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William Friedkin Biography

Birth Name:William David Friedkin

Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, United States

Profession Director, Writer, Producer, Actor

Fast Facts

Won the President's Award from the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films in 1999
Over the course of two years, he worked his way up from being a mailroom clerk at WGN-TV in Chicago to directing live television
During action sequences, he often uses a hand-held camera
Many of his films, including "The French Connection," "To Live and Die in L․A․" and "Jade," contain an important car chase
Hitched a ride from a driver at a gas station to arrive in time to accept his Academy Award for directing "The French Connection" after his car broke down several miles away from the ceremony
Alfred Hitchcock berated him for not wearing a tie to his first directing assignment for "The Alfred Hitchcock Hour․"
In high school, he was so good at basketball that he considered making it his career

1972Oscar-Best Director: winner
1972DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: winner
1972Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1973BAFTA Film Award-Best Direction: nominated
1973Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
1973Kinema Junpo Award-Best Foreign Language Film: nominated
1974Oscar-Best Director: nominated
1974DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Motion Pictures: nominated
1974Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
1981Razzie Award-Worst Screenplay: nominated
1981Razzie Award-Worst Director: nominated
1986Audience Award-: winner
1988Critics Award-: nominated
1993Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
1998DGA Award-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Dramatic Specials: nominated
1998OFTA Television Award-Best Direction of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
1998Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
1999Movie Masterpiece Award-: winner
2006C.I.C.A.E. Award-: nominated
2006FIPRESCI Prize-Quinzaine des réalisateurs: winner
2006SACD Prize-Directors' Fortnight: nominated
2010The Greatest Films of All Time-Horror: winner
2011Golden Mouse-: winner
2011Golden Lion-: nominated
2012DFCC-Best Director: nominated
2012ARRI Award-Best International Film: nominated
2013Saturn Award-Best Director: nominated
2014People's Choice Award-Best Narrative Feature: nominated