Cast & creator
John Sayles
Best known for The Alienist, The Alienist, Poker Face
John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.
Also known as: John Thomas Sayles
138
film credits
16
television credits
57
1978–2026 · acting roles
6.3
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (154)
Showing 154 of 154 credits
The Alienist
Teleplay
2018The Alienist
Consulting Producer
2018
Poker Face
Chief Hal
2023
Square One Television
Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs
1987
Baseball
Self
1994
The Spiderwick Chronicles
Screenplay
2008
Mimic
Additional Writing
1997
The Story of Film: An Odyssey
Self
2011
Malcolm X
FBI Agent
1992
The Howling
Morgue Attendant (uncredited)
1981The Howling
Screenplay
1981
Shannon's Deal
Ronnie Nash
1990Shannon's Deal
Writer
1990Shannon's Deal
Creator
1990
Scene by Scene
Self
1997
In the Electric Mist
Michael Goldman
2009
Time Warp: The Greatest Cult Films of All Time
Self
2020
The Gray House
Writer
2026The Gray House
Creator
2026
Piranha
Army Sentry (uncredited)
1978Piranha
Screenplay
1978Piranha
Story
1978
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Self
2010
Battle Beyond the Stars
Story
1980Battle Beyond the Stars
Screenplay
1980
Something Wild
Motorcycle Cop
1986
Eight Men Out
Ring Lardner
1988Eight Men Out
Director
1988Eight Men Out
Writer
1988
Alligator
Screenplay
1980Alligator
Story
1980
The Man Who Killed Hitler and Then the Bigfoot
Executive Producer
2019Independent Focus
Self
1998
Lone Star
Editor
1996Lone Star
Director
1996Lone Star
Writer
1996
The Clan of the Cave Bear
Screenplay
1986
Men of War
Screenplay
1994
Matewan
Hardshell Preacher
1987Matewan
Director
1987Matewan
Writer
1987
Amigo
Editor
2011Amigo
Director
2011Amigo
Writer
2011
Baby It's You
Director
1983Baby It's You
Screenplay
1983The ChuckleHounds
Writer
1986
The Brother from Another Planet
Man in Black
1984The Brother from Another Planet
Editor
1984The Brother from Another Planet
Screenplay
1984The Brother from Another Planet
Director
1984
Passion Fish
Soap Opera Doctor (uncredited)
1992Passion Fish
Writer
1992Passion Fish
Director
1992Passion Fish
Editor
1992
Gridlock'd
Cop #1
1997
Matinee
Bob
1993
Corman's World
Self - Filmmaker
2011
Straight Talk
Guy Girardi
1992
The Lady in Red
Writer
1979
The Secret of Roan Inish
Screenplay
1994The Secret of Roan Inish
Director
1994The Secret of Roan Inish
Editor
1994
Girlfight
Science Teacher
2000Girlfight
Executive Producer
2000
The Challenge
Writer
1982
That Guy Dick Miller
Self
2014
Piranha
Story
1995
Limbo
Director
1999Limbo
Writer
1999Limbo
Editor
1999
Time Warp Vol. 2: Horror and Sci-Fi
Self
2020
Enormous Changes at the Last Minute
Writer
1983
Casa de los Babys
Editor
2003Casa de los Babys
Director
2003Casa de los Babys
Writer
2003
Casting By
Self
2012
Wild Thing
Screenplay
1987Wild Thing
Story
1987
Go for Sisters
Director
2013Go for Sisters
Writer
2013Go for Sisters
Editor
2013
City of Hope
Carl
1991City of Hope
Director
1991City of Hope
Editor
1991City of Hope
Writer
1991
Django Lives!
Writer
Grendel
Executive Producer
Richard Linklater: Dream Is Destiny
Thanks
2016
Men with Guns
Writer
1998Men with Guns
Director
1998Men with Guns
Editor
1998
Honeydripper
Zeke
2007Honeydripper
Director
2007Honeydripper
Writer
2007Honeydripper
Editor
2007
Silver City
Director
2004Silver City
Writer
2004Silver City
Editor
2004
Lianna
Jerry
1983Lianna
Editor
1983Lianna
Director
1983Lianna
Writer
1983
Tell Them Who You Are
Self
2004I Passed This Way
Director
I Passed This Way
Writer
Sunshine State
Man who almost got hit by a golf ball (uncredited)
2002Sunshine State
Director
2002Sunshine State
Writer
2002Sunshine State
Editor
2002
The Normals
Dr. Marx
2012
Bruce Springsteen: The Complete Video Anthology 1978-2000
Director
2001
A Constant Forge
Self
2000An Ode to Mary Jo
Return of the Secaucus Seven
Howie
1980Return of the Secaucus Seven
Director
1980Return of the Secaucus Seven
Writer
1980Return of the Secaucus Seven
Editor
1980
Big Guns Talk: The Story of the Western
Self
1997
Untamagiru
US High Commissioner
1989
Little Saints
Executive Producer
1999
Howard Zinn: Voices of a People's History of the United States
Self
2006
The Umbrella
Pastor Jim
2016
Breaking In
Writer
1989
Sonora: The Devil’s Highway
Writer
2019
The Third Man: A Filmmaker's Influence
Self
2015
Obscene: A Portrait of Barney Rosset and Grove Press
Self
2008
Unleashing the Beast: Making ‘The Howling’
2003
Edge of Outside
Self
2006
A Perfect Match
Teleplay
1980
My Mexican Shivah
Executive Producer
2007
Little Vegas
Mike
1990When It Was a Game 3
Self (voice)
2000
Hard Choices
Don
1985Shannon's Deal
Writer
1989
Corona Film Club
Self
2021
La fine della notte
Wayne
1989
Texas Red
Governor Johnson (voice)
2021
Great Directors
Self
2009
My Life's in Turnaround
Marginal producer
1994
Dr. Del
Executive Producer
2016Dr. Del
Writer
2016
The Toe Tactic
Cramden
2009
Them That Work
Self
2019Them That Work
Thanks
2019
John Sayles and Gregory Nava
Themself
2024
Mountain View
Director
1989
Unnatural Causes
Lloyd
1986Unnatural Causes
Writer
1986Unnatural Causes
Teleplay
1986
Talents
Executive Producer
2015
Elsie Hooper
Executive Producer
2016
Algren
Self
2021Alligator Author
Self
2007