Elia Kazan was a Greek-American director, producer, and writer who worked in Hollywood from the 1940s to the 1970s. He is best known for his films A Streetcar Named Desire, On the Waterfront, and East of Eden. He was also a founding member of the influential Group Theatre in New York City. Kazan won two Academy Awards for Best Director and was nominated for three more. He was also awarded an honorary Oscar in 1999.