Elia Kazan

Born in Constantinople in 1909, Elias Kazantzoglou came to the United States at four and later joined the Group Theatre, where he learned to marry social conscience with performance. After co-founding the Actors Studio in 1947 and introducing Method Acting under Lee Strasberg, he turned to directing films that pressed on American wounds: Gentleman's Agreement took on antisemitism, Pinky confronted anti-Black prejudice, On the Waterfront exposed union corruption. Both Streetcar and Waterfront pulled twelve Oscar nominations each, the latter winning eight. Then came his 1952 testimony as a friendly witness before the House Un-American Activities Committee, where he named former colleagues and, by his own account, shattered their careers. He kept directing - East of Eden in 1955 gave James Dean his first starring role - but the cooperation hung over him. When he received an honorary Oscar in 1999, dozens in the room refused to clap while hundreds protested outside.