12. A Dog's Day For John Cazale, Never Even Nominated
John Cazale was one of the finest actors of his generation. No small feat when you consider that he was sharing the screen with the likes of Al Pacino, Gene Hackman, Marlon Brando and Robert De Niro. Although he only appeared in six films he managed to accomplish more than most actors with over one hundred credits to their names. Every one of the six films that Cazale appeared in received a Best Picture nomination. Cazale himself never received an acting nomination despite critics and audiences agreeing that he was quite exceptional in every one of his film appearances. He was wonderful as Fredo Corleone in The Godfather trilogy and put on a heartbreaking display in The Deer Hunter when he was on his death bed. But it was his performance in Sidney Lumet's Dog Day Afternoon for which he surely should have been nominated for, if not won, the Best Supporting Actor Oscar. The 48th Academy Awards were dominated by One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest, but even then Best Supporting Actor went to George Burns for his turn in Herbert Ross' entirely forgettable The Sunshine Boys. Really, Cazale should have won. He did receive a nomination at the Golden Globes, but it must have been of little consolation. Cazale died of cancer on March 12th, 1978 at the age of 42.
