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Meryl Streep and John Cazale: A Short Happiness and a Lesson for Life
Meryl Streep and John Cazale: A Short Happiness and a Lesson for Life

Video: Meryl Streep and John Cazale: A Short Happiness and a Lesson for Life

Video: Meryl Streep and John Cazale: A Short Happiness and a Lesson for Life
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Meryl Streep and John Cazale
Meryl Streep and John Cazale

Meryl Streep and John Cazale could not resist the feelings that flared up between them. Their happiness did not last long, but left the warmest memories in their souls. The actress herself learned the main lesson from these relationships: you can never put a career at the forefront, so as not to regret later about the time spent away from the most important person in life.

Measure for measure

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep

They met thanks to their participation in the production of Measure for Measure. Meryl Streep was 27 years old, John Cazale - 40. It seemed that there could be nothing in common between them. She was taking her first steps on the career ladder, and John had already played the striking role of Fredo Corleone in The Godfather.

He could become her mentor, but he became - the beloved man, in fact - the first big love of the actress. They came together as if two halves of one whole. Later, the actress admitted that she was struck to the core by John's ability to compassion. He loved life, loved people. However, he was also loved.

John Casale
John Casale

By the time he met Meryl, John was happily married. But for a long time he could not get rid of the thirst for feelings. He did not find in the family the support, understanding, and mutual attraction that he needed so much. Meeting with Meryl Streep seemed to breathe new life into him. Their relationship developed rapidly, love seemed eternal, and happiness was indestructible.

Fatal diagnosis

Meryl Streep and John Cazale
Meryl Streep and John Cazale

Their relationship developed almost cloudlessly. Meryl and John lived in his small apartment, read together, walked together, rehearsed together, masterly acting out the necessary scenes. Mutual sympathy, backed by common interests, promised to develop into a long life together. John was going to file a divorce, marry Meryl and take care of her all his life.

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep

Everything turned out exactly the opposite. She did not immediately believe the doctors' words. She sincerely hoped that he had been misdiagnosed. But the verdict was not really subject to appeal: John was diagnosed with cancer, which was developing rapidly. John fought, Meryl's love gave him strength. She wanted to see him safe and sound, and he played in "The Deer Hunter", overcoming terrible pain and severe weakness, because Meryl worked nearby on the set.

Love or career?

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep

After The Deer Hunter, John stayed in New York, while Meryl flew to Australia to take part in the filming of The Holocaust. She wanted to refuse, but under the contract in this case it was necessary to pay a huge penalty. There was simply no money for it.

John convinced her to go, this is important not only in terms of money, but also in terms of her reputation as an actress. For the first time in her life, she was making a difficult choice between feelings and a career.

She flew away and filmed with complete dedication. But even now, many years later, she cannot overcome her dislike for the film in which she starred in 1978. She played, and her heart was in that dark room where her beloved John was, who needed her presence more than ever.

Meryl Streep and John Cazale
Meryl Streep and John Cazale

After the end of filming, she saw him and almost burst into tears. He gave up very much during this time. Probably, it was then that the inevitable awareness of future loss came to her. She tirelessly looked after her beloved, she wanted to believe that the two of them could defeat this terrible disease. But John was fading away before our eyes.

He fought for her. John tried not to show how much he was in pain, he courageously endured all the procedures and manipulations, although sometimes more than anything he wanted to be left alone. As he left on March 12, 1978, he told her, "It's okay, Meryl."

Need to live

Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep

After his death, it seemed impossible to live on. She promised herself: from now on, no matter how life develops, her career will never come first for her. The main thing in life is family.

Meryl's brother Harry moved over to her to support and help. And later John's wife appeared, with whom he never had time to hang up, and simply put Meryl out on the street, not allowing her to even take books as a keepsake of her beloved.

Meryl with her husband Don Gummer
Meryl with her husband Don Gummer

Don Gummer offered to keep some of the actress's belongings. Meryl had little choice. She did not yet know that a new page in her life was beginning, in which the family would always come first.

Unlike Meryl Streep, she remained faithful to her first love for the rest of her life.

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