their films linger

Thought-provoking14 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet18 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteUnsettling12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful10 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteDevastating5 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 6 with a twist

  • Happy5
  • Bittersweet21
  • Tragic6
  • Ambiguous8

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ben Gazzara's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 49 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (14).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ben Gazzara's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

123 credits, 49 with a MovieCove page; 28 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • Il camorrista - Una serie di Giuseppe Tornatore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2025)

    Show 5 episodes · as 'O Professore di Vesuviano

  • Porndemic(2018)

    as Jackie Treehorn - from 'The Big Lebowski'

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all films

  • Pupetta, Woman of Honor (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2013)

    Show 4 episodes · as Don Otello Di Bella

  • Ristabbanna (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Actor

  • Chez Gino (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    as Oncle Giovanni

  • Christopher Roth (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Paul Andersen

  • Il Volo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    Actor

  • 13(2010)

    as Schlondorff

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • Holy Money (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2009)

    as Vatican's Banker

  • Eve (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Joe

  • Empire State Building Murders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2008)

    as Paulie Genovese

  • Looking for Palladin(2008)

    as Jack Palladin

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies(2008)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 89th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Donne sbagliate (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Franco Maresco

  • Quiet Flows the Don (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 7 episodes · as General Secretov

  • Quiet Flows The Don (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Secretov

  • L'onore e il rispetto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    Show 6 episodes · as Don Fred Di Venanzio

  • Paris, Je T'aime(2006)

    as Ben (Quartier Latin)

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Pope John Paul II (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 2 episodes · as Kardinal Agostino Casaroli

  • The Shore (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as Mr. Bob Harris

  • Bonjour Michel (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    as michele Terranova

  • Dogville(2003)

    as Jack McKay

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • L'ospite segreto (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    as Ispettore di Polizia Solomos

  • Hysterical Blindness(2002)

    as Nick

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Home Sweet Hoboken (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Actor

  • Brian's Song (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Coach Halas

  • Jack of Hearts (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Batossa

  • The List (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as D.A. Bernard Salman

  • Nella terra di nessuno (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as L'avvocato Scalzi

  • Piovuto dal cielo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Undertaker's Paradise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Jim

  • Shark in a Bottle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as The Arranger

  • Very Mean Men (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Gino Minetti

  • Believe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Actor

  • Blue Moon (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as Frank Cavallo

  • Poor Liza (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    as The Narrator

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as E.A.D.A.

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • The Thomas Crown Affair(1999)

    as Andrew Wallace

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • Summer of Sam(1999)

    as Luigi

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Paradise Cove (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    as Duke Mantee

  • Happiness(1998)

    as Lenny Jordan

    Midcredits score: 95th percentile of all films

  • Il tesoro di Damasco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Gregorio Kos

  • Too Tired to Die(1998)

    as John Sage

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • Angelo Nero (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Padre Guelfi

  • Illuminata (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Old Flavio

  • The Big Lebowski(1998)

    as Jackie Treehorn

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Buffalo '66(1998)

    as Jimmy Brown

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all films

  • Valentine's Day (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Joe Buddha

  • The Spanish Prisoner(1997)

    as Mr. Klein

    Midcredits score: 86th percentile of all films

  • Stag (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Frank Grieco

  • Shadow Conspiracy(1997)

    as Vicepresident Saxon

    Midcredits score: 11th percentile of all films

  • Farmer & Chase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as Farmer

  • Vicious Circles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1997)

    as March

  • Ladykiller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    as Lt. Jack 'Jigsaw' Lasky

  • Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1996)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor

  • The Zone (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Dick Althorp

  • Convict Cowboy(1995)

    as Warden Ferguson

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • Bandits (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    as Amos

  • Parallel Lives (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Charlie Duke

  • Swallows Never Die in Jerusalem (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Moshe

  • Nefertiti: Daughter of the Sun (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Amenophis III

  • Love, Honor & Obey: The Last Mafia Marriage(1993)

    as Joseph Bonanno

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • Blindsided(1993)

    as Ira Gold

    Midcredits score: 9th percentile of all films

  • The Window Over the Way (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Actor

  • Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    as Marcelo

  • Lies Before Kisses(1991)

    as Grant Sanders

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • People Like Us(1990)

    as Gus Bailey

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Ocean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1990)

    Director · Writer · as John Tana

  • Quicker Than the Eye (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Ben Norell

  • Road House(1989)

    as Brad Wesley

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • Don Bosco (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as Don Giovanni Bosco

  • Police Story: The Freeway Killings(1987)

    as Capt. Tom Wright

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • Control (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Mike Zella

  • Downpayment on Murder (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Harry Cardell

  • The Professor(1986)

    as 'O Professore di Vesuviano

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all films

  • Bitter Champagne (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as Paul Rivière

