Person
John Sayles
Directing · Born 1950-09-28 · Schenectady, New York, USA
Biography
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
Known for
Poker Face
Chief Hal
The Alienist
Teleplay
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Screenplay
Malcolm X
FBI Agent
Baseball
Self
Square One Television
Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
The Gray House
Writer
Shannon's Deal
Ronnie Nash
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self
Mimic
Additional Writing
Filmography
- 2026The Gray HouseWriter
- 2024John Sayles and Gregory NavaThemself
- 2023Poker FaceChief Hal
- 2021AlgrenSelf
- 2021Corona Film ClubSelf
- 2021Texas RedGovernor Johnson (voice)
- 2020Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-FiSelf
- 2020Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All TimeSelf
- 2019Them That WorkSelf
- 2019Sonora: The Devil’s HighwayWriter
- 2019The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the BigfootExecutive Producer
- 2018The AlienistTeleplay
- 2016The UmbrellaPastor Jim
- 2016Richard Linklater: Dream Is DestinyThanks
- 2016Elsie HooperExecutive Producer
- 2016Dr. DelWriter
- 2015TalentsExecutive Producer
- 2015The Third Man: A Filmmaker's InfluenceSelf
- 2014That Guy Dick MillerSelf
- 2013Go for SistersDirector
- 2012The NormalsDr. Marx
- 2012Casting BySelf
- 2011Corman's WorldSelf - Filmmaker
- 2011The Story of Film: An OdysseySelf
- 2011AmigoEditor
- 2010Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of HollywoodSelf
- 2009Great DirectorsSelf
- 2009In the Electric MistMichael Goldman
- 2009The Toe TacticCramden
- 2008Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove PressSelf
- 2008The Spiderwick ChroniclesScreenplay
- 2007My Mexican ShivahExecutive Producer
- 2007Alligator AuthorSelf
- 2007HoneydripperZeke
- 2006Edge of OutsideSelf
- 2006Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United StatesSelf
- 2004Silver CityDirector
- 2004Tell Them Who You AreSelf
- 2003Casa de los BabysEditor
- 2003Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
- 2002Sunshine StateMan who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
- 2001Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000Director
- 2000A Constant ForgeSelf
- 2000When It Was a Game 3Self (voice)
- 2000GirlfightScience Teacher
- 1999LimboDirector
- 1999Little SaintsExecutive Producer
- 1998Independent FocusSelf
- 1998Men with GunsDirector
- 1997MimicAdditional Writing
- 1997Big Guns Talk: The Story of the WesternSelf
- 1997Scene by SceneSelf
- 1997Gridlock'dCop #1
- 1996Lone StarDirector
- 1995PiranhaStory
- 1994BaseballSelf
- 1994Men of WarScreenplay
- 1994My Life's in TurnaroundMarginal producer
- 1994The Secret of Roan InishDirector
- 1993MatineeBob
- 1992Passion FishSoap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
- 1992Malcolm XFBI Agent
- 1992Straight TalkGuy Girardi
- 1991City of HopeCarl
- 1990Little VegasMike
- 1990Shannon's DealRonnie Nash
- 1989Breaking InWriter
- 1989UntamagiruUS High Commissioner
- 1989La fine della notteWayne
- 1989Mountain ViewDirector
- 1989Shannon's DealWriter
- 1988Eight Men OutRing Lardner
- 1987MatewanHardshell Preacher
- 1987Wild ThingScreenplay
- 1987Square One TelevisionRoy 'Lefty' Cobbs
- 1986Unnatural CausesLloyd
- 1986Something WildMotorcycle Cop
- 1986The ChuckleHoundsWriter
- 1986The Clan of the Cave BearScreenplay
- 1985Hard ChoicesDon
- 1984The Brother from Another PlanetMan in Black
- 1983Baby It's YouDirector
- 1983LiannaJerry
- 1983Enormous Changes at the Last MinuteWriter
- 1982The ChallengeWriter
- 1981The HowlingMorgue Attendant (uncredited)
- 1980AlligatorScreenplay
- 1980A Perfect MatchTeleplay
- 1980Battle Beyond the StarsStory
- 1980Return of the Secaucus SevenHowie
- 1979The Lady in RedWriter
- 1978PiranhaArmy Sentry (uncredited)
- —An Ode to Mary Jo
- —Django Lives!Writer
- —GrendelExecutive Producer
- —I Passed This WayDirector
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