10 Outstanding Final Film Performances

Despite only being in five feature films during his brief yet outstanding acting career, John Cazale is remembered for holding quite possibly the strongest acting resume in Hollywood history.

Made over a span of six years, The Godfather (1972), The Conversation (1974), The Godfather Part II (1974), Dog Day Afternoon (1975) and finally The Deer Hunter, all starred Cazale in supporting roles. Each film was nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars and they would all later be selected for preservation in the US National Film Registry.

The Deer Hunter would be the third and last Best Picture winner that Cazale would star in, with the actor joining a strong cast to play Stan in Michael Cimino’s gritty Vietnam War drama. Starring Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken and Cazale’s then girlfriend Meryl Streep, the epic film remains one of the most provocative and controversial war films of all time.

Suffering from terminal cancer, Cimino made the directorial decision to film all of Cazale’s scenes first due to the actor’s declining health. Unfortunately Cazale would die shortly after filming wrapped and would never see the full film. His final film performance was, much like his other roles, in the shadow of bigger actors - but forever shining as one of the best supporting actors of all time.