Biography
Richard Alva Cavett (/ˈkævɪt/; born November 19, 1936) is an American television personality and former talk show host. He appeared regularly on nationally broadcast television in the United States for five decades, from the 1960s through the 2000s. In later years, Cavett has written an online column for The New York Times, promoted DVDs of his former shows as well as a book of his Times columns, and hosted replays of his TV interviews with Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Salvador Dalí, Lee Marvin, ...
Known For
Complete Filmography

From Darkness to Light
2025
as Self (archive footage)
Explores Jerry Lewis' unreleased 1972 film "The Day the Clown Cried," its mysterious disappearance, and the search for footage. Includes interviews wi...

One to One: John & Yoko
2025
as Self (archive footage)
An exploration of the seminal and transformative 18 months that one of music’s most famous couples — John Lennon and Yoko Ono — spent living in Greenw...

From Roger Moore with Love
2024
as Self
Friends, family and co-stars take part in this revealing and entertaining look at British icon Roger Moore and his rise to global fame. With rare home...

Faye
2024
as Self (archive footage)
Through honest reflection, complemented by insight from colleagues and friends, Faye Dunaway contextualizes her life and filmography, laying bare her ...

Godard Cinema
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Jean-Luc Godard is synonymous with cinema. With the release of Breathless in 1960, he established himself overnight as a cinematic rebel and symbol fo...

Godard by Godard
2023
as Self (archive footage)
Godard by Godard is an archival self-portrait of Jean-Luc Godard. It retraces the unique and unheard-of path, made up of sudden detours and dramatic r...

The Lost Weekend: A Love Story
2023
as Self (archive footage)
May Pang lovingly recounts her life in rock & roll and the whirlwind 18 months spent as friend, lover, and confidante to one of the towering figures o...

Groucho & Cavett
2022
as Self
Discover the enduring friendship between television personality Dick Cavett and his mentor iconic comedian Groucho Marx. Their relationship is chronic...

2022 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2022
as Self (archive footage)
The 37th Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony take place on Saturday, November 5, 2022 at Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles, California. ...

Louis Armstrong's Black & Blues
2022
as Self (archive footage)
An intimate and revealing look at the world-changing musician, presented through a lens of archival footage and never-before-heard home recordings and...

Moonage Daydream
2022
as Self (archive footage)
A cinematic odyssey featuring never-before-seen footage exploring David Bowie's creative and musical journey.

The Ghost of Richard Harris
2022
as Self
A candid and revealing insight into the private life and public career of Richard Harris. One of the most remarkable actors of his generation, the doc...

Joni Mitchell, Lady Blue
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Joni Mitchell has been called the queen of folk music and one of the biggest pop stars of the 60s and 70s. Even today, her lyrics and unique guitar st...

Lucy and Desi
2022
as Self (archive footage)
Explore the unlikely partnership and enduring legacy of one of the most prolific power couples in entertainment history. Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz r...

Live at Mister Kelly's
2021
as Self
The iconic Mister Kelly’s bedazzled the country by launching superstars like Barbra Streisand, Richard Pryor, Bette Midler, and Steve Martin. It smash...

The Capote Tapes
2021
as Self
A portrait of the brilliant American writer Truman Capote (1924-84) and the New York high society of his time.

Truman & Tennessee: An Intimate Conversation
2021
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
The parallel lives of writer Truman Capote (1924-84) and playwright Tennessee Williams (1911-83): two friends, two geniuses who, while creating sublim...

Alan Pakula: Going for Truth
2019
as Self
"Alan Pakula: Going for Truth" encompasses the personal and professional life of Alan J. Pakula, a lauded filmmaker and extremely private man, who was...

Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019
as Self (archive footage)
With one of the most memorably stunning voices that has ever hit the airwaves, Linda Ronstadt burst onto the 1960s folk rock music scene in her early ...

Mike Wallace Is Here
2019
as (archive footage)
For over half a century, 60 Minutes' fearsome newsman Mike Wallace went head-to-head with the world's most influential figures. Relying exclusively on...

