William Friedkin Director, producer, screenwriter, actor Date of Birth: 29.08.1935 Country: USA

1. Biography of William Friedkin
2. Early Career
3. Breakthrough with "The French Connection"
4. Success and Controversy
5. Later Career
6. Personal Life
7. Legacy

Biography of William Friedkin

William Friedkin is a renowned director, producer, screenwriter, and actor known for his exceptional skill in shooting car chases. He was born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

Early Career

Friedkin started his career at a local television station, Chicago TV, and quickly rose to become a director. He directed around 2,000 live shows before making his first film, the documentary "The People vs. Paul Crump" in 1962. The film aimed to persuade the governor of Illinois to commute the death sentence of a prisoner who had been coerced into confessing by Chicago police. Although the film was not broadcasted on television, Friedkin achieved his goal and won the Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. This paved the way for his future as a documentary filmmaker.

Breakthrough with "The French Connection"

After directing several projects, including episodes of "Alfred Hitchcock Presents," Friedkin honed his skills through the comedy musical "Good Times" in 1967. In 1968, he directed the comedy film "The Night They Raided Minsky's" and the screen adaptation of Harold Pinter's play "The Birthday Party." In 1970, Friedkin took on the adaptation of Mart Crowley's play "The Boys in the Band," which explored the lives of gay men. This collaboration with Crowley, who also produced the film, introduced Kitty Hawks, daughter of legendary director Howard Hawks, to the picture. In 1971, Friedkin had the opportunity to direct "The French Connection" when the president of Fox, Richard Zanuck, kept the film's budget around $2 million. Friedkin instructed his cinematographer to avoid traditional lighting methods and aimed to shoot the events as if he were a news reporter stumbling upon a crime scene. This "documentary style" worked perfectly for the gritty urban drama, and "The French Connection" went on to win five Academy Awards including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman.

Success and Controversy

In 1973, Friedkin directed the horror film "The Exorcist," which solidified his reputation in the genre. The film received multiple Oscar nominations and became a box office hit, earning $100 million from a $1 million budget. Building on his success, Friedkin directed the thriller "Sorcerer" in 1977, which was a remake of "The Wages of Fear" from 1952. However, his 1979 crime comedy "The Brink's Job" did not resonate with audiences.

Later Career

In 1980, Friedkin directed and wrote the crime film "Cruising," which stirred controversy and negative reviews. He returned to television in 1986 with projects like "Putting It Together: The Making of 'The Broadway Album'" and the series "C.A.T. Squad" and its sequel in 1988. In 1987, Friedkin's film "Rampage" partially restored his reputation. He continued to work on various films, including the horror film "The Guardian" in 1990 and the psychological thriller "Bug" in 2006, for which he received the FIPRESCI Prize.

Personal Life

Friedkin has two sons, Jack and Cedric. He has been married four times, including a brief marriage to French actress Jeanne Moreau. Currently, he is married to actress and producer Sherry Lansing.

Legacy

Friedkin's car chases in "The French Connection" are considered some of the best in cinematic history. His ability to capture intense action sequences and his contributions to the horror and crime genres have solidified his place among the top American directors.