Elia Kazan (Director) | Playbill

Elia Kazan

Director

The last title—about a Brooklyn longshoreman, played by Marlon Brando, who strikes out against a brutal mob boss in control of the waterfront—was thought by artists and critics to be Mr. Kazan's veiled attempt to explain himself to his critics. In 1952, he identified colleagues in show business as being members of the Communist Party before the House Un-American Activities Committee—an action for which many people never forgave him. As recently as 1999, the decision to honor him with a special Academy Award set off a tornado of protest and debate. For his part, Mr. Kazan always defended his decision as one of conscience, though many people noted that his career sailed on unimpeded after his government appearance. Whatever his motivations, the episode cast a cloud over his achievements for decades.

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  • Also Known As: E. Kazan, Elias Kazanjoglou, Gadge
  • Born: Sep 07, 1909 in Constantinople, Ottoman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey)
  • Death: Sep 28, 2003 in New York, New York

Roles (53)

The 34th Annual Tony Awards Playbill - 1980 The 34th Annual Tony Awards - 1980
Opened June 08, 1980
  • as Participating Artist (Original)
The Changeling Playbill - October 1964 The Changeling
Opened October 29, 1964
  • Director
But For Whom Charlie - Opening Night But For Whom Charlie
Opened March 12, 1964
  • Director
Marco Millions - Opening Night Marco Millions
Opened February 20, 1964
  • Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center Director
After The Fall Playbill - January 1964 After the Fall
Opened January 23, 1964
  • Director
  • Repertory Theater of Lincoln Center Director
Sweet Bird of Youth Playbill - March 1959 Sweet Bird of Youth
Opened March 10, 1959
  • Director
J.B. Playbill - Jan 1959 J.B.
Opened December 11, 1958
  • Director
The Dark at the Top of the Stairs Playbill - Jan 6, 1958 The Dark at the Top of the Stairs
Opened December 05, 1957
  • Director
  • Producer
Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Playbill - April 1955 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Opened March 24, 1955
  • Staging
Tea and Sympathy Playbill - Jan 1954 Tea and Sympathy
Opened September 30, 1953
  • Director
  • Staging
Camino Real Playbill - April 1953 Camino Real
Opened March 17, 1953
  • Director
Flight Into Egypt Playbill - March 1952 Flight Into Egypt
Opened March 18, 1952
  • Staging
A Streetcar Named Desire Playbill - May 1950 A Streetcar Named Desire
Opened May 23, 1950
  • Staging
Death of a Salesman Playbill - Aug 1949 Death of a Salesman
Opened February 10, 1949
  • Staging
Love Life Playbill - Oct 1948 Love Life
Opened October 07, 1948
  • Director
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Sundown Beach
Opened September 07, 1948
  • Staging
A Streetcar Named Desire Playbill - Aug 1948 A Streetcar Named Desire
Opened December 03, 1947
  • Director
All My Sons Playbill - March 1947 All My Sons
Opened January 29, 1947
  • Staging
  • Producer
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Truckline Cafe
Opened February 27, 1946
  • Producer
Dunnigan's Daughter Playbill - Dec 1945 Dunnigan's Daughter
Opened December 26, 1945
  • Staging
Deep Are the Roots Playbill - Sept 1945 Deep Are the Roots
Opened September 26, 1945
  • Director
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Harriet
Opened September 27, 1944
  • Staging
Jacobowsky and the Colonel Playbill - April 1944 Jacobowsky and the Colonel
Opened March 14, 1944
  • Staging
One Touch of Venus Playbill - Jan 1944 One Touch of Venus
Opened October 07, 1943
  • Staging
Harriet Playbill - March 1943 Harriet
Opened March 03, 1943
  • Staging
The Skin of Our Teeth Playbill - June 1943 The Skin of Our Teeth
Opened November 18, 1942
  • Director
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 The Strings, My Lord, Are False
Opened May 19, 1942
  • Director
Cafe Crown Playbill - Feb 1942 Cafe Crown
Opened January 23, 1942
  • Staging
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Five Alarm Waltz
Opened March 13, 1941
  • as Adam Boguris (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Liliom
Opened March 25, 1940
  • as Ficzur (Original)
Night Music Playbill - Opening Night Night Music
Opened February 22, 1940
  • as Steve Takis (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Thunder Rock
Opened November 14, 1939
  • Staging
The Gentle People Playbill - March 1939 The Gentle People
Opened January 05, 1939
  • as Eli Lieber (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Casey Jones
Opened February 19, 1938
  • Staging
Golden Boy Playbill - Jan 1938 Golden Boy
Opened November 04, 1937
  • as Eddie Fuseli (Original)
Johnny Johnson Playbill - Jan 1937 Johnny Johnson
Opened November 19, 1936
  • as Dr. Frewd (Original)
  • as Private Kearns (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Case of Clyde Griffiths
Opened March 13, 1936
  • as Working Man (Original)
Paradise Lost Playbill - Jan 1936 Paradise Lost
Opened December 09, 1935
  • as Kewpie (Original)
Pb Listing Placeholder BROADWAY V4 Waiting for Lefty
Opened September 09, 1935
  • as Agate Keller (Original)
The Young Go First Playbill - June 1935 The Young Go First
Opened May 28, 1935
  • Staging
Waiting for Lefty Playbill - March 1935 Waiting for Lefty
Opened March 26, 1935
  • as Agate Keller (Original)
Till the Day I Die Playbill - March 1935 Till the Day I Die
Opened March 26, 1935
  • as Baum (Original)
  • as Other Prisoner (Original)
Gold Eagle Guy Playbill - November 1934 Gold Eagle Guy
Opened November 28, 1934
  • as Polyziodes (Original)
Men in White Playbill - Opening Night Men in White
Opened September 26, 1933
  • as Orderly (Original)
  • Stage Manager
  • as Dr. Vitale (Replacement)
Chrysalis Playbill - Nov 1932 Chrysalis
Opened November 15, 1932
  • as Louis (Original)

Awards

Tony Award
1960 Best Direction of a Play Nominee
1959 Direction (pre-1960) Winner
1958 Direction (pre-1960) Nominee
1956 Direction (pre-1960) Nominee
1949 Direction (pre-1960) Winner
1947 Direction (pre-1960) Winner
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