---
name: "Seymour Cassel"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/seymour-cassel"
fi1m_id: "seymour-cassel"
imdb_id: "nm0001025"
tmdb_id: 5950
wikidata_id: "Q708153"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "22 January 1935"
died: "7 April 2019"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 8
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 6
updated: "2026-10-04T23:03:49.500260+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Seymour Cassel

## Identity

Seymour Cassel

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/seymour-cassel
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** seymour-cassel
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001025
- **TMDB ID:** 5950
- **Wikidata ID:** Q708153
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Cassel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q708153, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001025/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5950

Actor. Born 22 January 1935 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. Died 7 April 2019.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 22 January 1935, Detroit, Michigan, USA
- **Died:** 7 April 2019
- **Active:** 1960–2007
- **Also known as:** Seymour Joseph Cassel
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 8: 6 acting, 1 producing, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Barry Mendel](https://film.one/person/barry-mendel.md), [John Cassavetes](https://film.one/person/john-cassavetes.md), [Owen Wilson](https://film.one/person/owen-wilson.md), [Wes Anderson](https://film.one/person/wes-anderson.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 6 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1960s 75 (2), 1970s 78 (1), 1990s 66 (2), 2000s 83 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 64 across 6 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 2 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 5, Comedy 3, Crime 1, Romance 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 10 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $355m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Seymour_Cassel, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q708153, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001025/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/5950

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Killing of a Chinese Bookie*](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md) (78), [*Faces*](https://film.one/film/faces.md) (76)
- **Hulu:** [*Indecent Proposal*](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md) (50)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Seymour Cassel

> Seymour Cassel's quietly supportive father in *Rushmore* is a good place to start with an actor often valued for his offbeat energy. We like the eccentricity, but the kindness gives us more to care about.

In *Rushmore* (1998), Seymour Cassel plays Bert Fischer, a supportive father who works as a barber. Around him, Wes Anderson's school comedy finds humour in an exhausting, self-appointed prodigy, with Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray giving it an unexpected sadness. Cassel's contribution is quieter, and that is why we value it. We were moved by Bert's kindness, because Cassel makes the father's support feel unforced. He gives the comedy some warmth without adding to the careful eccentricity that occasionally makes Anderson's film feel fussy.

The cocksure Chet in John Cassavetes' *Faces* (1968) offers a useful contrast. Cassel became a recurring presence in Cassavetes' character-driven films, taking a co-lead opposite Gena Rowlands in *Minnie and Moskowitz* (1971). Independent films including *In the Soup* (1992) and *Trees Lounge* (1996) brought a career revival before *Rushmore* began his three-film association with Anderson. He was frequently cast as street-smart supporting characters, with an offbeat energy that could make a small part register. Anderson's more orderly comedies gave him somewhere to put the quieter qualities to work.

In *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), he plays Dusty as part of Anderson's recurring ensemble. The film is funny and unexpectedly moving, with Gene Hackman's bad manners providing a welcome interruption to its careful eccentricity. Our reservation is that some supporting characters deserve more space amid the decoration. That matters when considering an actor whose appeal so often lies in what he can do with a small part. We recommend the film readily, but *Rushmore* is the better introduction to Cassel himself.

Cassel said: “The fun is in filling out a part and making it a little crazy, because everyone has a little craziness in them anyway.” That could sound like permission to overdo a supporting role. Bert Fischer is a useful corrective: the eccentric actor can also know when a scene needs someone kind. Start with *Rushmore*, and give the barber your attention.

## Biography

Seymour Cassel was an American actor. He appeared in over 200 films and television productions across a career of more than 50 years. He first gained prominence through his work with writer-director John Cassavetes, beginning with an uncredited role and associate producer credit on *Shadows* (1958).

Cassel received an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor and won a National Society of Film Critics Award for his performance in *Faces* (1968). Further collaborations with Cassavetes included *Too Late Blues* (1961), *Minnie and Moskowitz* (1971), *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), *Opening Night* (1977) and *Love Streams* (1984). He studied acting at the American Theatre Wing and the Actors Studio.

