Remembering Elia Kazan, Oscar-Winning Greek-American Director

Elia Kazan. Credit: Kavallines James, Public domain

Elia Kazan, a well-known director, producer, screenwriter, novelist, and co-founder of the influential Actors Studio successful New York successful 1947 was really Greek-American. Kazan was a three-time Academy Award winner, a five-time Tony Award winner, a four-time Golden Globes winner, arsenic good arsenic a recipient of galore awards and nominations successful different prestigious festivals astatine the Cannes Film Festival and the Venice Film Festival.

He was calved Elias Kazanjoglou (Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου successful Greek) successful the Anatolian metropolis of the Ottoman Empire, Kayseri, Turkey) to a Greek family.

His household emigrated to the United States successful 1913 and settled successful New York City, wherever his father, George Kazanjoglu, became a rug merchant. Kazan’s begetter expected that his lad would spell into the household business, but his mother, Athena (née Sismanoglou), encouraged Kazan to marque his ain decisions.

Kazan attended nationalist schools successful New York City and New Rochelle, N.Y. After graduating from Williams College successful Massachusetts, Kazan studied astatine Yale University’s School of Drama. In the 1930s, Kazan acted with New York’s Group Theatre, alongside Lee Strasberg, Clifford Odets, and Stella and Luther Adler. During this period, Kazan earned his nickname “Gadg,” abbreviated for Gadget — for his handyman skills, according to TCM. He ne'er learned to emotion the name.

He became 1 of the astir disposable members of the New York elite. Kazan’s theatre credits included acting successful “Men successful White,” “Waiting for Lefty,” “Johnny Johnson,” ‘Golden Boy,” and the 1940 revival of “Liliom.” Kazan directed “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951) and “Cat connected a Hot Tin Roof” (1955) — 2 of the plays that made Tennessee Williams a theatrical and literate force. He besides directed “All My Sons” (1947) and “Death of a Salesman” (1949), the plays which did overmuch the aforesaid for Arthur Miller. He received 3 Tony Awards, winning for “All My Sons,” “Death of a Salesman,” and “J.B.”

Kazan’s past arsenic a movie manager is arsenic noteworthy, if not much impressive. He won 2 Academy Awards for champion director, for “Gentleman’s Agreement” (1947) and “On the Waterfront” (1954). He elicited critically acclaimed performances from actors including Marlon Brando and Oscar winners Vivien Leigh, Karl Malden, and Kim Hunter successful “A Streetcar Named Desire” (1951), James Dean and Oscar victor Jo Van Fleet successful “East of Eden” (adapted from the John Steinbeck novel), Montgomery Clift, Lee Remick, and Jo Van Fleet successful “Wild River (1960), reportedly 1 of Kazan’s favourite films, Natalie Wood successful “Splendor successful the Grass” and Andy Griffith successful “A Face successful the Crowd.”

Elia Kazan successful Communist Controversy

Kazan remained arguable successful immoderate circles for grounds helium gave earlier the House Un-American Activities Committee (HUAC) successful 1952, successful which (after antecedently refusing to bash so) helium named associates from his days arsenic a subordinate of the Communist Party successful the 1930s. He began his vocation arsenic an histrion and signifier manager for New York’s Group Theatre Company, which was conscionable precocious established. His engagement successful the radical led him to articulation the American Communist Party successful 1934. He was lone progressive with the Communist Party for a abbreviated time; however, helium was rapidly recognized arsenic a imaginable communist by the HUAC.

According to IMBD, erstwhile Kazan was awarded an honorary Oscar decades aboriginal successful 1999, 250 demonstrators picketed the lawsuit and dozens of actors refused to applaud him.

Kazan was joined 3 times. His archetypal woman was playwright Molly Day Thacher. They were joined from 1932 until her decease successful 1963; they had 2 daughters and 2 sons. His 2nd matrimony to the histrion Barbara Loden, lasted from 1969 until her decease successful 1980, and yielded 1 son. Then, helium was joined to Frances Rudge from 1982 until his decease successful 2003. He besides had a semipermanent matter with Constance Dowling during his archetypal marriage, which ended erstwhile Dowling went to Hollywood successful 1944 to marque “Up successful Arms” nether declaration with Samuel Goldwyn.

Elia Kazan died successful 2003 of earthy causes astatine the property of 94 successful New York City.