John Sayles

Biography

John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.

Career Overview

John Sayles has 137 screen credits in a career dating back to 1978. Their work spans 8 cinematic universes — most prominently Three Extremes with 1 titles. Signature works include Lone Star, Eight Men Out, Amigo. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For: Directing
Gender: male
Known Credits: 137
Birth Date: 1950-09-28 00:00:00
Birth Place: Schenectady, New York, USA

Known For

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 8 universes

Three Extremes (1 titles)
The Howling Collection (1 titles)
Alligator Collection (1 titles)
Piranha (1 titles)
Piranha Collection (1 titles)
Time Warp Collection (1 titles)
When It Was A Game Collection (1 titles)
Mimic Series (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

David Strathairn (4 collaborations)
Michael Mantell (4 collaborations)
Maggie Renzi (4 collaborations)
Chris Cooper (3 collaborations)
John Griesemer (3 collaborations)
Tom Wright (3 collaborations)
Clifton James (2 collaborations)
Joe Morton (2 collaborations)
Stephen Mendillo (2 collaborations)
Leo Burmester (2 collaborations)

Credits

production (9 credits)
- Grendel
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2026
- The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2019
- The Alienist
  
  - Castle in the Sky (2018) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Psychopathia Sexualis (2018) ... consulting producer production
  
  - Many Sainted Men (2018) ... consulting producer production
  
  2018
- Elsie Hooper
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- Dr. Del
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2016
- Talents
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2015
- My Mexican Shivah
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2007
- Girlfight
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  2000
- Little Saints
  
  executive producer
  
  production
  
  1999
directing (21 credits)
- I Passed This Way
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2026
- Go for Sisters
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2013
- Amigo
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2011
- Honeydripper
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2007
- Silver City
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2004
- Casa de los Babys
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2003
- Sunshine State
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2002
- Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  2001
- Limbo
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1999
- Men with Guns
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1998
- Lone Star
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1996
- The Secret of Roan Inish
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1994
- Passion Fish
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1992
- City of Hope
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1991
- Mountain View
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1989
- Eight Men Out
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1988
- Matewan
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1987
- The Brother from Another Planet
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1984
- Baby It's You
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Lianna
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1983
- Return of the Secaucus Seven
  
  director
  
  directing
  
  1980
writing (39 credits)
- I Passed This Way
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- Django Lives!
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2026
- Sonora: The Devil’s Highway
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2019
- The Alienist
  
  - Castle in the Sky (2018) ... teleplay writing
  
  - Psychopathia Sexualis (2018) ... teleplay writing
  
  - Many Sainted Men (2018) ... teleplay writing
  
  2018
- Dr. Del
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2016
- Go for Sisters
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2013
- Amigo
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2011
- The Spiderwick Chronicles
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  2008
- Honeydripper
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2007
- Silver City
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2004
- Casa de los Babys
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2003
- Sunshine State
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  2002
- Limbo
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1999
- Men with Guns
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1998
- Lone Star
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1996
- Piranha
  
  story
  
  writing
  
  1995
- Men of War
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1994
- The Secret of Roan Inish
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1994
- Passion Fish
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1992
- City of Hope
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1991
- Breaking In
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1989
- Shannon's Deal
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1989
- Eight Men Out
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1988
- Matewan
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1987
- Wild Thing
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1987
- Unnatural Causes
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1986
- The Clan of the Cave Bear
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1986
- The Brother from Another Planet
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1984
- Baby It's You
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1983
- Lianna
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1983
- Enormous Changes at the Last Minute
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1983
- The Challenge
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1982
- The Howling
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1981
- Alligator
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1980
- A Perfect Match
  
  teleplay
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Battle Beyond the Stars
  
  story
  
  writing
  
  1980
- Return of the Secaucus Seven
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1980
- The Lady in Red
  
  writer
  
  writing
  
  1979
- Piranha
  
  screenplay
  
  writing
  
  1978
actors (50 credits)
- An Ode to Mary Jo
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2026
- John Sayles and Gregory Nava
  Themself
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2024
- Poker Face
  
  - The Taste of Human Blood (2025) ... Chief Hal actor actors
  
  2023
- Algren
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Corona Film Club
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Texas Red
  Governor Johnson (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2021
- Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2020
- Them That Work
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2019
- The Umbrella
  Pastor Jim
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2016
- The Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2015
- That Guy Dick Miller
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2014
- The Normals
  Dr. Marx
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Casting By
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2012
- Corman's World
  Self - Filmmaker
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2011
- Great Directors
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- In the Electric Mist
  Michael Goldman
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- The Toe Tactic
  Cramden
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2009
- Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2008
- Alligator Author
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Honeydripper
  Zeke
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2007
- Edge of Outside
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2006
- Tell Them Who You Are
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2004
- Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2003
- Sunshine State
  Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2002
- A Constant Forge
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Girlfight
  Science Teacher
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- When It Was a Game 3
  Self (voice)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  2000
- Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
  Self
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- Gridlock'd
  Cop #1
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1997
- My Life's in Turnaround
  Marginal producer
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1994
- Baseball
  
  - Inning Nine: Home (1994) ... Self actor actors
  
  - Inning Three: The Faith of Fifty Million People (1994) ... Self actor actors
  
  1994
- Matinee
  Bob
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1993
- Passion Fish
  Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Malcolm X
  FBI Agent
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- Straight Talk
  Guy Girardi
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1992
- City of Hope
  Carl
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1991
- Little Vegas
  Mike
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1990
- Untamagiru
  US High Commissioner
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1989
- La fine della notte
  Wayne
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1989
- Eight Men Out
  Ring Lardner
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1988
- Matewan
  Hardshell Preacher
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1987
- Unnatural Causes
  Lloyd
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Something Wild
  Motorcycle Cop
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1986
- Hard Choices
  Don
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1985
- The Brother from Another Planet
  Man in Black
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1984
- Lianna
  Jerry
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1983
- The Howling
  Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1981
- Return of the Secaucus Seven
  Howie
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1980
- Piranha
  Army Sentry (uncredited)
  
  actor
  
  actors
  
  1978
crew (3 credits)
- Them That Work
  
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2019
- Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny
  
  thanks
  
  crew
  
  2016
- Mimic
  
  additional writing
  
  crew
  
  1997
editing (15 credits)
- Go for Sisters
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2013
- Amigo
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2011
- Honeydripper
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2007
- Silver City
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2004
- Casa de los Babys
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2003
- Sunshine State
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  2002
- Limbo
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1999
- Men with Guns
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1998
- Lone Star
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1996
- The Secret of Roan Inish
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1994
- Passion Fish
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1992
- City of Hope
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1991
- The Brother from Another Planet
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1984
- Lianna
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1983
- Return of the Secaucus Seven
  
  editor
  
  editing
  
  1980

Content sources

Related entry on Wikidata (Q2141212), public domain (CC0).