Renowned Director William Friedkin, Known for 'The French Connection' and 'The Exorcist,' Passes Away at Age 87

William Friedkin, Renowned Film Director, Passes Away at 87

William Friedkin, the renowned film director known for his Oscar-winning film "The French Connection" and other notable works such as "The Exorcist," "Rules of Engagement," and "Sorcerer," has passed away at the age of 87.

Friedkin was born in Chicago in 1935 to Jewish emigrant parents from Ukraine, who had fled after experiencing a violent anti-Semitic pogrom in 1903. Despite not excelling academically, Friedkin began his career in the mail room at WGN-TV after graduating from high school at the age of 16.

Early Career and Influences

This article highlights the early career of filmmaker William Friedkin. At the age of 18, he began directing live television shows and documentaries, with one of his works, "The People vs. Paul Crump," winning an award at a film festival. Friedkin also directed an episode of "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour" called "Off Season" in 1965. He later moved to Hollywood and made his feature film directorial debut with "Good Times," which starred Sonny and Cher.

Director William Friedkin, known for his film "The French Connection," recently discussed how the movie "Z" by Costa-Gavras influenced his own work. "The French Connection," released in 1971, was a breakthrough film for Friedkin and went on to win five Oscars, including Best Picture, Best Director for Friedkin, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman. Friedkin credited "Z" for inspiring his approach to making "The French Connection."

The speaker, who is a filmmaker, discusses their inspiration for shooting a film in a particular style. They mention watching the film "Z" and being influenced by how it was shot like a documentary, giving it a realistic and spontaneous feel. The speaker also mentions that they had previously made documentaries and understood the technique, but had not considered applying it to a feature film until seeing "Z."

Later Career and Personal Life

This article provides a brief overview of the career of director William Friedkin. It mentions that two years after directing a film called "The French Connection," Friedkin directed the highly acclaimed horror film "The Exorcist," which received 10 Oscar nominations and won awards for Best Screenplay and Best Sound. It also mentions that Friedkin directed another film called "Sorcerer," which he considered his best work. The article goes on to mention other films directed by Friedkin, such as "The Brink's Job" and "Cruising," before noting that he had a heart attack in 1981.

William Friedkin, the acclaimed director, has had a long and diverse career in the film industry. In 1985, he released the highly praised film "To Live and Die in LA," which received positive reviews from critics. A decade later, in 1995, Friedkin directed one of his personal favorite films, "Jade." Moving forward to 2000, he directed "Rules of Engagement," a surprising conservative film given its Hollywood origins, which focused on the U.S. military and starred Tommy Lee Jones and Samuel Jackson.

Renowned filmmaker William Friedkin has revealed some of his favorite films, including "Alien," "Blade Runner," and "Bullitt." He also expressed admiration for actor Steve McQueen, describing him as an underrated but sensational American film actor. Friedkin was married four times throughout his life, with his final marriage being to former Paramount Pictures head Sherry Lansing.