Nick Cassavetes

Nick Cassavetes is a writer, director and actor. Cassavetes directed the hit romantic drama "The Notebook, based on the bestselling Nicholas Sparks novel and starring Ryan Gosling, Rachel McAdams, James Garner and Gena Rowlands. He helmed "John Q," starring Denzel Washington, and "She's So Lovely," (the only film to win two awards at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival), which starred Sean Penn, Robin Wright Penn and John Travolta.

Cassavetes co-wrote (with Heather Wahlquist) and directed an emotional drama called "Yellow," in which Wahlquist starred as a troubled teacher. He also wrote and directed the gritty drama "Alpha Dog" based on a true story and starring Bruce Willis, Justin Timberlake and Emile Hirsch.

Cassavetes' facility for character-driven intimacy was first evident in his feature film directorial debut, the critically acclaimed "Unhook the Stars," starring Marissa Tomei, Gerard Depardieu and Gena Rowlands. Cassavetes also co-wrote the incisive drama, which was recognized by the National Board of Review and garnered Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for Rowlands and Tomei.

Cassavetes studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts before beginning his career as an actor and appearing in such films as "Blind Fury," "Quiet Cool," "The Wraith" and "Twogether." He starred opposite William H. Macy in Henry Bromell's "Panica"; with Johnny Depp and Charlize Theron in "The Astronaut's Wife" and with Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence in Ted Demme's "Life."  He also made a cameo appearance in Demme's "Blow," after co-writing the screenplay. In addition, Cassavetes appeared as playwright Robert E. Sherwood in Alan Rudolph's "Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle" and with John Travolta and Nicholas Cage in John Woo's "Face/Off."

Cassavetes has also appeared on television in such series as "L.A. Law," Quantum Leap," and John Sayles' "Shannon's Deal," and in the telefilms "Just Like Dad" and "Shooter."

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