William Friedkin Biography (1935-)

Born August 29, 1935, in Chicago, IL; son of Louis (a merchant seaman, semi-pro softball player, and men's clothing salesman) and Rae (maiden name, Green)Friedkin; married Jeanne Moreau (an actress), 1977 (divorced, 1979); marriedLesley-Anne Down (an actress), 1982 (divorced, 1985); married Kelly Lange, 1987 (divorced, 1990); married Sherry Lansing (a producer and studio executive), 1991; children: (second marriage) Jack; Cedric. Addresses: Contact:c/o 10451 Bellagio Rd., Los Angeles, CA 90071.

Nationality
American
Gender
Male
Occupation
Director, producer, writer, actor
Birth Details
August 29, 1935
Chicago, Illinois, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Director
  • Good Times, Columbia, 1967
  • The Night They Raided Minsky's (also known as The Night They Invented Striptease), United Artists, 1968
  • The Birthday Party, Continental, 1968
  • The Boys in the Band, National General, 1970
  • The French Connection, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1971
  • The Exorcist (also known as The Exorcist: The Version You Haven't Seen Yet, The Exorcist: The Version You've Never Seen, and William Peter Blatty's The Exorcist), Warner Bros., 1973
  • Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin, 1974
  • Sorcerer (also known as Wages of Fear), Universal, 1977
  • The Brink's Job (also known as Big Stickup at Brink's), Universal, 1978
  • Cruising, United Artists, 1980
  • Deal of the Century, Warner Bros., 1983
  • To Live and Die in L.A., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1985
  • Rampage, Vestron Video, 1988
  • The Guardian, Universal, 1990
  • Blue Chips, Paramount, 1994
  • Jade, Paramount, 1995
  • Rules of Engagement (also known as Les regeles d'engagementand Rules-Sekunden der Entscheidung), Paramount, 1999
  • The Hunted, Paramount, 2003
  • Film Producer
  • Sorcerer (also known as Wages of Fear), Universal, 1977
  • Rampage, Vestron Video, 1988
  • Film Appearances
  • Himself, Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin, 1974
  • TV director, Without Limits, Warner Bros., 1998
  • Himself, A Decade Under the Influence, IFC Films, 2003
  • Television Director
  • Specials
  • The People vs. Paul Crump (documentary), WGN-TV, Chicago, 1962
  • Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (also knownas Barbra Steisand in "Putting It Together"), HBO, 1986
  • Television Producer
  • Specials
  • The 49th Annual Academy Awards, 1977
  • Television Work
  • Movies
  • Director and producer, C.A.T. Squad (also known as Stalking Danger), NBC, 1986
  • Director, executive producer, and creator, C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (also known as Python Wolf), NBC, 1988
  • Director, Jailbreakers (also known as Rebel Highway), Showtime, 1994
  • Director and executive producer, 12 Angry Men, Showtime, 1997
  • Television Director
  • Episodic
  • "Off Season," The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, 1965
  • "Nightcrawlers," The Twilight Zone, CBS, 1985
  • "On a Dead Man's Chest," Tales From the Crypt (also known as HBO's Tales from the Crypt), HBO, 1992
  • Also directed episodes of Alfred Hitchcock Presents and Time-Life Specials: The March of Time.
  • Television Appearances
  • Specials
  • Himself, The 48th Annual Academy Awards, 1976
  • Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (also knownas Barbra Steisand in "Putting It Together"), HBO, 1986
  • Himself, The Horror Hall of Fame, 1990
  • Himself, The Secrets of Dick Smith, 1991
  • Himself, Fear in the Dark, 1991
  • Interviewee, In the Grip of Evil, The Discovery Channel, 1997
  • Himself, Hollywood Halloween, 1997
  • Interviewee, Sonny Bono: Pop Songs & Politics, Arts and Entertainment, 1998
  • Interviewee, Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy, PBS, 1998
  • Himself, The Fear of God: The Making of the Exorcist, BBC, 1998
  • AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Movies, CBS, 1998
  • 20th Century Fox: The Blockbuster Years, AMC, 2000
  • Himself, The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing the French Connection,2000
  • Himself, AFI's 100 Years, 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies, CBS, 2001
  • Himself, Making the Connection: The French Connection 30th AnniversarySpecial, Fox Movie Channel, 2001
  • Intimate Portrait: Linda Blair, Lifetime, 2001
  • "The French Connection," History vs. Hollywood, History Channel, 2001
  • AFI's 100 Years ... 100 Heroes and Villains, CBS, 2003
  • Episodic
  • Appeared as himself, The Directors, Encore.
  • Stage Director
  • Duet for One, Broadway production, 1981
  • Wozzeck, Teatro Communale, Florence, Italy, 1998
  • Duke Bluebeard's Castle and Gianni Schicchi, Los Angeles Opera Company, 2002
  • WRITINGS
  • Screenplays
  • Cruising (adapted from the novel by Gerald Walker), United Artists, 1980
  • (With others) To Live and Die in L.A., Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/UnitedArtists, 1985
  • Rampage (adapted from the novel by William P. Wood), Vestron Video, 1988
  • (With Stephen Volk and Dan Greenburg) The Guardian (based on Greenburg's book, The Nanny), Universal, 1990
  • Television Movie Stories
  • C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (also known as Python Wolf), 1988

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Books
    • Clagett, Thomas D., William Friedkin: Films of Aberration, Obsession,and Reality, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 1990
    • Segaloff, Nat, Hurricane Billy: The Stormy Life and Films of William Friedkin, Morrow (New York), 1990
    Periodicals
    • Action, November/December, 1974
    • Dialogue on Film, February/March, 1974
    • Take One, July/August, 1971
    Electronic
    • William Friedkin Official Site, http://williamfriedkin.com, May 6,2003

    User Contributions:

    Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:

    CAPTCHA


    forum