DIRECTOR
John Sayles
Known for Malcolm X · The Alienist · Poker Face
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
Snapshot 2026-10-16
- Born
- Sep 28, 1950
- Birthplace
- Schenectady, New York, USA
- Known For
- Directing
Biography
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
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Known For
Filmography
Movies
PiranhaArmy Sentry (uncredited)
1978PiranhaScreenplay
1978PiranhaStory
1978
The Lady in RedWriter
1979
A Perfect MatchTeleplay
1980
AlligatorScreenplay
1980AlligatorStory
1980
Battle Beyond the StarsStory
1980Battle Beyond the StarsScreenplay
1980
Return of the Secaucus SevenHowie
1980Return of the Secaucus SevenDirector
1980Return of the Secaucus SevenWriter
1980Return of the Secaucus SevenEditor
1980
The HowlingMorgue Attendant (uncredited)
1981The HowlingScreenplay
1981
The ChallengeWriter
1982
Baby It's YouDirector
1983Baby It's YouScreenplay
1983
Enormous Changes at the Last MinuteWriter
1983
LiannaJerry
1983LiannaDirector
1983LiannaWriter
1983LiannaEditor
1983
The Brother from Another PlanetMan in Black
1984The Brother from Another PlanetDirector
1984The Brother from Another PlanetScreenplay
1984The Brother from Another PlanetEditor
1984
Hard ChoicesDon
1985
Something WildMotorcycle Cop
1986
The Clan of the Cave BearScreenplay
1986
Unnatural CausesLloyd
1986Unnatural CausesWriter
1986Unnatural CausesTeleplay
1986
MatewanHardshell Preacher
1987MatewanDirector
1987MatewanWriter
1987
Wild ThingScreenplay
1987Wild ThingStory
1987
Eight Men OutRing Lardner
1988Eight Men OutWriter
1988Eight Men OutDirector
1988
Breaking InWriter
1989
La fine della notteWayne
1989
Mountain ViewDirector
1989
Shannon's DealWriter
1989
UntamagiruUS High Commissioner
1989
Little VegasMike
1990
City of HopeCarl
1991City of HopeEditor
1991City of HopeDirector
1991City of HopeWriter
1991
Malcolm XFBI Agent
1992
Passion FishSoap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
1992Passion FishDirector
1992Passion FishWriter
1992Passion FishEditor
1992
Straight TalkGuy Girardi
1992
MatineeBob
1993
Men of WarScreenplay
1994
My Life's in TurnaroundMarginal producer
1994
The Secret of Roan InishDirector
1994The Secret of Roan InishScreenplay
1994The Secret of Roan InishEditor
1994
PiranhaStory
1995
Lone StarDirector
1996Lone StarEditor
1996Lone StarWriter
1996
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the WesternSelf
1997
Gridlock'dCop #1
1997
MimicAdditional Writing
1997
Men with GunsDirector
1998Men with GunsWriter
1998Men with GunsEditor
1998
LimboDirector
1999LimboWriter
1999LimboEditor
1999
Little SaintsExecutive Producer
1999
A Constant ForgeSelf
2000
GirlfightScience Teacher
2000GirlfightExecutive Producer
2000WI
When It Was a Game 3Self (voice)
2000
Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000Director
2001
Sunshine StateMan who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
2002Sunshine StateDirector
2002Sunshine StateWriter
2002Sunshine StateEditor
2002
Casa de los BabysEditor
2003Casa de los BabysDirector
2003Casa de los BabysWriter
2003
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
2003
Silver CityDirector
2004Silver CityWriter
2004Silver CityEditor
2004
Tell Them Who You AreSelf
2004
Edge of OutsideSelf
2006
Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United StatesSelf
2006AA
Alligator AuthorSelf
2007
HoneydripperZeke
2007HoneydripperDirector
2007HoneydripperWriter
2007HoneydripperEditor
2007
My Mexican ShivahExecutive Producer
2007
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove PressSelf
2008
The Spiderwick ChroniclesScreenplay
2008
Great DirectorsSelf
2009
In the Electric MistMichael Goldman
2009
The Toe TacticCramden
2009
AmigoEditor
2011AmigoDirector
2011AmigoWriter
2011
Corman's WorldSelf - Filmmaker
2011
Casting BySelf
2012
The NormalsDr. Marx
2012
Go for SistersDirector
2013Go for SistersWriter
2013Go for SistersEditor
2013
That Guy Dick MillerSelf
2014
TalentsExecutive Producer
2015
The Third Man: A Filmmaker's InfluenceSelf
2015
Dr. DelWriter
2016Dr. DelExecutive Producer
2016
Elsie HooperExecutive Producer
2016
Richard Linklater: Dream Is DestinyThanks
2016
The UmbrellaPastor Jim
2016
Sonora: The Devil’s HighwayWriter
2019
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the BigfootExecutive Producer
2019
Them That WorkSelf
2019Them That WorkThanks
2019
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-FiSelf
2020
AlgrenSelf
2021
Corona Film ClubSelf
2021
Texas RedGovernor Johnson (voice)
2021
John Sayles and Gregory NavaThemself
2024AO
An Ode to Mary Jo
Django Lives!Writer
GrendelExecutive Producer
IP
I Passed This WayDirector
IP
I Passed This WayWriter
Television
TC
The ChuckleHoundsWriter
1986
Square One TelevisionRoy 'Lefty' Cobbs · 231 eps
1987Shannon's DealRonnie Nash · 1 eps
1990Shannon's DealWriter
1990Shannon's DealCreator
1990
BaseballSelf · 2 eps
1994
Scene by SceneSelf · 1 eps
1997IF
Independent FocusSelf · 1 eps
1998
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of HollywoodSelf · 7 eps
2010
The Story of Film: An OdysseySelf · 1 eps
2011
The AlienistTeleplay
2018The AlienistConsulting Producer
2018
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All TimeSelf · 1 eps
2020
Poker FaceChief Hal · 1 eps
2023
The Gray HouseWriter
2026The Gray HouseCreator
2026Photos
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