He appeared as Bert Fischer in Wes Anderson’s *Rushmore* (1998), and later in Anderson’s *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001) and *The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou* (2004). Other credits include *Dick Tracy* (1990) and *Indecent Proposal* (1993). Cassel died in Los Angeles on 7 April 2019.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, variety.com, nytimes.com, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (8)

### Performed in (6) — the average rests on these

- *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), Fi1m 84, as Johnny Boy — [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md)
- *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), Fi1m 84, as Dusty — [page](https://film.one/film/the-royal-tenenbaums.md)
- *Rushmore* (1998), Fi1m 83, as Bert Fischer — [page](https://film.one/film/rushmore.md)
- *Indecent Proposal* (1993), Fi1m 50, as Mr. Shackleford — [page](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md)
- *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), Fi1m 78, as Mort Weil — [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md)
- *Faces* (1968), Fi1m 76, as Chet — [page](https://film.one/film/faces.md)

### Produced (1)

- *Shadows* (1960), Fi1m 74, as Al (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/shadows.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), Fi1m 81, as Spectator at Execution (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)

## Complete filmography (187)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Lucky Dog* (2014), as The Real Spencer
- *The Dependables* (2014), as Dominic Ackers
- *Fort McCoy* (2014), as Father Mivkovek
- *At The Maple Grove* (2014), as Boyle
- *The Secret Lives of Dorks* (2013), as Principal
- *Booster* (2012), as Harold
- *Broken Kingdom* (2012), as Clayton
- *Lost Angeles* (2012), as Film Critic
- *Pass the Salt, Please* (2012), as Man
- *Magic City* (2012), series, Actor
- *Silver Case* (2012), as Dealer
- *Faces* (2011), as Chet (archive footage)
- *Freerunner* (2011), as Grampa
- *L!fe Happens* (2011), as Pop Pop
- *Without Borders* (2010), as Detective McKenneth
- *Pete Smalls Is Dead* (2010), as Saco
- *Back Nine* (2010), as Mondo
- *Regular Show* (2010), series, as Tony (voice)
- *Chasing 3000* (2010), as Poppy
- *Staten Island* (2009), as Jasper Sabiano
- *Not Dead Yet* (2009), as Francis
- *To Love and Die* (2008), as Grandfather
- *To Love and Die* (2008), series, Actor
- *Reach for Me* (2008), as Alvin
- *Beau Jest* (2008), as Abe Goldman
- *Big Heart City* (2008), as Larry
- *Cosmic Radio* (2007), as Malcolm Stone
- *Postal* (2007), as Paul
- *Flight of the Conchords* (2007), series, as Johnny Boy — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/flight-of-the-conchords.md)
- *Hollywood Dreams* (2007), as Rupert
- *Sea of Dreams* (2006), as Tomaso
- *Beer League* (2006), as Dirt
- *Ray of Sunshine* (2006), Actor
- *Heist* (2006), series, as Pops
- *The Tenants* (2006), as Levenspiel
- *Bye Bye Benjamin* (2006), as Mr. Ruby
- *Lonesome Jim* (2005), as Don
- *Circadian Rhythm* (2005), as Hoover
- *Before It Had a Name* (2005), as Jeff
- *The Wendell Baker Story* (2005), as Boyd Fullbright
- *Bittersweet Place* (2005), as Jack 'Pappy' Schaffer
- *The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou* (2004), as Esteban du Plantier
- *Justice League Unlimited* (2004), series, as Chuck Sirianni (voice)
- *Stuck on You* (2003), as Morty O'Reilly
- *Passionada* (2003), as Daniel Vargas
- *A Good Night to Die* (2003), as Guy
- *Lucky* (2003), series, Actor
- *Sonny* (2002), as Albert
- *The Burial Society* (2002), as Sam Goldberg
- *Manna from Heaven* (2002), as Stanley
- *Stealing Harvard* (2002), as Uncle Jack
- *The Biz* (2002), as Eugene Hinkle
- *The Man Who Wasn't There* (2001), as Spectator at Execution (uncredited) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-man-who-wasnt-there.md)
- *The Royal Tenenbaums* (2001), as Dusty — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/the-royal-tenenbaums.md)
