In a profound loss for the world of cinema, celebrated filmmaker William Friedkin, best known for his Oscar-winning film The French Connection and blockbuster hit The Exorcist, passed away at the age of 87 in Los Angeles.
The news of his death was confirmed by Chapman University Dean Stephen Galloway, a friend of Friedkin’s wife, Sherry Lansing.
Friedkin was a prominent figure in Hollywood during the 1970s, belonging to a generation of daring and vibrant directors, including Peter Bogdanovich, Francis Ford Coppola, and Hal Ashby. Combining his experience in television, particularly in documentary filmmaking, with a cutting-edge editing style, Friedkin brought remarkable energy to the horror and police thriller genres, solidifying his place in film history.
The director was born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. He was the son of Rachael and Louis Friedkin. His father had various occupations, including being a semi-professional softball player, a merchant seaman, and a men’s clothing salesman. On the other hand, his mother was an operating room registered nurse, and he fondly referred to her as “a saint.”
Friedkin’s family had Jewish roots and were emigrants from Ukraine. His grandparents, parents, and other relatives fled Ukraine during a violent anti-Jewish pogrom in 1903. Growing up, Friedkin’s family was generally considered lower middle class due to his father’s lack of interest in making money. Friedkin had a complex relationship with his father, viewing him with both affection and contempt for not achieving more in life.
He attended public schools in Chicago and enrolled at Senn High School. Friedkin was a talented basketball player and considered pursuing a professional career in the sport. However, he was not a serious student and barely managed to graduate, largely due to social promotion rather than exceptional academic performance.
His passion for filmmaking developed during his teenage years when he started going to the movies regularly. He cited Citizen Kane as a significant influence on his cinematic journey, even though he didn’t see the film until he was 25 years old. Other important movies that shaped his early cinephile interests were Les Diaboliques, The Wages of Fear (which he later remade as “Sorcerer”), and Psycho, which he watched repeatedly, much like Citizen Kane. Additionally, televised documentaries, such as Harvest of Shame in 1960, played a crucial role in nurturing his sense of cinema.
His journey into the world of filmmaking began in the mailroom of the Chicago TV station WGN, but his passion and talent quickly earned him a position as a director for television shows and documentaries.
One of his notable early works was the 1962 documentary The People vs. Paul Crump, which won him a Golden Gate Award at the San Francisco Film Festival. This success paved the way for him to direct various television shows, including an episode of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and the pop music story Good Times in 1967, starring Sonny and Cher.
However, it was in the early 1970s that Friedkin rose to international fame with two groundbreaking films that left an indelible mark on cinema. The French Connection (1971), an incredibly fast-paced and morally ambiguous crime thriller shot in a documentary style, featured one of the most famous car chase sequences in cinematic history.
The film earned numerous accolades, including several Oscars for Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Actor for Gene Hackman, becoming a touchstone for police genre films and television shows for years to come.
Following the critical success of The French Connection, Friedkin reached even greater heights with The Exorcist (1973). Adapted from William Peter Blatty’s novel about the demonic possession of a young girl, the heavily stylized horror film went on to gross an astounding $500 million worldwide, propelling Friedkin and “The Godfather” director Francis Ford Coppola into the blockbuster era.
The Exorcist received ten Academy Award nominations, including a second Oscar nomination for Best Director for Friedkin. The film is still considered the scariest film of all time.
Despite his early successes, Friedkin faced both commercial and critical challenges with subsequent films. He ventured into other genres, directing the thriller To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) and the controversial Cruising (1980), among others. In the early 2000s, he returned to the big screen with the thriller The Hunted (2003) and the horror film Bug (2007), based on a stage play.
Throughout his career, Friedkin’s dedication to storytelling and innovative filmmaking techniques earned him recognition as one of the industry’s most influential directors. He fearlessly pushed boundaries and brought his unique vision to every project he undertook.
Beyond his work as a director, Friedkin was an engaging personality, often appearing in documentaries about films and filmmakers, showcasing his passion for cinema and his vast knowledge of the craft.
He was earlier married to actresses Jeanne Moreau and Lesley-Anne Down and to newscaster Kelly Lange.
William Friedkin’s passing marks the end of an era, leaving behind an unforgettable legacy in the world of cinema. His films continue to inspire and captivate audiences worldwide, and his influence will resonate with filmmakers for generations to come.
As we mourn the loss of this legendary director, we can celebrate the rich and extraordinary body of work he leaves behind, forever etched in the annals of film history.
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