'Anatomy of a Murder' star Ben Gazzara dies at 81 [View all]

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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."

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