John Sayles

Biography

John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.

Personal Facts

Known For

Directing

Gender

male

Known Credits

131

Birth Date

1950-09-28 00:00:00

Birth Place

Schenectady, New York, USA

Known For

• 

  Lone Star
• 

  Eight Men Out
• 

  Amigo
• 

  Passion Fish
• 

  Matewan
• 

  The Brother from Another Planet

Credits

• production (7 credits)

  • Grendel

    executive producer

    production
    2026
  • The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot

    executive producer

    production
    2019
  • Elsie Hooper

    executive producer

    production
    2016
  • Dr. Del

    executive producer

    production
    2016
  • Talents

    executive producer

    production
    2015
  • My Mexican Shivah

    executive producer

    production
    2007
  • Little Saints

    executive producer

    production
    1999

• actors (47 credits)

  • An Ode to Mary Jo

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • John Sayles and Gregory Nava

    Themself

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Algren

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Corona Film Club

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Texas Red

    Governor Johnson (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2021
  • Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Them That Work

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2019
  • The Umbrella

    Pastor Jim

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • The Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • That Guy Dick Miller

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • The Normals

    Dr. Marx

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Casting By

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Corman's World

    Self - Filmmaker

    actor

    actors
    2011
  • Great Directors

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • In the Electric Mist

    Michael Goldman

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • The Toe Tactic

    Cramden

    actor

    actors
    2009
  • Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Alligator Author

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Honeydripper

    Zeke

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Edge of Outside

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2006
  • Tell Them Who You Are

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Sunshine State

    Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    2002
  • A Constant Forge

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • When It Was a Game 3

    Self (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Gridlock'd

    Cop #1

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • My Life's in Turnaround

    Marginal producer

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Matinee

    Bob

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Passion Fish

    Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Malcolm X

    FBI Agent

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Straight Talk

    Guy Girardi

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • City of Hope

    Carl

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Little Vegas

    Mike

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Untamagiru

    US High Commissioner

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • La fine della notte

    Wayne

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Eight Men Out

    Ring Lardner

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Matewan

    Hardshell Preacher

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • Unnatural Causes

    Lloyd

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Something Wild

    Motorcycle Cop

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Hard Choices

    Don

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • The Brother from Another Planet

    Man in Black

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Lianna

    Jerry

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • The Howling

    Morgue Attendant (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Return of the Secaucus Seven

    Howie

    actor

    actors
    1980
  • Piranha

    Army Sentry (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1978

• writing (38 credits)

  • Django Lives!

    writer

    writing
    2026
  • I Passed This Way

    writer

    writing
    2026
  • Sonora: The Devil’s Highway

    writer

    writing
    2019
  • Dr. Del

    writer

    writing
    2016
  • Go for Sisters

    writer

    writing
    2013
  • Amigo

    writer

    writing
    2011
  • The Spiderwick Chronicles

    screenplay

    writing
    2008
  • Honeydripper

    writer

    writing
    2007
  • Silver City

    writer

    writing
    2004
  • Casa de los Babys

    writer

    writing
    2003
  • Sunshine State

    writer

    writing
    2002
  • Limbo

    writer

    writing
    1999
  • Men with Guns

    writer

    writing
    1998
  • Lone Star

    writer

    writing
    1996
  • Piranha

    story

    writing
    1995
  • Men of War

    screenplay

    writing
    1994
  • The Secret of Roan Inish

    screenplay

    writing
    1994
  • Passion Fish

    writer

    writing
    1992
  • City of Hope

    writer

    writing
    1991
  • Breaking In

    writer

    writing
    1989
  • Shannon's Deal

    writer

    writing
    1989
  • Eight Men Out

    writer

    writing
    1988
  • Matewan

    writer

    writing
    1987
  • Wild Thing

    screenplay

    writing
    1987
  • Unnatural Causes

    writer

    writing
    1986
  • The Clan of the Cave Bear

    screenplay

    writing
    1986
  • The Brother from Another Planet

    screenplay

    writing
    1984
  • Baby It's You

    screenplay

    writing
    1983
  • Lianna

    writer

    writing
    1983
  • Enormous Changes at the Last Minute

    writer

    writing
    1983
  • The Challenge

    writer

    writing
    1982
  • The Howling

    screenplay

    writing
    1981
  • Alligator

    screenplay

    writing
    1980
  • A Perfect Match

    teleplay

    writing
    1980
  • Battle Beyond the Stars

    story

    writing
    1980
  • Return of the Secaucus Seven

    writer

    writing
    1980
  • The Lady in Red

    writer

    writing
    1979
  • Piranha

    screenplay

    writing
    1978

• directing (21 credits)

  • I Passed This Way

    director

    directing
    2026
  • Go for Sisters

    director

    directing
    2013
  • Amigo

    director

    directing
    2011
  • Honeydripper

    director

    directing
    2007
  • Silver City

    director

    directing
    2004
  • Casa de los Babys

    director

    directing
    2003
  • Sunshine State

    director

    directing
    2002
  • Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000

    director

    directing
    2001
  • Limbo

    director

    directing
    1999
  • Men with Guns

    director

    directing
    1998
  • Lone Star

    director

    directing
    1996
  • The Secret of Roan Inish

    director

    directing
    1994
  • Passion Fish

    director

    directing
    1992
  • City of Hope

    director

    directing
    1991
  • Mountain View

    director

    directing
    1989
  • Eight Men Out

    director

    directing
    1988
  • Matewan

    director

    directing
    1987
  • The Brother from Another Planet

    director

    directing
    1984
  • Baby It's You

    director

    directing
    1983
  • Lianna

    director

    directing
    1983
  • Return of the Secaucus Seven

    director

    directing
    1980

• crew (3 credits)

  • Them That Work

    thanks

    crew
    2019
  • Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny

    thanks

    crew
    2016
  • Mimic

    additional writing

    crew
    1997

• editing (15 credits)

  • Go for Sisters

    editor

    editing
    2013
  • Amigo

    editor

    editing
    2011
  • Honeydripper

    editor

    editing
    2007
  • Silver City

    editor

    editing
    2004
  • Casa de los Babys

    editor

    editing
    2003
  • Sunshine State

    editor

    editing
    2002
  • Limbo

    editor

    editing
    1999
  • Men with Guns

    editor

    editing
    1998
  • Lone Star

    editor

    editing
    1996
  • The Secret of Roan Inish

    editor

    editing
    1994
  • Passion Fish

    editor

    editing
    1992
  • City of Hope

    editor

    editing
    1991
  • The Brother from Another Planet

    editor

    editing
    1984
  • Lianna

    editor

    editing
    1983
  • Return of the Secaucus Seven

    editor

    editing
    1980