Cassel, Seymour 1935–

PERSONAL

Born January 22, 1935, in Detroit, MI; son of Seymour Joseph (a nightclub owner) and Pancretia Ann (a performer; maiden name, Kearney) Cassel; married Elizabeth "Betty Lou" Deering (an actress), March 14, 1964 (divorced, 1983); children: Matthew, Lisa, Dilyn. Education: Studied acting at American Theatre Wing and Actor's Studio, New York City.

Addresses:

Agent—Abrams Artists Agency, 9200 Sunset Blvd., Suite 1130, Los Angeles, CA 90069.

Career:

Actor. Toured as a child with a troupe of burlesque performers; workshop teacher and director with John Cassavetes.

Member:

Screen Actors Guild (member of board of directors, 2001).

Awards, Honors:

Critics Award, Venice Film Festival, c. 1960, for Shadows; National Society of Film Critics Award and Academy Award nomination, both best supporting actor, 1969, for Faces; New York Film Critics Award, best actor, c. 1971, for Minnie and Moskowitz; Los Angeles Drama Critics Award, best director, 1978, for Jesse and the Bandit Queens; special jury recognition, Sundance Film Festival, 1992, for In the Soup; Career Achievement Award, Malibu International Film Festival, 1999; Lifetime Achievement Award, Rhode Island International Film Festival, 2003.

CREDITS

Film Appearances:

(Uncredited) Shadows, 1959.

Seymour, Juke Box Racket, Brenner, 1960.

(Uncredited) Teenager, Murder, Inc., Twentieth Century-Fox, 1960.

Red the bassist, Too Late Blues, Paramount, 1962.

Vic, The Webster Boy (also known as Middle of Nowhere), Regal Films, 1962.

A Pair of Boots, 1962.

Postal clerk, The Killers (also known as Ernest Hemingway's "The Killers"), Universal, 1964.

Joe, Coogan's Bluff, Universal, 1968.

Chet, Faces, Castle Hill, 1968.

Surfer/cyclist, The Sweet Ride, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1968.

Leonard II, The Revolutionary, United Artists, 1970.

Seymour Moskowitz, Minnie and Moskowitz, Universal, 1971.

Mort Weil, The Killing of a Chinese Bookie, Castle Hill, 1976.

Seal trainer, The Last Tycoon, Paramount, 1976.

Homer Metcalf, Black Oak Conspiracy, New World, 1977.

George Manning, Death Game (also known as Mrs. Manning's Weekend and The Seducers), Levitt-Pickman, 1977.

George Ullman, Valentino, United Artists, 1977.

(Uncredited) Opening Night, Castle Hill, 1977.

Governor Jerry Haskins, Convoy, United Artists, 1978.

Duke Slusarski, California Dreaming, American International Pictures, 1979.

Dobbs, Sunburn, Paramount, 1979.

Blind lawyer, Ravagers, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1979.

La Bont, The Mountain Men, Columbia, 1980.

Barry Tanner, King of the Mountain, Universal, 1981.

Dr. Frank Curtis, Double Exposure (also known as Model Killer), Crown, 1982.

Himself, John Cassavetes—The Man and His Work (documentary; also known as Anything for John and "I'm Almost Not Crazy …" John Cassavetes: The Man and His Work), Cannon, 1983.

Jack Lawson, Love Streams, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1984.

Sheriff, Eye of the Tiger, Scotti Brothers, 1986.

Dave Forrest, Survival Game, Trans World Entertainment, 1987.

Cheese, Tin Men, Buena Vista, 1987.

(Uncredited) Carter, Best Seller, 1987.

Wallace Gibson, Johnny Be Good, Orion, 1988.

Ed Malmburg, Plain Clothes, Paramount, 1988.

Dr. Bernard Fairmont, Track 29, Island Pictures, 1988.

Officer Sullivan, Colors, Orion, 1988.

Feldshine, Wicked Stepmother, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1989.

Jojo, Cold Dog Soup, 1990.

Sam Catchem, Dick Tracy, Buena Vista, 1990.

Skunker, White Fang, Buena Vista, 1991.

Father Bonotto, Mobsters (also known as The Evil Empire), Universal, 1991.

Tom Farrelly, Cold Heaven, 1991.

