Movie fans are probably most familiar with John Cazale for his role as Fredo Corleone ... Both he and his then-girlfriend, screen icon Meryl Streep, tried to keep the diagnosis under wraps ...

John Cazale plays their hometown buddy Stan ... and the story goes that De Niro and co-star Meryl Streep (who was dating Cazale at the time) had to petition for his job. He couldn't be insured ...