Elia Kazan (/ˈiːliə kəˈzæn/; born Elias Kazantzoglou (Greek: Ηλίας Καζαντζόγλου); September 7, 1909 – September 28, 2003) was a Turkish-born Greek-American director, producer, writer and actor.
He was called by The New York Times as "one of the most honored and influential directors in Broadway and Hollywood history". He helped co-found the Actors Studio in Manhattan.
Kazan directed A Streetcar Named Desire (1951), On the Waterfront (1954), and East of Eden (1955). He won two Academy Awards, three Tony Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.