The impressive career of this gifted, fiery character actor, adept at playing hysterics and losers, was cut short by cancer. Born and raised in the Boston area, John Cazale graduated from Boston University and embarked on a career in regional theater, appearing in such plays as "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window" and "The Contractor". During the 1967-68 theater season, he scored in two plays by Israel Horovitz, "Line" and "The Indian Wants the Bronx". In the latter, he was an East Indian tormented by two thugs, played by Matthew Cowles and Al Pacino, with whom Cazale would frequently work.
