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William Friedkin Biography
Birth Place:
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Profession
Director, producer, screenwriter
Fast Facts
- Got his start in the entertainment industry working in the mail room of a Chicago TV station, where he quickly rose through the ranks to the role of director
- Made his feature-film debut in 1967 with the Sonny and Cher musical spoof Good Times
- Rose to fame with two back-to-back, Oscar-winning smashes, The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973)
- Formed the Directors Company with Peter Bogdanovich and Francis Ford Coppola in 1973; the partnership lasted just one year
- Staged his first opera, Alban Berg's Wozzeck, in 1998 in Florence, Italy
Awards
- 1998Emmy-Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
- 1974Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
- 1973BAFTA Film Awards-Best Direction: nominated
- 1973Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: nominated
- 1973Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: nominated
- 1972Golden Globe-Best Director - Motion Picture: winner
- 1971Oscar-Best Achievement in Directing: winner
- 1971Directors Guild of America Awards-Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film: winner
Relationships
- Louis Friedkin -- Father
- Rae Friedkin -- Mother
- Cedric Friedkin -- Son
- Jack Friedkin -- Son