Koenig, Diary of a Hit Man, 1991.

Joe, In the Soup (also known as In the Soup-alles kino, In the soup: en la sopa, and In the soup—un mare di guai), Triton Pictures, 1992.

Bartender, What Happened to Pete, 1992.

Santino, Trouble Bound, 1992.

Uncle Bud, Love Is like That (also known as Bad Love and Wild Angel), 1992.

Tony Cataracts, Honeymoon in Vegas, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1992.

Mel, Chain of Desire, Mad Dog Pictures/October Films, 1992.

Ray Rucker, Adventures in Spying (also known as Operation Lookout), 1992.

Mr. Shackleford, Indecent Proposal, Paramount, 1993.

Frank, When Pigs Fly (also known as Wenn schweine fliegen), Panorama Entertainment, 1993.

Virgil Leach, Boiling Point (also known as L'extreme limite), Warner Bros., 1993.

Pop, There Goes My Baby (also known as The Last Days of Paradise), Orion, 1993.

Master Chief Bogg, Chasers, Warner Bros., 1994.

Eddie, Imaginary Crimes, Warner Bros., 1994.

Larry/Leon, Tollbooth, Arrow Releasing, 1994.

Jack Gross, It Could Happen to You, TriStar, 1994.

Jack McCallister, Handgun, 1994.

Samuel Rourke, Dark Side of Genius, 1994.

Ouf! (also known as Whew!), 1994.

(Uncredited) Saul, Dead Presidents, 1995.

Ellis Brock, Psalms from the Underground, 1995.

Uncle Al, Trees Lounge, Orion Classics, 1996.

I sfagi tou kokora (also known as Slaughter of the Cock and La strage del gallo), 1996.

Francis, Cameleone (also known as Chameleon), 1996.

Frank Henderson, Cosas que nunca te dije (also known as Things I Never Told You and Coses que no et vaig dir mai), Seventh Art Releasing, 1996.

Ira Goluh, Dead Girl, 1996.

Sy Lerner, Cannes Man (also known as Canne$ Man and Con Man), Rocket Pictures Home Video, 1996.

Dr. Watt, Juicehead, 1996.

Older man, Turnpike, 1996.

Himself, Les freres Gravet, 1996.

Detective Harris, This World, Then the Fireworks, Orion Classics, 1997.

Jacob Frischmuth, Obsession (also known as Berlin Niagara and Obsession—Besessene Seelen), 1997.

First client, Seed, 1997.

Old priest, Motel Blue, Bedford Entertainment, 1997.

Emile Pillsbury, Relax … It's Just Sex, A-Pix Entertainment, 1998.

Uncle Leo, Dream for an Insomniac, Avalanche Releasing, 1998.

Bert Fischer, Rushmore, Buena Vista Pictures, 1998.

The councilman, The Treat, 1998.

Bob, Snapped, 1998.

Ballad of the Nightingale, Mainline Releasing, 1998.

Dragan, Kubanisch rauchen (also known as Smoking Cuban Style), 1999.

Arthur, Temps, 1999.

The Last Call (also known as Stingers), Leo Films, 1999.

Tony "Mouth" Donato, The Crew, Buena Vista, 2000.

Arthur Imperial, Just One Night, First Look Pictures Releasing, 2000.

Sally, Women of the Night (also known as Radio Silence and Zalman King's "Women of the Night"), Moonstone Entertainment, 2000.

Eddie, The Cure for Boredom (also known as Sex & Bullets), 2000.

Lawrence, Next Stop, Eternity, 2000.

A Constant Forge (documentary), Criterion Collection, 2000.

Richard Cavanaugh, The Chameleon, Alpha Film Group, 2001.

Bob, The Sleepy Time Gal, Antarctic Pictures/Far Corners, 2001.

Dusty, The Royal Tenenbaums, Buena Vista, 2001.

Milton, Deadrockstar, Brink Films/Mosaic Films, 2002.

Steve, Time & Again, Convergence Film and Television/Stars North, 2002.

Eugene Hinkle, The Biz, CRC Entertainment/London Simon Productions, 2002.

Daniel Vargas, Passionada, Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2002.

Albert, Sonny, Samuel Goldwyn Films, 2002.

