Elia Kazan was a Greek-American director, producer, and writer of Hollywood films. He is best known for his work on films such as On the Waterfront, East of Eden, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He was also a founding member of the Actors Studio, which helped to revolutionize American acting. Kazan was nominated for eight Academy Awards and won four. He was also awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Directors Guild of America in 1999.