{
  "@context": "https://schema.org",
  "@type": "Person",
  "@id": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/102445/john-sayles",
  "name": "John Sayles",
  "url": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/person/102445/john-sayles",
  "knownForDepartment": "Directing",
  "description": "John Thomas Sayles (born September 28, 1950) is an American independent film director, screenwriter, editor, actor, and novelist.",
  "birthDate": "1950-09-28",
  "birthPlace": "Schenectady, New York, USA",
  "alternateName": [
    "John Thomas Sayles"
  ],
  "image": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/xJL2xLTDXGFe5t54xLx1hr0raaM.jpg",
  "sameAs": [
    "https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000626"
  ],
  "lastVerified": "3 May 2026",
  "filmography": [
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 120998,
      "title": "Poker Face",
      "year": "2023",
      "role": "as Chief Hal",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.457,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/8Xm5dyMQC9whMJKnGdFugUAW73C.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/120998/poker-face-2023"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 71769,
      "title": "The Alienist",
      "year": "2018",
      "role": "Teleplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/zUd4RPbfHuB1zIG2iNI5bdZcQo3.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/71769/the-alienist-2018"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 4063,
      "title": "Square One Television",
      "year": "1987",
      "role": "as Roy 'Lefty' Cobbs",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.571,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/o5WYIVyzzdqCH5t5I1ayWztzBfy.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/4063/square-one-television-1987"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 19215,
      "title": "Baseball",
      "year": "1994",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.5,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/qneEtyv9BKgfb7sVmtnvDqTmV4b.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/19215/baseball-1994"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 8204,
      "title": "The Spiderwick Chronicles",
      "year": "2008",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/uN7MUMaCXfa8DbMMp61A8iXEcEG.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/8204/the-spiderwick-chronicles-2008"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 1883,
      "title": "Malcolm X",
      "year": "1992",
      "role": "as FBI Agent",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.554,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/o2s9ow0uRRm1BcF3teznk5twd90.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/1883/malcolm-x-1992"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 45571,
      "title": "The Story of Film: An Odyssey",
      "year": "2011",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 7.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/g0TCWFNIFHO8u2yy1hboUDIhD6n.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/45571/the-story-of-film-an-odyssey-2011"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 211178,
      "title": "The Gray House",
      "year": "2026",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 4.3,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/wE5jZDeQuiulaAtjeaEq0y8tpey.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/211178/the-gray-house-2026"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 4961,
      "title": "Mimic",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "Additional Writing",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.072,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/ieRRo78f8JzEKxfiCKqJyFg6l8o.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/4961/mimic-1997"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 11780,
      "title": "Shannon's Deal",
      "year": "1990",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.667,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/qm6MuMaW8O78ANwHFpcreUwGHng.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/11780/shannon-s-deal-1990"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 113667,
      "title": "Scene by Scene",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9XNpNhfmDu7O8IiItkSCSLtYNJ7.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/113667/scene-by-scene-1997"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 24831,
      "title": "Piranha",
      "year": "1978",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.971,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/oaz0Le3fT3R8jzlkXkNV7JAsd7x.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/24831/piranha-1978"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 11298,
      "title": "The Howling",
      "year": "1981",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.598,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/nRTonikdpMUYr3y3RXESLBhRUov.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/11298/the-howling-1981"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 46691,
      "title": "Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood",
      "year": "2010",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 5.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/hZuISJ2UqT9eEYn4doiBi77w5JB.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/46691/moguls-movie-stars-a-history-of-hollywood-2010"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 33518,
      "title": "Alligator",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.097,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/bWANAIIeNPzwEmrYUvZFECTbBX6.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/33518/alligator-1980"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 11300,
      "title": "Something Wild",
      "year": "1986",
      "role": "as Motorcycle Cop",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.619,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/344lhBozqFWKxBb4fp6azYQMLEy.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/11300/something-wild-1986"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 14460,
      "title": "Battle Beyond the Stars",
      "year": "1980",
      "role": "Story",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.4,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/z4EYBy4Xk8yv11YgYei42v46Qol.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/14460/battle-beyond-the-stars-1980"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 26748,
      "title": "Lone Star",
      "year": "1996",
      "role": "Director",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 7.028,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/lBxY8znsRoqa9Dy2NCe8I6GPsRm.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/26748/lone-star-1996"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 13554,
      "title": "Eight Men Out",
      "year": "1988",
      "role": "Writer",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 6.881,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/9nh0w2C9h9KfJb0OsVg65O65b5s.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/13554/eight-men-out-1988"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "tv",
      "tmdbId": 71779,
      "title": "Independent Focus",
      "year": "1998",
      "role": "as Self",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 8.333,
      "posterUrl": null,
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/tv/71779/independent-focus-1998"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 13975,
      "title": "In the Electric Mist",
      "year": "2009",
      "role": "as Michael Goldman",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.1,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/gsyUJovik2t5vzPyXL5tq5VWLym.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/13975/in-the-electric-mist-2009"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 13853,
      "title": "The Clan of the Cave Bear",
      "year": "1986",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.256,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/jbftdduVujKeoib5fwDBbEMamdj.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/13853/the-clan-of-the-cave-bear-1986"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 38940,
      "title": "Men of War",
      "year": "1994",
      "role": "Screenplay",
      "roleKind": "crew",
      "voteAverage": 5.209,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/rrwG9foUMulWBI2Nk7s6Bcgwfim.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/38940/men-of-war-1994"
    },
    {
      "mediaType": "movie",
      "tmdbId": 12489,
      "title": "Gridlock'd",
      "year": "1997",
      "role": "as Cop #1",
      "roleKind": "cast",
      "voteAverage": 6.7,
      "posterUrl": "https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/w500/jlOL8fLsG0tGBtkj9qzHgqcHPVV.jpg",
      "screenSearchUrl": "https://www.screensearch.co.uk/watch/movie/12489/gridlock-d-1997"
    }
  ]
}