- *The Cure for Boredom* (2001), as Eddie
- *61** (2001), as Sam Simon
- *A Nero Wolfe Mystery* (2001), series, as Dazy Perrit, James Arthur Ferris
- *Bartleby* (2001), as Frank Waxman
- *The Sleepy Time Gal* (2001), as Bob
- *Women of the Night* (2001), as Sally
- *Boston Public* (2000), series, as Bernie Willis
- *Animal Factory* (2000), as Lt. Seeman
- *Just One Night* (2000), as Arthur Imperial
- *The Crew* (2000), as Tony 'Mouth' Donato
- *Black & White* (1999), as Sal
- *Kubanisch rauchen* (1999), as Dragan
- *Me and Will* (1999), as Roy
- *Ballad of the Nightingale* (1999), as Jimmy
- *Rushmore* (1998), as Bert Fischer — Fi1m 83, [page](https://film.one/film/rushmore.md)
- *Stingers* (1998), as Dino
- *Emma's Wish* (1998), as Harry Bridges (old)
- *Snapped* (1998), as Bob
- *The Treat* (1998), as Chip O'Herlihee
- *Hoods* (1998), as Pop Martinelli (uncredited)
- *Relax... It's Just Sex* (1998), as Emile
- *Johnny 316* (1998), as Store Keeper
- *Motel Blue* (1997), as Capistrano Minister
- *Obsession* (1997), as Jacob Frischmuth
- *This World, Then the Fireworks* (1997), as Detective Harris
- *The Last Don* (1997), series, as Alfred Gronevelt
- *Chameleon* (1996), as Francis
- *Dead Girl* (1996), as Ira Golub
- *Turnpike* (1996), as Older man
- *The Last Home Run* (1996), as Older Jonathan
- *Slaughter of the Cock* (1996), as Ahilleas
- *Arli$$* (1996), series, as Artie
- *Cannes Man* (1996), as Sy Lerner
- *Trees Lounge* (1996), as Uncle Al
- *Things I Never Told You* (1996), as Frank
- *Dream for an Insomniac* (1996), as Uncle Leo
- *Good Company* (1996), series, Actor
- *Tracey Takes On...* (1996), series, as Candy Casino
- *Seed* (1996), as First Client
- *Dead Presidents* (1995), as Saul
- *Tollbooth* (1994), as Leon / Larry
- *Ouf!* (1994), Actor
- *Imaginary Crimes* (1994), as Eddie
- *Hand Gun* (1994), as Jack McCallister
- *Chicago Hope* (1994), series, as Norman Cambridge
- *Under Suspicion* (1994), series, as Lt. Mickey Schwartz
- *There Goes My Baby* (1994), as Pop
- *Dark Side of Genius* (1994), as Samuel Rourke
- *It Could Happen to You* (1994), as Jack Gross
- *Chasers* (1994), as Master Chief Bogg
- *Partners* (1993), as Janitor
- *When Pigs Fly* (1993), as Frank
- *Boiling Point* (1993), as Virgil Leach
- *Indecent Proposal* (1993), as Mr. Shackleford — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/indecent-proposal.md)
- *Trouble Bound* (1993), as Santino
- *Adventures in Spying* (1992), as Ray Rucker
- *In the Soup* (1992), as Joe
- *Honeymoon in Vegas* (1992), as Tony Cataracts
- *Chain of Desire* (1992), as Mel
- *Love Is Like That* (1992), as Uncle Bud
- *Cold Heaven* (1992), as Tom Farrelly
- *What Happened to Pete* (1992), as Bartender
- *Face of a Stranger* (1991), as Ralph
- *Dead in the Water* (1991), as Lt. Frank Vaness
- *Diary of a Hitman* (1991), as Koenig
- *Mobsters* (1991), as Father Bonotto
- *White Fang* (1991), as Skunker
- *Cold Dog Soup* (1990), as Jojo
- *Dick Tracy* (1990), as Sam Catchem
- *Sweet Bird of Youth* (1989), as Hatcher
- *Wicked Stepmother* (1989), as Feldshine
- *Track 29* (1988), as Dr. Bernard Fairmont
- *Colors* (1988), as Sullivan
- *Plain Clothes* (1988), as Ed Malmburg
- *Johnny Be Good* (1988), as Wallace Gibson
- *Survival Game* (1987), as Dave Forrest
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Lt. Cmdr. Hester Dealt — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *Best Seller* (1987), as Carter
- *Tin Men* (1987), as Cheese
- *Eye of the Tiger* (1986), as Sheriff
- *Beverly Hills Madam* (1986), as Tony
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Dick Silvers, Honest Earl Edwards
- *Tales from the Darkside* (1984), series, as Howard
- *Young Lust: A Soap Opera* (1984), as Dr. Klapper
- *Love Streams* (1984), as Jack Lawson
- *I Want to Live* (1983), as John Santo
- *Double Exposure* (1982), as Dr. Frank Curtis
- *King of the Mountain* (1981), as Barry Tanner
- *The Jazz Singer* (1980), as Unnamed
- *The Mountain Men* (1980), as La Bont
