John Cassavetes

John Nicholas Cassavetes (December 9, 1929 to February 3, 1989) was a Greek-American filmmaker and actor. He began as an actor in film and television before helping to pioneer modern American independent cinema as a writer and director, often self-financing, producing and distributing his own films. He received nominations for three Academy Awards, two BAFTA Awards, four Golden Globe Awards and an Emmy Award. The atlas records him as the director of Love Streams and of Gloria, two of the late films of an independent career.