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Nick Cassavetes

b. 1959

American film actor, director, and screenwriter

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About Nick Cassavetes

Born 1959. Nick Cassavetes is an American film director, actor, screenwriter, writer, television actor and film actor.

Nicholas David Rowland Cassavetes (born May 21, 1959) is an American actor, director, and writer. He has directed such films as She's So Lovely, John Q. (2002), The Notebook (2004), Alpha Dog (2006), and My Sister's Keeper (2009). His acting credits include an uncredited role in Husbands (1970)—which was directed by his father, John Cassavetes—as well as roles in the films The Wraith (1986), Face/Off (1997), and Blow (2001).

Early life and career Cassavetes was born in New York City, the son of Greek-American actor and film director John Cassavetes and actress Gena Rowlands. and wrote the dialogue for the Justin Timberlake music video "What Goes Around... Comes Around".

Cassavetes finished in fifth place in the World Poker Tour Invitational Season 5, attempting a bluff. He also appeared on season 5 of The Game Show Network's High Stakes Poker.

He also has played himself in the season 7 opener of Entourage on HBO and Tattoo Joe as a cameo in The Hangover: Part II, replacing Liam Neeson from the cast due to scheduling conflicts.

Personal life In 1985, Cassavetes married Isabelle Rafalovich. They had two daughters together before divorcing. Their daughter Sasha was born with a heart defect and underwent substantial surgery; Cassavetes' film John Q. was dedicated to Sasha, and his later adaptation of My Sister's Keeper was based in part on Sasha's medical experience.

Cassavetes later married Heather "Queenie" Wahlquist, Cassavetes' mother, Gena Rowlands, appears as the older, married Allie (Hamilton) Calhoun.

Filmography Actor Film Year Film Role Notes 1970 Husbands Nick Uncredited 1985 Mask T.J. 1986 The Wraith Packard Walsh Black Moon Rising Luis Quiet Cool Valence 1988 Under the Gun Tony Braxton Assault of the Killer Bimbos Wayne-O 1989 Blind Fury Lyle Pike 1990 Backstreet Dreams Mikey 1991 Delta Force 3: The Killing Game Charlie Direct-to-DVD 1992 Twogether Wolfgang Amadeus "John" Madler 1993 Sins of Desire Barry Mitchum Sins of the Night Jack Neitsche Broken Trust Alan Brogan 1994 Class of 1999 II: The Substitute Emmett Grazer Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle Robert Sherwood 1996 Black Rose of Harlem Johnny 1997 Face/Off Dietrich Hassler Farticus Adonis Papadapadopounopoulopoulos 1999 Life Sergeant Dillard The Astronaut's Wife Capt. Alex Streck 2001 Blow Man in Derek's Salon Uncredited 2011 The Hangover Part II Tattoo Joe 2013 Love and Skin Uncle Nicky Short film 2021 Prisoners of the Ghostland Psycho Queenpins Captain Pain

Television Year Film Role Notes 1980 Reunion Steve Cowan TV movie 1987 Matlock Foley Episode: "The Convict" L.A. Law Richard Bertrand Episode: "Sparky Brackman R.I.P. ????-1987" 1988 Shooter Tex TV movie 1989 Quantum Leap Primo La Palma Episode: "Double Identity - November 8, 1965" 1990 The Marshall Chronicles Gus Episode: "Do the Write Thing" 2010 Entourage Nick Cassavetes 2 episodes 2017 Tales Rodney King Episode: "F*ck the Police"

Director and writer Year Title Director Writer Notes 1996 Unhook the Stars Directorial debut 1997 She's So Lovely 2001 Blow Co-writer with David McKenna; directed by Ted Demme 2002 John Q. Also songwriter: "The Voice Inside My Heart" 2004 The Notebook 2006 Alpha Dog Also soundtrack producer and songwriter: "At The Site/Driving To The Site" 2009 My Sister's Keeper Co-writer with Jeremy Leven 2012 Yellow Co-writer with Heather Wahlquist 2014 The Other Woman 2023 God Is a Bullet 2025 Marked Men: Rule + Shaw

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Education
Syracuse University, American Academy of Dramatic Arts, Notre Dame High School, North Hollywood High School
Awards
Daytime Emmy Award
Also known as
Nicholas Cassavetes

Family & relationships

Spouse
Heather Wahlquist

People in Nick Cassavetes's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Nick Cassavetes's

Frequently asked questions

Who is Nick Cassavetes?

American film actor, director, and screenwriter

When was Nick Cassavetes born?

Nick Cassavetes was born on 21 May 1959 in New York City.

What is Nick Cassavetes's occupation?

Nick Cassavetes is a film director, actor, screenwriter, writer, television actor and film actor.

What nationality is Nick Cassavetes?

Nick Cassavetes is American.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Nick Cassavetes

· Wikidata: Q431191

· DBpedia: Nick Cassavetes

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Nick Cassavetes. https://biography.guide/nick-cassavetes/

MLA: "Nick Cassavetes." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/nick-cassavetes/.

Chicago: "Nick Cassavetes." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/nick-cassavetes/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-26 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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