Uncle Jack, Stealing Harvard, Columbia, 2002.

Frank Waxman, Bartleby, Outrider Pictures, 2002.

Stanley-Stanley, Manna from Heaven, Five Sisters Productions/R.S. Entertainment, 2002.

The angel, Wishing Time (short film), Wishing Time Productions, 2003.

Guy, A Good Night to Die, Regent Entertainment, 2003.

Morty O'Reilly, Stuck on You, Twentieth Century-Fox, 2003.

Sam Goldberg, The Burial Society (also known as Mis en boite), 2002, Regent Releasing, 2004.

Wally, Sweet Underground, A Sweet Production, 2004.

Del, Thanksgiving (short film), Flip Side Film, 2004.

Esteban du Plantier, The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou, Buena Vista, 2004.

Boyd, The Wendell Baker Story, Wendell Distribution, 2005.

Jack "Pappy" Schaffer, Bittersweet Place, Off Hollywood Pictures/CKRush Entertainment/Shaffer and Son Productions, 2005.

Jeff, Before It Had a Name, Nu-Image Films, 2005.

Big Business, Main Street (short film), Stirling Trinity Films, 2005.

Jim's father, Welcome to California, Form, 2005.

Hoover, Circadian Rhythm, Signature Films, 2005.

Tomaso, Sea of Dreams, Success Films/Robert Katz Entertainment, 2005.

Don, Lonesome Jim, IFC Films, 2006.

Mr. Ruby, Bye Bye Benjamin (short film), American Film Institute, 2006.

Levenspiel, The Tenants, Millennium Films, 2006.

Dirt, Beer League (also known as Artie Lange's "Beer League"), Echo Bridge Entertainment, 2006.

M. Jacobs, The Happiest Day of His Life, Five Sisters Productions, 2006.

Edge of Outside (documentary), Turner Classic Movies, 2006.

Poppy, Chasing 3000, Pretty Dangerous Films, 2007.

Abe Goldman, Beau Jest, Prostorm Pictures, 2007.

Malcolm Stone, Cosmic Radio, Cosmic Productions, 2007.

Paul, Postal, Running with Scissors/Brightlight Pictures, 2007.

Rupert, Irene in Time, Rainbow Film, 2007.

Film Associate Producer:

Shadows, 1959.

Television Appearances; Series:

Lieutenant Mickey Schwartz, Under Suspicion, CBS, 1994-95.

Jack O'Shea, Good Company, CBS, 1996.

The Cube, CBS, 1996.

Pops, Heist, NBC, 2006.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Bellboy, The Hanged Man, NBC, 1964.

A Very Special Place, 1977.

Dr. Jaelki, Scott Joplin: King of Ragtime, NBC, 1978.

Smiley Mitchell, Angel on My Shoulder, ABC, 1980.

John "Jack" Santo, I Want to Live, ABC, 1983.

Rage, 1983.

Tony, Beverly Hills Madame (also known as Ladies of the Night), NBC, 1986.

Hatcher, Sweet Bird of Youth (also known as Tennessee Williams' "Sweet Bird of Youth"), NBC, 1989.

Lieutenant Frank Vaness, Dead in the Water, 1991.

Ralph, Face of a Stranger, 1991.

Gem, Mrs. Munck, Showtime, 1996.

Older Jonathan Lyle, The Last Home Run, HBO, 1996.

Harry Bridges, Emma's Wish, CBS, 1998.

Sal, Black & White, HBO, 1998.

(Uncredited) Getting to Know You (also known as Getting to Know All about You), Sundance Channel, 1999.

(Uncredited) Pop Martinelli, Hoods, Starz!, 1999.

Roy, Me & Will, Sundance Channel, 1999.

Lieutenant Seeman, Animal Factory, Cinemax, 2000.

Sam Simon, 61*, HBO, 2001.

Television Appearances; Miniseries:

Frank Kierdorff, Blood Feud, syndicated, 1983.

Alfred Gronevelt, The Last Don (also known as Mario Puzo's "The Last Don"), CBS, 1997.

Television Appearances; Specials:

John Cassavetes (also known as Cassavetes: Anything for John), PBS, 1990.

Janitor, Partners, Fox, 1994.

Interviewee, Anything for John, Independent Film Channel, 1999.

