Ben Gazzara

Ben Gazzara (August 28, 1930 – February 3, 2012) was an American film, stage, and television actor and director. His best known films include "Anatomy of a Murder" (1959), "Voyage of the Damned" (1976), "Road House" (1989), and "The Big Lebowski" (1998). He was a recurring collaborator with John Cassavetes, working with him on "Husbands" (1970), "The Killing of a Chinese Bookie" (1976) and "Opening Night" (1977). As the star of the television series "Run for Your Life" (1965–1968), Gazarra was nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Emmy Awards. He won his first, and only, Emmy Award for his role in the television film "Hysterical Blindness" (2002).