Toni Morrison: The Pieces I Am
2019
as Self (archive footage)
This artful and intimate meditation on the legendary storyteller examines her life, her works, and the powerful themes she has confronted throughout h...

What She Said: The Art of Pauline Kael
2019
as Self
Pauline Kael (1919–2001) was undoubtedly one of the greatest names in film criticism. A Californian native, she wrote her first review in 1953 and joi...

Nice Girls Don't Stay for Breakfast
2019
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
In the late 1990s, iconic photographer Bruce Weber barely managed to convince legendary actor Robert Mitchum (1917-97) to let himself be filmed simply...

Nureyev
2018
as Self, Archive Footage
An insight into the life of the world's most famous male dancer, Rudolf Nureyev.

Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes
2018
as Self
The life and times of Muhammed Ali shown through the lens of his numerous appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The film features new interviews with D...

Ali & Cavett: The Tale of the Tapes
2018
Writer
The life and times of Muhammed Ali shown through the lens of his numerous appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The film features new interviews with D...

Bergman: A Year in a Life
2018
as Self
The year 1957 was one of the most prolific for the Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman: he shot two films, released two of his most celebrated films and ...

This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self
During his career, Bob Hope was the only performer to achieve top-rated success in every form of mass entertainment. American Masters explores the ent...

Stewart & Mitchum: The Two Faces of America
2017
as Self
With his naïve air, his rangy and reassuring silhouette, James Stewart symbolizes success, someone who everybody wants to look like. Behind his legend...

Kyoko
2017
as Self (archive footage)
In 1971, John Lennon and Yoko Ono embark on a search for a girl named Kyoko. On April 23rd, they are arrested by the police at a hotel in Palma de Mal...

I Am Not Your Negro
2017
as Self (archive footage)
Working from the text of James Baldwin’s unfinished final novel, director Raoul Peck creates a meditation on what it means to be Black in the United S...

On the Sly: In Search of the Family Stone
2017
One man's search for the prolific funk legend, Sly Stone.

All Governments Lie: Truth, Deception, and the Spirit of I.F. Stone
2016
as Self
Vancouver-based filmmaker and TV news veteran Fred Peabody explores the life and legacy of the maverick American journalist I.F. Stone, whose long one...

Janis: Little Girl Blue
2015
as Himself
Janis Joplin is one of the most respected and iconic rock & roll singers of all time, a tragic and misunderstood figure who captivated millions of lis...

Best of Enemies
2015
as Self
A documentary about the legendary series of nationally televised debates in 1968 between two great public intellectuals, the liberal Gore Vidal and th...

Listen to Me Marlon
2015
as Self (archive footage)
With exclusive access to his extraordinary unseen and unheard personal archive including hundreds of hours of audio recorded over the course of his li...

Dick Cavett's Vietnam
2015
Examine the Vietnam War and its impact on America through the prism of interviews conducted by the iconic host of “The Dick Cavett Show.” This program...

James Brown - The Man, The Music & The Message
2014
as Self
The Godfather of Soul tells his life story and features his greatest live performances.

A Venue For The End Of The World
2014
as Himself
Haunted by uncanny similarities between Nazi stage techniques and the showmanship employed by modern entertainers, a filmmaker investigates the danger...

Dick Cavett's Watergate
2014
as Himself
From 1972 to 1974, the Watergate scandal was frequently a part of “The Dick Cavett Show.” In fact, Cavett was at the forefront of national TV coverage...

Katharine Hepburn: The Great Kate
2014
as Self - Chat-Show Host
A peep behind the scenes of the golden era of Hollywood to discover exactly how and why Katharine Hepburn became one of the most famous actresses in t...

River of Fundament
2014
as Wake Guest
Visionary artist Matthew Barney returns to cinema with this 3-part epic, a radical reinvention of Norman Mailer’s novel Ancient Evenings. In collabora...

Jimi Hendrix: Hear My Train a Comin'
2013
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
An account of the short life of genius musician Jimi Hendrix (1942-70), probably the most talented and influential guitarist of the twentieth century:...

Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Anchored by intimate, one-on-one interviews with the man himself, Nicholas Wrathall’s new documentary is a fascinating and wholly entertaining tribute...

David Bowie: Five Years
2013
as Self (archive footage)
Featuring a wealth of previously unseen archive, this film looks at how Bowie continually evolved: from Ziggy Stardust to the Soul Star of Young Ameri...

Excuse Me for Living
2012
as Reverend Pilatus
A charming, suicidal druggie must obey his rehab-clinic's demand to lead a seniors men's group or face incarceration and lose the love of his psychiat...

Deceptive Practice: The Mysteries and Mentors of Ricky Jay
2012
as Narrator
The life and career of renowned magician and sleight of hand artist Ricky Jay.

Diana Vreeland: The Eye Has to Travel
2012
as Self (archive footage)
This intimate and loving portrait of the legendary arbiter of fashion, art and culture illustrates the many stages of Vreeland's remarkable life. Born...

Norman Mailer: The American
2012
as Self
A provocateur, a rebel, a performer, and a true American, Norman Mailer never stopped giving people something to talk about. This documentary goes be...

Driving Me Crazy
2012
as Mr. Johnson
Meet Elliot Brown. He is one of Brooklyn's most neurotically sweet and eligible bachelors . . . who also happens to be pushing forty and living with h...

Woody Allen: A Documentary
2011
as Self
An intense portrait of the iconic filmmaker, writer, actor, comedian and musician Woody Allen: his life, family and friends; his writing and directing...

Mel Brooks and Dick Cavett Together Again
2011
as Self
For four decades comic genius Mel Brooks and talk show king Dick Cavett have partnered to give the world scintillating conversation and sidesplitting ...

Simon & Garfunkel: Across the Airwaves
2010
as Self
A collection compiled from the harmonising duo's televised performances from Saturday Night Live, The Dick Cavett Show and The Grammy Awards. Tracks i...

Unforgettable
2010
Brad Williams is only the second person ever studied by neurologists for the newly-identified syndrome called "hyperthymesia", an extremely detailed f...

Smash His Camera
2010
as Self
A film centering on the life and work of Ron Galella that examines the nature and effect of paparazzi.

Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired
2008
as Self (archive footage)
Examines the public scandal and private tragedy which led to legendary director Roman Polanski's sudden flight from the United States.
To My Great Chagrin: The Unbelievable Story of Brother Theodore
2007
as Himself
He is considered to be one of the most significant links in the history of comedy, admired by such people as Eric Bogosian and Woody Allen. His televi...
Tension: Who's Guilty Now?
2007
as Self
Short documentary on the film noir, Tension.
Decoy: A Map to Nowhere
2007
as Self
Documentary on the film noir Decoy, with Dick Cavett and Molly Haskell.
Where Danger Lives: White Rose for Julie
2007
Documentary about the film Where Danger Lives (1950)

Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff and Robert Mapplethorpe
2007
as Self (archive footage)
Crump directed the feature-length documentary film Black White + Gray: A Portrait of Sam Wagstaff + Robert Mapplethorpe, which premiered in North Amer...
The Dick Cavett Show with Mel Brooks
2006
as Self
Dick Cavett interviews Mel Brooks in 2006.

Duane Hopwood
2005
A down-on-his-luck divorced father struggles to get his life and family back together before it's too late.

Frontier University Dreams
2005
as Narrator
Pioneering the harsh landscape of Nebraska was difficult enough in 1869. Pioneering a new university was almost beyond reason. What was a university? ...

Inside Deep Throat
2005
as Self
In 1972, a seemingly typical shoestring budget pornographic film was made in a Florida hotel: "Deep Throat," starring Linda Lovelace. This film would ...

Celsius 41.11
2004
as Self (archive footage)
This film attempts to correct the record when it comes to the left's attacks on President Bush, 9/11 and the war in Iraq and Kerry's 20-year tenure in...

Jack Paar: Smart Television
2003
as Self
PBS documentary examining the work of Jack Paar.

