Seymour Cassel facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Seymour Cassel
Cassel in 2007
Born	Seymour Joseph Cassel (1935-01-22)January 22, 1935 Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Died	April 7, 2019(2019-04-07) (aged 84) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1959–2015
Spouse(s)	Elizabeth Deering ​ ​ (m. 1964; div. 1983)​
Children	2

Seymour Joseph Cassel (born January 22, 1935 – died April 7, 2019) was an American actor. He was famous for acting in more than 200 movies and TV shows. His career lasted for over 50 years!

Seymour Cassel first became well-known in the 1960s. He starred in independent films made by the writer and director John Cassavetes. Some of these movies include Too Late Blues (1961) and Faces (1968). For his role in Faces, he was nominated for an Academy Award. He also won a special award from film critics. Cassel continued to work with Cassavetes in movies like Minnie and Moskowitz (1971) and Love Streams (1984).

He also appeared in many other popular films. These include Honeymoon in Vegas (1992) and Indecent Proposal (1993). Later in his career, another famous director, Wes Anderson, often cast Cassel in his movies. You might know him from Rushmore (1998), The Royal Tenenbaums (2001), and The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004).

Early Life

Seymour Cassel was born in Detroit, Michigan. His mother, Pancretia Ann, was a performer. His father, Seymour Joseph Cassel, owned a nightclub.

When Seymour was young, his mother remarried. His stepfather was in the U.S. Army Air Forces. The family moved to Panama, where his stepfather owned a nightclub. In the late 1940s, his mother got a divorce. She sent Seymour to live with his godmother in Detroit.

When he was 17, Cassel had to choose between joining the Navy or going to jail. He chose the military. After three years of service, he went to college for a short time. Then, he returned to Detroit. There, he built props for a theater company and took small acting roles. He decided he wanted to be an actor. So, he moved to New York City.

Career Highlights

Seymour Cassel's early acting career was closely linked to his friend, actor and director John Cassavetes. Cassel made his first movie appearance in Cassavetes' film, Shadows. He also helped produce that movie. In 1961, he acted alongside Cassavetes in Too Late Blues.

Cassel also appeared on many popular TV shows. These included Twelve O'Clock High and The F.B.I.. He even played a character named "Cancelled" in the 1960s Batman TV series. In that episode, he acted with Bruce Lee!

In 1968, Cassel was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. This was for his role as Chet in John Cassavetes' movie Faces. He also starred with Gena Rowlands in Minnie and Moskowitz.

Cassel acted in many big Hollywood movies. Some of these were Dick Tracy and Indecent Proposal. He also supported independent films, which are movies made outside of big studios. He worked with director Steve Buscemi and appeared in three films by Wes Anderson: Rushmore, The Royal Tenenbaums, and The Life Aquatic. Cassel also acted for four seasons on the TV show Tracey Takes On... with comedian Tracey Ullman.

Personal Life

Seymour Cassel married Elizabeth Deering in 1964. They had two children together. They later divorced in 1983.

The famous guitarist Slash from the band Guns N' Roses was friends with Cassel's son when they were kids. Slash has said that Seymour Cassel gave him his nickname. He called him "Slash" because he was "always zipping from one place to another and never sitting still."

Seymour Cassel passed away on April 7, 2019, at the age of 84. He had been living with Alzheimer's disease.

Awards and Recognition

In 2009, the San Diego Film Festival honored Seymour Cassel. They gave him the Indie Icon Award. This award celebrates actors who are important in independent films.

In 2012, a film festival in Germany, the Oldenburg Film Festival, created a special award for actors. They named it the Seymour Cassel Award to honor him.

He also won the National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Faces.

Filmography

Film

Television

Images for kids

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  Seymour Cassel in 1995

See also

In Spanish: Seymour Cassel para niños