William Friedkin(1935-2023)

Director
Writer
Producer

Play trailer0:35

Fellini of the Spirits (2020)

Friedkin's mother was an operating room nurse. His father was a merchant seaman, semi-pro softball player and ultimately sold clothes in a men's discount chain. Ultimately, his father never earned more than $50/week in his whole life and died indigent. Eventually young Will became infatuated with Orson Welles after seeing Citizen Kane (1941). He went to work for WGN TV immediately after graduating from high school where he started making documentaries, one of which won the Golden Gate Award at the 1962 San Francisco film festival. In 1965, he moved to Hollywood and immediately started directing TV shows, including an episode of the The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962); Hitchcock infamously chastised him for not wearing a tie.

IMDbProStarmeter Top 5,000139

Won 1 Oscar
- 23 wins & 18 nominations total

Photos81

+ 75

Known for

To Live and Die in L.A.

7.3

Director

1985

The French Connection

7.7

Director

1971

The Exorcist

8.1

Director

1973

Cruising

6.5

Director

1980

Credits

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IMDbPro

Director

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
6.7
- Director (directed by)
- 2023
The Devil and Father Amorth
4.6
- Director
- 2017
Henri Langlois vu par...
4.0
Short
- Director
- 2014
Killer Joe
6.7
- Director
- 2011
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
7.7
TV Series
- Director
- 2007–2009
The Painter's Voice
7.0
Video
- Director
- 2007
Bug
6.1
- Director
- 2006
The Hunted
6.1
- Director
- 2003
Rules of Engagement
6.4
- Director
- 2000
Johnny Hallyday: Ce que je sais
4.6
Music Video
- Director
- 1998
12 Angry Men
7.8
TV Movie
- Director
- 1997
Jade
5.3
- Director
- 1995
Rebel Highway
5.5
TV Series
- Director
- 1994
Blue Chips
6.3
- Director
- 1994
Tales from the Crypt
8.0
TV Series
- Director
- 1992

Writer

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial
6.7
- teleplay by
- 2023
The Devil and Father Amorth
4.6
- written by
- 2017
The Guardian
5.4
- screenplay
- 1990
C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf
4.2
TV Movie
- created by
- story (creator)
- 1988
Rampage
6.1
- screenplay by
- 1987
To Live and Die in L.A.
7.3
- screenplay by
- 1985
Cruising
6.5
- written by
- 1980
Sorcerer
7.7
- screenplay (uncredited)
- 1977
The French Connection
7.7
- screenplay (uncredited)
- 1971
Good Times
4.5
- screenplay (uncredited)
- 1967
The Thin Blue Line
6.4
TV Movie
- story
- 1966

Producer

Videos8

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist

Personal details

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Official site
- X
Alternative names
- Billy Friedkin
Height
- 6′ (1.83 m)
Born
- August 29, 1935
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
Died
- August 7, 2023
- Bel Air, Los Angeles, California, USA(heart failure and pneumonia)
Spouses
Children
Parents
Relatives
- Justin Green(Cousin)
Other works
Music video: Directed Laura Branigan's video "Self Control".
Publicity listings

Did you know

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Trivia
According to writer/director Larry Cohen, composer Bernard Herrmann was approached by Friedkin to score The Exorcist (1973). After screening the movie to Herrmann, Friedkin said, "I want you to write me a better score than you wrote for Citizen Kane (1941)", to which Herrmann replied, "Then why don't you make a better movie than 'Citizen Kane'?".

Quotes
By the time a film of mine makes it into the theaters, I have a love-hate relationship with it. There is always something I could have done to make it better.