John Sayles
- Known for
- Directing
- Born
- 28 September 1950 · Schenectady, New York, USA
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
Known for
Production 8
- 2026Grendel · executive producer
- 2019The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot · executive producer
- 2016Elsie Hooper · executive producer
- 2016Dr. Del · executive producer
- 2015Talents · executive producer
- 2007My Mexican Shivah · executive producer
- 2000Girlfight · executive producer
- 1999Little Saints · executive producer
Directing 21
- 2026I Passed This Way · director
- 2013Go for Sisters · director
- 2011Amigo · director
- 2007Honeydripper · director
- 2004Silver City · director
- 2003Casa de los Babys · director
- 2002Sunshine State · director
- 2001Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000 · director
- 1999Limbo · director
- 1998Men with Guns · director
- 1996Lone Star · director
- 1994The Secret of Roan Inish · director
- 1992Passion Fish · director
- 1991City of Hope · director
- 1989Mountain View · director
- 1988Eight Men Out · director
- 1987Matewan · director
- 1984The Brother from Another Planet · director
- 1983Baby It's You · director
- 1983Lianna · director
- 1980Return of the Secaucus Seven · director
Writing 38
- 2026I Passed This Way · writer
- 2026Django Lives! · writer
- 2019Sonora: The Devil’s Highway · writer
- 2016Dr. Del · writer
- 2013Go for Sisters · writer
- 2011Amigo · writer
- 2008The Spiderwick Chronicles · screenplay
- 2007Honeydripper · writer
- 2004Silver City · writer
- 2003Casa de los Babys · writer
- 2002Sunshine State · writer
- 1999Limbo · writer
- 1998Men with Guns · writer
- 1996Lone Star · writer
- 1995Piranha · story
- 1994Men of War · screenplay
- 1994The Secret of Roan Inish · screenplay
- 1992Passion Fish · writer
- 1991City of Hope · writer
- 1989Breaking In · writer
- 1989Shannon's Deal · writer
- 1988Eight Men Out · writer
- 1987Matewan · writer
- 1987Wild Thing · screenplay
- 1986Unnatural Causes · writer
- 1986The Clan of the Cave Bear · screenplay
- 1984The Brother from Another Planet · screenplay
- 1983Baby It's You · screenplay
- 1983Lianna · writer
- 1983Enormous Changes at the Last Minute · writer
- 1982The Challenge · writer
- 1981The Howling · screenplay
- 1980Alligator · screenplay
- 1980A Perfect Match · teleplay
- 1980Battle Beyond the Stars · screenplay
- 1980Return of the Secaucus Seven · writer
- 1979The Lady in Red · writer
- 1978Piranha · story
Acting 49
- 2026An Ode to Mary Jo
- 2024John Sayles and Gregory Nava as Themself
- 20221982: Greatest Geek Year Ever! as Self
- 2021Algren as Self
- 2021Corona Film Club as Self
- 2021Texas Red as Governor Johnson (voice)
- 2020Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi as Self
- 2019Them That Work as Self
- 2016The Umbrella as Pastor Jim
- 2015The Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence as Self
- 2014That Guy Dick Miller as Self
- 2012The Normals as Dr. Marx
- 2012Casting By as Self
- 2011Corman's World as Self - Filmmaker
- 2009Great Directors as Self
- 2009In the Electric Mist as Michael Goldman
- 2009The Toe Tactic as Cramden
- 2008Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press as Self
- 2007Alligator Author as Self
- 2007Honeydripper as Zeke
- 2006Edge of Outside as Self
- 2006Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States as Self
- 2004Tell Them Who You Are as Self
- 2003Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
- 2002Sunshine State as Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
- 2000A Constant Forge as Self
- 2000Girlfight as Science Teacher
- 2000When It Was a Game 3 as Self (voice)
- 1997Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western as Self
- 1997Gridlock'd as Cop #1
- 1994My Life's in Turnaround as Marginal producer
- 1993Matinee as Bob
- 1992Passion Fish as Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
- 1992Malcolm X as FBI Agent
- 1992Straight Talk as Guy Girardi
- 1991City of Hope as Carl
- 1990Little Vegas as Mike
- 1989Untamagiru as US High Commissioner
- 1989La fine della notte as Wayne
- 1988Eight Men Out as Ring Lardner
- 1987Matewan as Hardshell Preacher
- 1986Unnatural Causes as Lloyd
- 1986Something Wild as Motorcycle Cop
- 1985Hard Choices as Don
- 1984The Brother from Another Planet as Man in Black
- 1983Lianna as Jerry
- 1981The Howling as Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
- 1980Return of the Secaucus Seven as Howie
- 1978Piranha as Army Sentry (uncredited)
crew 3
- 2019Them That Work · thanks
- 2016Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny · thanks
- 1997Mimic · additional writing
Editing 15
- 2013Go for Sisters · editor
- 2011Amigo · editor
- 2007Honeydripper · editor
- 2004Silver City · editor
- 2003Casa de los Babys · editor
- 2002Sunshine State · editor
- 1999Limbo · editor
- 1998Men with Guns · editor
- 1996Lone Star · editor
- 1994The Secret of Roan Inish · editor
- 1992Passion Fish · editor
- 1991City of Hope · editor
- 1984The Brother from Another Planet · editor
- 1983Lianna · editor
- 1980Return of the Secaucus Seven · editor