Actor Ben Gazzara, known for his brooding tough-guy presence in dozens of films, television shows and stage productions over his long career, died of pancreatic cancer on Friday at a Manhattan hospital, his lawyer said. He was 81. The New York-born performer died at Bellevue Hospital Center, with members of his family at his side, according to his attorney, Jay Julien.
Born Biagio Anthony Gazzara to Italian immigrant parents, he began his career in live theater, most notably in the role of Brick in the original Broadway production of Tennessee Williams' "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof," directed by Elia Kazan. The role was played by Paul Newman in the 1958 film version.
A three-time Tony Award nominee for his stage work, Gazzara made his film debut as a sociopathic military academy cadet in the 1957 drama On television, Gazzara starred from 1965 to 1968 on the NBC prime-time drama He earned Tony nominations for his appearances in three Broadway productions of the 1970s, a revival of "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and his dual roles in a double bill of the plays "Hughie" and "Duet." Gazzara was married three times, with his first two marriages ending in divorce. He is survived by his third wife, Elke, and daughter Elizabeth.
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