The Education of Gore Vidal
2003
as Self (archive footage)
A contrarian and wickedly funny man, this PBS American Masters special explores Gore Vidal's extraordinary life and work, joining him at his cliff-sid...
Lucille Ball: Finding Lucy
2000
as Self (archive footage)
For more than 30 years, Lucille Ball was one of the most recognized and loved entertainers in the world. Known to all simply as Lucy, she portrayed a ...

Behind the Seams
2000
as Detective
Casey McCan, a top supermodel who seemingly has it all - looks, fame, wealth, an intellectual playboy boyfriend...a stalker? Well, maybe not everythin...
Once Upon a Sleigh Ride: The Music & Life of Leon Anderson
2000
as Narrator
"A delightful documentary about Anderson, in which we get to know the man as well as his music, through interviews with colleagues and family members,...
Sell & Spin: A History of Advertising
1999
as Narrator
From ancient phrases etched in stone, to today's cutting edge multimedia commercials, selling has always meant grabbing attention. This is a story of ...

Elvis Meets Nixon
1997
as Narrator
A "mockumentary" about Elvis's real-life trip to the White House to become a federal marshal under the DEA

The History of Rock 'n' Roll
1995
as Self
The history of rock n' roll and pop music are explored are explored via interviews and footage of well-known music stars.

Tennessee Williams: Orpheus of the American Stage
1994
as Self (archive footage)
A study of Tennessee Williams's life and work as a whole, ranging from his youth in Mississippi and in St. Louis to success and acclaim, followed by t...

Forrest Gump
1994
as Dick Cavett
A man with a low IQ has accomplished great things in his life and been present during significant historic events—in each case, far exceeding what any...

Barbarians at the Gate
1993
as Self
F. Ross Johnson decides to buyout his own tobacco firm RJR Nabisco after the plans of the launch of his new product, a smokeless cigarette Premier, fa...

Year of the Gun
1991
as Ben Gershon
American novelist David Raybourne accidentally becomes entangled in the Red Brigade's terrorist plan to kidnap Italian Premier Aldo Moro during a rese...

The One, the Only... Groucho
1991
as Self
The One, the Only... Groucho is a documentary that celebrates the life and legacy of Groucho Marx, the legendary comedian, actor, gameshow host and ma...

The Fred Astaire Songbook
1991
as Self (archive footage)
A loving tribute to Astaire the singer, hosted by Audrey Hepburn.
Robert Redford & Sydney Pollack: The Men and Their Movies
1990
as Self
A special highlighting actor/producer/director Robert Redford's 30-year career in motion pictures and his special relationship with director Sidney Po...

Night of 100 Stars III
1990
as Self
A celebrity benefit for The Actors' Fund of America, featuring music, songs, dance and comedy.
Spy Magazine Presents How to Be Famous
1990
as Self
A special examining America's fascination with celebrities. Based on the irreverent, satirical humor of "Spy Magazine." Comedian Jerry Seinfeld acts a...

Moon Over Parador
1988
as Self
Little known actor, Jack Noah, is working on location in the dictatorship of Parador at the time the dictator dies. The dictator's right hand man, Rob...

After School
1988
as Himself
A student-teacher relationship goes way beyond the classroom, including pre-historic times.

Funny
1988
as Self
People are asked to tell their favorite jokes.

Beetlejuice
1988
as Bernard
A newly dead New England couple seeks help from a deranged demon exorcist to scare an affluent New York family out of their home.

Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread
1987
as Dick Cavett
Penn Jillette and Teller are called upon to display their unique brand of humor to save civilization from strange extraterrestrial beings who have inv...

A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors
1987
as Dick Cavett
During a hallucinatory incident, Kristen Parker has her wrists slashed by dream-stalking monster, Freddy Krueger. Her mother, mistaking the wounds for...

Doctor Duck's Super Secret All-Purpose Sauce
1986
as Self
A montage of sketch comedy and music videos.
Bye Bye Kipling
1986
as Self
This ambitious live satellite link-up of Japan, Korea and the United States features interviews with Keith Haring and architect Arata Isozaki, and per...

