Seymour Cassel Biography
Born: January 22, 1932
Fair-haired and often mustached character actor Seymour Cassel began making film and TV appearances as scruffy hippie types in the 1960s. He studied at the American Theatre Wing and the Actor's Studio before making his film debut in John_Cassavetes' first film, Shadows (1959), for which he also served as associate producer. He then co-starred with Cassavetes in Too_Late_Blues (1961) and The_Killers (1964). When Cassavetes turned to directing full-time, he utilized Cassel's talents as often as possible. The actor was Oscar-nominated for his portrayal of an aging hippie in Faces (1968) and later played Moskowitz in Minnie and Moskowitz (1971). A somewhat heavier Seymour Cassel continued as a character actor over the next few decades with roles in Tin_Men, Colors, and the made-for-TV movie Blood_Feud. In the '90s, he played Sam Catchem in Warren_Beatty's Dick_Tracy, dog-sled adventurer Skunker in the Disney classic White_Fang, and a chauffeur in Indecent_Proposal. His role as the shyster Joe in the black comedy In the Soup also earned special recognition at Sundance. Cassel then appeared in two romantic comedies with director Andrew_Bergman: It Could Happen to You and Honeymoon in Vegas. For the rest of the '90s, his career prospered with small, but memorable, roles in such independent comedies and dramas as Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead, Trees_Lounge, and Dream for an Insomniac. During this period, he developed a rapport with filmmaker Wes_Anderson, who cast him as Max Fisher's barber father in Rushmore and Royal's friend Dusty in The_Royal_Tenenbaums. Cassel occasionally makes appearances in screwball teen movies like Stealing_Harvard and the 2003 Farrelly brothers effort Stuck on You. He also had a few choice roles in the family drama The_Sleepy_Time_Gal, Nicolas_Cage's directorial debut Sonny, and the romantic comedy Passionada. Andrea LeVasseur, Rovi
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