  • A Letter to Three Wives(1985)

    as Porter Holloway

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • My Dearest Son (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Antonio Morelli

  • Woman of Wonders (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    as Alberto

  • An Early Frost(1985)

    as Nick Pierson

    Midcredits score: 90th percentile of all films

  • Uno scandalo perbene (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as The man with no memory

  • The Girl from Trieste(1982)

    as Dino Romani

    Midcredits score: 37th percentile of all films

  • A Question of Honor(1982)

    as Detective Joe DeFalco

    Midcredits score: 48th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • They All Laughed(1981)

    as John Russo

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • Tales of Ordinary Madness(1981)

    as Charles Serking

    Midcredits score: 64th percentile of all films

  • Inchon(1981)

    as Maj. Frank Hallsworth

    Midcredits score: 2nd percentile of all films

  • Bloodline(1979)

    as Rhys Williams

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • Saint Jack(1979)

    as Jack Flowers

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all films

  • Opening Night(1977)

    as Manny Victor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • The Trial of Lee Harvey Oswald (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 2 episodes · as Anson 'Kip' Roberts

  • The Death of Richie(1977)

    as George Werner

    Midcredits score: 65th percentile of all films

  • Voyage of the Damned(1976)

    as Morris Troper

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all films

  • High Velocity (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    as Clifford Baumgartner

  • The Killing of a Chinese Bookie(1976)

    as Cosmo Vittelli

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • Capone(1975)

    as Al Capone

    Midcredits score: 32nd percentile of all films

  • QB VII (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 2 episodes · as Abe Cady

  • Maneater(1973)

    as Nick Baron

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • The Neptune Factor(1973)

    as Cmdr. Adrian Blake

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Sicilian Connection (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Joseph Coppola

  • Pursuit (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Steven Graves

  • The Family Rico (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Eddie Rico

  • Fireball Forward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Maj. Gen Joe Barrett

  • When Michael Calls(1972)

    as Doremus Connelly

    Midcredits score: 40th percentile of all films

  • Columbo (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · Director

  • Husbands(1970)

    as Harry

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • The Bridge at Remagen(1969)

    as Sgt. Angelo

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all films

  • If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium(1969)

    as Card Player

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all films

  • The Name of the Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · Director

  • A Rage to Live(1965)

    as Roger Bannon

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Run for Your Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 86 episodes · Director · as Paul Bryan

  • Carol for Another Christmas(1964)

    as Fred

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Paul Bryan

  • Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Sidney

  • Arrest and Trial (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 30 episodes · as Nick Anderson

  • Conquered City (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Captain George Stubbs

  • Convicts 4(1962)

    as John Resko

    Midcredits score: 58th percentile of all films

  • The Young Doctors(1961)

    as Dr. David Coleman

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Passionate Thief (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    as Lello

  • You'll Never See Me Again (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    as Jim Mason

  • Anatomy of a Murder(1959)

    as Lieutenant Frederick "Manny" Manion

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Three Plays by Tennessee Williams (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1958)

    as Moony (Segment "Moony's Kid Don't Cry")

  • The Strange One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Jocko de Paris

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Jim Mason

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 122 titles from 1956 to 2025; peak year 1998.

Biggest box office

Road House (1989)

$30M worldwide

Highest rated

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Dogville (2003)

Film career

19562025

Peak 1998 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 10 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting120 of 122: 118 only acting, 2 with another role · typical Midcredits score59thDirecting4 of 122: 2 only directing, 2 with another roleWriting1 of 122: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1950s5 · acting1960s13 · 12 acting · 2 crew1970s19 · 18 acting · 1 crew1980s18 · acting1990s32 · 32 acting · 1 crew2000s28 · acting2010s6 · acting2020s1 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 31% of 29 roles
577282

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do Ben Gazzara's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 58th percentile, the median of all 48; across their 40 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 53rd percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

53rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Approval · how many liked their films

59thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Reach · how many have seen their films

54thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 40

Midcredits score across 49 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th8

Shape of the crowd

20 of their 49 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved8
  • Cult Classic4
  • Crowd Pleaser20
  • Broadly Agreed1
  • Mixed16

Most divisive · actor

Beyond Wiseguys: Italian Americans & the Movies (2008)

86th percentile spread · 18% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Anatomy of a Murder (1959)

Midcredits 98th · 89% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 34 reviewed titles; fans 80, detractors 49. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Ben Gazzara's work okay for kids?

Across up to 11 MovieCove titles with content scores, violence & gore, sex & nudity, profanity and frightening / intense run heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore6 titles40–76 · median 59 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity11 titles26–77 · median 57 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity8 titles30–83 · median 49 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles28–59 · median 39 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense6 titles42–85 · median 56 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Ben Gazzara work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ben Gazzara's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; John Cassavetes shares the most, 4.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers, cinematographers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles