Stage, film director dies at 94

NEW YORK – Director Elia Kazan, whose triumphs included the original Broadway productions of “Death of a Salesman” and “A Streetcar Named Desire,” and the Academy Award-winning film “On the Waterfront,” died Sunday. He was 94.

The Turkish-born Kazan was at his home in Manhattan when he died, lawyer Floria Lasky said. She did not give a cause of death.

Five of the plays he staged won Pulitzer Prizes for their authors: “The Skin of Our Teeth,” “A Streetcar Named Desire,” “Death of a Salesman,” “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof” and “J.B.,” for which Kazan himself won a Tony Award. Other stage credits included “Camino Real,” “Sweet Bird of Youth” and “Tea and Sympathy.”

In Hollywood, he won Oscars for directing “Gentleman’s Agreement” and “On the Waterfront.” He also did “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” the film version of “Streetcar,” “East of Eden,” “Splendor in the Grass,” “A Face in the Crowd” and “The Last Tycoon.”

He turned to writing in his 50s and produced six novels – including several best-sellers – and an autobiography. The first two novels, “America, America” and “The Arrangement,” he also made into movies.

“Even when I was a boy I wanted to live three or four lives,” he once said.

To some, Kazan diminished his stature when he went before the House Committee on Un-American Activities during the McCarthy era and named people he said had been members of the Communist Party with him in the mid-1930s.

He defended his naming names on the ground that all were already known to the committee; others have said that at least half were not.

Playwright Clifford Odets and actresses Phoebe Brand and Paula Miller, were among the eight he identified as communists.

But he insisted years later that he bore no guilt as a result of what some saw as a betrayal. “There’s a normal sadness about hurting people, but I’d rather hurt them a little than hurt myself a lot,” he said.

Some critics saw in as a subtext of “On the Waterfront” a justification for Kazan’s decision to cooperate with congressional Red hunters. The movie’s hero, portrayed by Marlon Brando, breaks the code of silence on the docks and courageously fingers a corrupt, murderous union boss in televised hearings.

In early 1999, leaders of the motion picture academy announced they would give Kazan a special Academy Award for his life’s work. The decision reopened wounds and touched off a painful controversy.

On awards night, some in the audience withheld applause, though others gave him a warm reception. Director Martin Scorsese and actor Robert De Niro presented the award.

“I thank you very much. I really like to hear that and I want to thank the Academy for its courage, generosity,” Kazan said.