Himself, Cassavetes: Claroscuro americano, 2001.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Ralph, Nightside, ABC, 1973.

Victor "the Trake" Flemming, Lucky, FX Channel, 2003.

Pops, Heist, NBC, 2006.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Richard, "A Pair of Boots," The Lloyd Bridges Show, 1962.

Lawyer, "A Personal Matter," The Lloyd Bridges Show, 1963.

Ed, "The Sam Pulaski Story," Wagon Train (also known as Major Adams, Trail Master), 1963.

(Uncredited) Jerry, "The Self-Improvement of Salvadore Ross," The Twilight Zone, 1964.

Artie the parking attendant, "Who Killed Annie Foran?," Burke's Law, 1964.

Somebody, "The Game with Glass Pieces," Bob Hope Presents the Chrysler Theatre (also known as Chrysler Theatre and Universal Star Time), 1964.

Doctor, "Point of View," Combat!, 1964.

Jud, "I See By Your Outfit," Laredo, 1965.

Phelps, "Admiral Do-Right," Convoy, 1965.

Captain Johnson, "The Hot Shot," Twelve O'clock High, 1965.

Captain Johnson, "We're Not Coming Back," Twelve O'clock High, 1965.

Irwin, "The Hijackers," The F.B.I., 1965.

B-17 pilot, "Underground," Twelve O'clock High, 1966.

Left waist gunner, "The Survivor," Twelve O'clock High, 1966.

Mechanic, "The Fighter Pilot," Twelve O'clock High, 1966.

Coach Gregson, "Call Her Max," My Three Sons, 1966.

Jenson, "The Mechanical Man," Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, 1966.

Cancelled, "A Piece of the Action," Batman, 1967.

Cancelled, "Batman's Satisfaction," Batman, 1967.

Driver, "The Condemned," The Invaders, 1967.

Cabbie, "The Judgment: Part 1," The Fugitive, 1967.

Spock, "The Battleground," Cimarron Strip, 1967.

Attendant, "The Raid," The F.B.I., 1967.

(Uncredited) Jensen, "Terrible Leprechaun," Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, 1968.

Bluebell Hunter, "Dilemma," Emergency! (also known as Emergency One and Emergencia), 1972.

"Deck the Cell with Bars of Folly," Hooperman, 1987.

Howard, "The Milkman Cometh," Tales from the Darkside, 1987.

Honest Earl Edwards, "The Lemon," Matlock, NBC, 1988.

Dick Silvers, "The Investigation: Parts 1 & 2," Matlock, NBC, 1988.

Lieutenant Commander Hester Dealt, "The Child," Star Trek: The Next Generation (also known as Star Trek: TNG), 1988.

Norman Cambridge, "Second Chances," Chicago Hope, CBS, 1997.

Candy Casino, "Erotica," Tracey Takes On …, HBO, 1999.

Bernie Willis, "Chapter Fourteen," Boston Public, Fox, 2001.

Artie, "Moments to Remember," Arli$$, HBO, 2002.

Dazy Perrit, "Before I Die," A Nero Wolfe Mystery (also known as Nero Wolfe), Arts and Entertainment, 2002.

James Arthur Ferris, "Immune to Murder," A Nero Wolfe Mystery (also known as Nero Wolfe), Arts and Entertainment, 2002.

Victor "the Trake" Flemming, "It's in the Stars," Lucky, FX Channel, 2003.

Voice of Chuck Cuidera, "I Am Legion," Justice League (animated; also known as JL and Justice League Unlimited), Cartoon Network, 2005.

Guest, "Beer League Special," Howard Stern on Demand (also known as Howard TV on Demand), 2006.

Stage Appearances:

The World of Suzie Wong, New York City, 1958.

Appeared in The Disenchanted, New York City.

Stage Director:

Jesse and the Bandit Queens, 1978.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

Easy Rider: Shaking the Cage (also known as Shaking the Cage), Columbia TriStar Home Entertainment, 1999.

John Cassavetes: A Discussion, Miramax Home Entertainment, 2000.

The Is an Adventure, Criterion Collection, 2005.

WRITINGS

Songs Featured in Films:

"Uncle Al Song," Trees Lounge, Orion Classics, 1996.