John Savage (birth name John Smeallie Young) is an American actor known for his roles as complex and vulnerable characters, often marked by trauma or deep internal conflicts. He reached the peak of his fame in the late 1970s and early 1980s.

His most renowned performance is arguably that of Steven Pushkov in Michael Cimino's *The Deer Hunter* (1978), where he portrayed the soldier wounded and traumatized by the Vietnam War. Shortly thereafter, he solidified his reputation with the role of the sensitive idealist Claude Bukowski in Miloš Forman's musical *Hair* (1979).

Throughout his career, he often portrayed melancholic and intense characters, possessing an introspective demeanor. Other significant works include Oliver Stone's *Salvador* (1986) and Terrence Malick's *The Thin Red Line* (1998). His ability to convey human fragility made him a memorable performer in supporting roles.