Koyaanisqatsi
1983
as Self - On TV (archive footage) (uncredited)
Takes us to locations all around the US and shows us the heavy toll that modern technology is having on humans and the earth. The visual tone poem con...

The Video Wine Guide with Dick Cavett
1982
as Self
The Video Wine Guide is a critically-acclaimed 90-minute video reference to the fascinating world of wine. Presented in an information-packed, visuall...

The Marx Brothers in a Nutshell
1982
as Self
A fascinating look at the most beloved comedy team in motion picture history. Exclusive interviews with those closest to the brothers supplement this ...

Dick Cavett Meets ABBA
1981
as Host
This 1981 television special features the pop icons ABBA being interviewed by American television legend Dick Cavett. ABBA also took to the stage, per...

HealtH
1980
as Dick Cavett
At a luxury Florida resort, health food lobbyists choose their new president at their annual convention. As the conference progresses, underhanded tri...

Simon
1980
as Himself
A group of scientists take Simon, a psychology professor, as a test person for a brainwashing experiment and try to convince him that he is a living b...

Remember Me
1979
as Narrator
Remember Me is a 1979 American short documentary film produced by Dick Young, that was filmed in the US, the Middle East and Asia. The film depicts th...

Power Play
1978
as Dick Cavett
A group of military officers frustrated by government corruption and brutality attempts a coup.

Annie Hall
1977
as Dick Cavett
New York comedian Alvy Singer falls in love with the ditsy Annie Hall.

Funny Girl to Funny Lady
1975
as Self
A benefit concert for the Special Olympics and an opportunity to promote Streisand's upcoming film (Funny Lady), this special was a combination of Str...

Janis
1974
Released just a few years after her death, this forms a picture of who Janis was through interviews and performance clips.

Jimi Hendrix
1973
as Self (archive footage)
Made shortly after his death, this documentary explores the brief life and remarkable legacy of guitarist Jimi Hendrix. After finding fame in the U.K....

Nightside
1973
as Dick Cavett
The story of three people - a press agent, a private detective and a nightclub owner - whose careers require them to spend most of the night awake and...

Imagine
1972
as Self
A surreal, half-fiction, half real life footage of a day in the life of John lennon and Yoko Ono, composed to music from John's historic 'Imagine' alb...

Cocksucker Blues
1972
as Self
This fly-on-the-wall documentary follows the Rolling Stones on their 1972 North American Tour, their first return to the States since the tragedy at A...
Yoko Ono: This Is Not Here
1972
as Self
"On John's 31st birthday, Yoko held an art exhibit, "This Is Not Here", at the Everson Museum of Art in Syracuse, N.Y.. The show was taped and aired o...

Hollywood: The Dream Factory
1972
as Narrator (voice)
A documentary about the glorious history of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studios and its decline leading to the sale of its back lot and props. By extension th...
Festival at Ford's
1971
as Self
NBC tops off an evening of specials with the second annual musical-variety hour originating at historic Ford's Theater in Washington, D.C. Bob Hope is...

Fight of the Century
1971
as Self-(Audience Member)
Legendary boxing match between Joe Frazier and Muhammad Ali in Madison Square Garden on March 8, 1971.

Friars Club Roast of Don Rickles
1970
as Self
The New York Friars club roasts Don Rickles. Hosted by Johnny Carson.

Jimi Hendrix: The Dick Cavett Show
1969
as Self
The complete collection of Jimi Hendrix's celebrated appearances on The Dick Cavett Show. The Dick Cavett Show marked Jimi's US network television deb...
From the Ashes: The Life and Times of Tick Hall
N/A
as Self
A documentary film chronicling the history, loss and rebuilding of a landmark, 125-year-old house known as Tick Hall. In 1997, a huge fire burned Tick...

I Refuse to Kill: He Went to War with War
N/A
as Self
At the risk of a 5-year prison term, Francesco Da Vinci struggles with his Virginia draft board to be recognized as a sincere conscientious objector t...