'Anatomy of a Murder' star Ben Gazzara dies at 81

[warrior1]

Ben Gazzara died Friday of pancreatic cancer, The New York Times reported.

The star of award films and plays such as "Anatomy of a Murder" and "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof" was 81 years old.

Gazzara employed his distinctive, guttural voice and powerful stare most memorably in a series of film collaborations with the director John Cassavetes. For the maverick director, Gazzara played a collection of bitter spouses and down-on-their heels gamblers and directors in films such as "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" and "Opening Night."

http://todayentertainment.today.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/03/10313294-anatomy-of-a-murder-star-ben-gazzara-dies-at-81

[Justice wanted]

1. ah, that is ashame. May he rest in Peace

[hlthe2b]

2. All these familiar faces from childhood.... sigh...

RIP, Mr. Gazzara. I remember you fondly.

[shanti]

12. yes

and we're next in line

[Little Star]

3. RIP Mr. Gazzara, you were a fine actor! n/t

[southernyankeebelle]

4. RIP what a good actor is was. Damn I remember them as a young kid.

[PSPS]

5. Also starred in the 60's series, "Run For Your Life."

[Rhiannon12866]

6. That's what I remember him for, too.

I only vaguely remember the show, but he was a very memorable actor. Wishing him Godspeed...

[99th_Monkey]

14. Me too. I was working as a bellboy, and going to collage at PSU

in Portland Oregon.

On slow nights, which was usually, we'd always watch
Run for Your Life on the hotel lobby TV, and I was quite
impressed with his acting.

RIP Ben.

[Rhiannon12866]

22. I was still a kid, so my parents must have watched it.

But I remember the opening sequence well. I don't ever remember my parents saying that anything on TV was inappropriate back then. I used to watch war movies and Peyton Place with my father. He liked Lee Grant.

[hunter]

25. My grandma watched it...

... but it was "not for kids."

Yep, I remember the opening sequence too.

And that's all I remember.

Edited to add this:

http://www.run4.us/index.htm

[no_hypocrisy]

7. He and Elaine Stritch had a volatile affair.

He finally offered to leave his wife to be with Elaine. But she decided to go with Rock Hudson . . . . .

[thelordofhell]

8. Brad Wesley in Road House

R.I.P. Ben

[lunatica]

9. Thank you Ben Gazzara

I love you for your contribution to films. Your life counted.

[El Supremo]

10. Not Jackie Treehorn!

[NBachers]

18. And he delivered that role with aplomb

[NYC_SKP]

11. He was great in "Buffalo 66"

Just spanning time....

[Swede]

13. RIP Mr. Gazzara.

He was a favorite of mine. Love him in Tales Of Ordinary Madenss.

[niyad]

15. requiescat in pacem

[MADem]

16. Pancreatic cancer--that stuff is brutal. What a shame.

What a wonderful actor he was.

[DesertFlower]

17. one of my favorite actors. RIP

[Alameda]

19. RIP he was a gentelman

[slackmaster]

20. Jackie Treehorn makes women out of objects, man.

[Guy Whitey Corngood]

21. Translator Theater: Jackie Treehorn and The Dude

[PurityOfEssence]

23. His greatest moment was "Saint Jack"

He was sublime. He was game for anything. He was as good as they get, and spent his star capital on marginal projects that MATTERED.

Written from a novel by Paul Theroux for the screen by him, Howard Sackler and the director, Peter Bogdonovich, this was a tale of someone running prostitutes to our commitment in Vietnam and the entanglements with organized crime. Produced by Roger Corman and executive produced by no less than Hugh Hefner.

It's a must-see, so hopefully some of you will track it down.

[sarcasmo]

24. Remember him most from Roadhouse and the Big Lebowski.