Ben Gazzara 1930-2012

Actor Ben Gazzara, a Method actor known for his intense performances on stage, screen and TV, and who was celebrated for his exceptional work for directors John Cassavetes and Peter Bogdanovich, died in New York Friday, February 3, 2012 at age 81.

Ben Gazzara played an Army officer on trial in "Anatomy of a Murder," costarring George C. Scott.

Ben Gazzara starred with Anna Magnani in the comedy "The Passionate Thief" (1960).

Ben Gazzara starred as a lawyer who discovers he has just a short time to live and decides to make the most of it in the 1960s TV series "Run for Your Life." The show had a longer life span than Gazzara's character - running three seasons, during which he received two Emmy Award and three Golden Globe nominations.

In "A Rage to Live" Ben Gazzara starred opposite Suzanne Pleshette playing a nymphomaniac newspaper heiress.

Ben Gazzara and George Segal in "The Bridge at Ramagen" (1969).

Ben Gazzara in "The Bridge at Ramagen" (1969).

Ben Gazzara starred with Peter Falk and John Cassavetes in "Husbands" (1970).

In "Capone" Ben Gazzara starred as the legendary mob boss, with Susan Blakely.

In "Killing of a Chinese Bookie" (1976), directed by John Cassavetes, Ben Gazzara played a bar owner goaded into performing a mob hit in order to settle a gambling debt.

Ben Gazzara in "Killing of a Chinese Bookie" (1976).

Ben Gazzara and Orson Welles in "Voyage of the Damned" (1976).

Gena Rowlands and Ben Gazzara starred in "Opening Night" (1977), directed by John Cassavetes.

Ben Gazzara starred as a pimp who dreams of moving up - owning his own brothel! - in Peter Bogdanovich's "Saint Jack" (1979), based on the novel by Paul Theroux.

After appearing together in the film version of Sidney Sheldon's "Bloodline," Ben Gazzara and Audrey Hepburn reunited in Peter Bogdanovich's "They All Laughed" (1981), in which Gazzara played a detective hired to tail the wife of a business tycoon.

Inspired by the work of poet Charles Bukowski, "Tales of Ordinary Madness" (1981) starred Ben Gazzara as an alcoholic writer working through personal issues with, among others, Ornella Muti.

Hey, you don't mess with Patrick Swayze - unless, of course, you're Ben Gazzara, in "Road House" (1989).

Vincent Gallo, Christina Ricci and Ben Gazzara in "Buffalo '66" (1998).

Ben Gazzara starred in David Mamet's twisting tale of confidence men, "The Spanish Prisoner" (1997).

Ben Gazzara played a pornographer in the Coen Brothers' "The Big Lebowski."

Ben Gazzara and Nicole Kidman in Lars von Trier's Expressionistic drama "Dogville" (2003).

(L-R) Sunshine Ruffalo, Mark Ruffalo, Ben Gazzara, and Elke Gazzara arrive at the opening of the Lincoln Center Theater presents " Awake And Sing" after party at the Marriot Marquis on April 17, 2006 in New York City. (Photo by Brad Barket/Getty Images)

Actor Ben Gazzara, right, and Elke Gazzara pose together at the 2011 National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street on Jan. 11, 2011, in New York.