- *Angel on My Shoulder* (1980), as Smiley Mitchell
- *Sunburn* (1979), as Dobbs
- *Ravagers* (1979), as Blind Lawyer
- *California Dreaming* (1979), as Duke Slusarski
- *Convoy* (1978), as Governor Haskins
- *Valentino* (1977), as George Ullman
- *Death Game* (1977), as George Manning
- *Black Oak Conspiracy* (1977), as Homer Metcalf
- *Scott Joplin* (1977), as Dr. Jaelki
- *The Last Tycoon* (1976), as Seal Trainer
- *The Killing of a Chinese Bookie* (1976), as Mort Weil — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-killing-of-a-chinese-bookie.md)
- *Two Tons of Turquoise to Taos Tonight* (1975), as Wise Guy
- *Nightside* (1973), as Ralph
- *Emergency!* (1972), series, as Bluebell Hunter
- *Minnie and Moskowitz* (1971), as Seymour Moskowitz
- *The Revolutionary* (1970), as Leonard II
- *Faces* (1968), as Chet — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/faces.md)
- *Coogan's Bluff* (1968), as Young Hood
- *Cimarron Strip* (1967), series, Actor
- *The Invaders* (1967), series, as Driver
- *Batman* (1966), series, as Cancelled
- *The F.B.I.* (1965), series, as Irwin, P.O.W. Vanndo, Attendant
- *Laredo* (1965), series, Actor
- *The Hanged Man* (1964), as Bellboy
- *12 O'Clock High* (1964), series, as Capt. Johnson · B-17 Pilot, Captain Johnson, Left Waist Gunner, Mechanic
- *Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea* (1964), series, as Jensen
- *The Killers* (1964), as Postal Clerk
- *Burke's Law* (1963), series, as Attendant
- *The Fugitive* (1963), series, as Cabbie — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-fugitive-1963.md)
- *The Nutty Professor* (1963), as Bored Man
- *Combat!* (1962), series, as Doctor
- *The Lloyd Bridges Show* (1962), series, as Lawyer #2, Richard
- *The Webster Boy* (1962), as Vic
- *Too Late Blues* (1961), as Red
- *Alcoa Premiere* (1961), series, as The Wounded Man
- *Shadows* (1960), as Al (uncredited) · Associate Producer — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/shadows.md)
- *My Three Sons* (1960), series, as Coach Gregson
- *Murder, Inc.* (1960), as Teenager
- *Juke Box Racket* (1960), as Seymour
- *Man on a String* (1960), Actor
- *The Twilight Zone* (1959), series, as Jerry (uncredited) — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-twilight-zone.md)
- *Naked City* (1958), series, as Student (uncredited)
- *Wagon Train* (1957), series, as Ed

## Gallery

- ![Seymour Cassel](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-c8cb815a2d7c.jpg) Seymour Cassel — sagindie from Hollywood, USA, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/3d/Seymour_Cassel2.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![American actor Seymour Cassel, photographed in Paris in 1995](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-c5577e17533e.jpg) American actor Seymour Cassel, photographed in Paris in 1995 — JJ Georges, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c8/Seymour_Cassel_1995.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Photograph of actor Seymour Cassel. Author / Photographer: myself, Beth Herzhaft. <a href="http://www.herzco.com ">herzco.com </a> Taken in Santa Mo](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-458590a08e76.jpg) Photograph of actor Seymour Cassel. Author / Photographer: myself, Beth Herzhaft. <a href="http://www.herzco.com ">herzco.com </a> Taken in Santa Mo — The original uploader was Herzco at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/06/Seymour_cassell.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Seymour Cassel](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-f955457e4257.jpg) Seymour Cassel — Image via TMDB
- ![Seymour Cassel](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-365f913ae0a0.jpg) Seymour Cassel — Image via TMDB
- ![Seymour Cassel](https://film.one/media/person/87728/gallery-082d0081ee23.jpg) Seymour Cassel — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1969: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Faces*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/seymour-cassel