Ben Gazzara (1930-2012) was an American actor, known for his intense style and his adherence to "method acting", having trained at the Actors Studio. His film career was marked by roles of complex characters, often tormented, rebellious, or anti-heroes with deep vulnerability.

He formed a fundamental artistic partnership with director John Cassavetes, becoming an iconic face of American independent cinema. Together they made cult films such as *Husbands* (1970), *Minnie and Moskowitz* (1971), and *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976).

Among his other most celebrated performances are Otto Preminger's *Anatomy of a Murder* (1959), Giuseppe Tornatore's *Il camorrista* (1986), and later collaborations with directors like Peter Bogdanovich and the Coen brothers in *The Big Lebowski* (1998). Gazzara often embodied the figure of the tough but introspective man, leaving a distinctive mark on the acting landscape.