Sayles, John

(born Sept. 28, 1950, Schenectady, N.Y., U.S.) U.S. film director. He graduated from Williams College and wrote short stories and novels, including Union Dues (1977), before becoming a screenwriter for Roger Corman. He made his directorial debut with the acclaimed Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980). He explored social and political issues in other thoughtful films such as Lianna (1982), Matewan (1987), Eight Men Out (1988), City of Hope (1991), Lone Star (1996), and Sunshine State (2002), and he usually wrote his own screenplays. He also directed the children's movie The Secret of Roan Inish (1994). Sayles was one of America's most successful independent filmmakers.

Sayles, John (Thomas) (1950– ) writer, movie scriptwriter/director/actor; born in Schenectady, N.Y. After graduating from Williams College, he wrote fiction, publishing prize-winning short stories and the novels Pride of Bimbos (1975) and Union Dues (1977). These led him to Hollywood and scriptwriting, and he spent several years working on junk movies until he was able to write, direct, and act in The Return of the Secaucus Seven (1980), filmed in only 27 days and on a budget of about $60,000. He continued to struggle to make his own movies until he was awarded a MacArthur Foundation grant (1983); this allowed him to continue scripting and directing critically acclaimed independent feature movies, such as Matewan (1987) and Eight Men Out (1988), while also writing novels.