Trivia

He was born on the East Side of Manhattan in New York City to Antonio Gazzara and Angela Cusumano Gazzara, both Italian immigrants. They often spoke Italian at home. He grew up in a building at 29th Street and 1st Avenue, where he slept on the fire escape in summer and occasionally heard screams from the patients at the Bellevue Psychiatric Hospital in New York City.

In the 1980s, he had a villa in Umbria, Italy, where he spent time in Italian films.

Smoked 4 packs of cigarettes a day until he switched to cigars.

Died on the 23rd anniversary of the death of his close friend John Cassavetes, on February 3, 2012.

He and his Road House costar Patrick Swayze both died from pancreatic cancer. Swayze in 2009, and Gazzara in 2012.

He is survived by his daughter, Elizabeth Gazzara, from his second marriage to Janice Rule; his third wife, Elke Gazzara (Elke Stuckmann) (married since 1982); his adopted daughter, Danja Gazzara, from Elke's previous marriage; and brother, Anthony Gazzara.

He caught the acting bug when he was 11 years old and watched one of his friends act in a play at the Madison Square Boys Club.

Diagnosed with throat cancer in 1999. He lost more than 40 pounds during treatment.

Claimed that of all of the movies in which he has ever appeared in, Road House (1989) is the most frequently repeated on television.

Shared a "purist's" approach to acting and choosing roles with Road House (1989) co-star Sam Elliott.

Spoke fluent Italian, though his dialogue was usually dubbed in the Italian-language releases of his films.

Lived with Elaine Stritch for two years.

He agreed to star in Inchon (1981) to work with Laurence Olivier.

Although they played enemies on-screen in Road House (1989) he said he very much enjoyed working with Patrick Swayze on that film and the two of them got along very well. He said Swayze was a very nice man and professional always wanting to give his best in everything.

He and his good friend John Cassavetes made 5 movies together: Husbands (1970), Capone (1975), If It's Tuesday, This Must Be Belgium (1969), Opening Night (1977) and The Killing of a Chinese Bookie (1976)

He met radio actress Louise Erickson, who would be his first wife. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1957. In 1961, he married actress Janice Rule and had a daughter, Elizabeth Gazzara. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1982. He met Elke Gazzara (Elke Stuckmann) in 1979 and married her in 1982.

He studied drama at the Dramatic Workshop in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. He studied with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York City in 1951.

Release of his autobiography, "In the Moment: My Life as an Actor". (2000)

Despite being a close friend of Peter Falk, Gazzara surprisingly never made a guest appearance on Falk's signature 'Columbo' series, although he did helm two episodes.

In his later years, looked exactly like Robert Loggia, to the point they were often confused. Incidentally, they were born the same year, and died 3 years apart.

The February 16, 1983, edition of Variety, in the "Production in Italy" section, reports the film "Boogie Woogie" directed by Andrea Frezza, starring Ben Gazzara and Treat Williams, was to being filming in Italy in March 1983. Lack of funding prohibited completion of the film.

Attended NYC's famed Stuyvesant High School.

Father, with Janice Rule, of Elizabeth Gazzara.

Appearing on Broadway in a revival of Clifford Odets' "Awake and Sing". (April 2006)

He received numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award and a Drama Desk Award, in addition to nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and three Tony Awards.