William Friedkin

William Friedkin, a prodigious director of the "New Hollywood" era, rose to prominence with the raw, gritty crime thriller "The French Connection" in 1971, earning him an Oscar for Best Director. His repertoire expanded with the notorious horror film "The Exorcist" and the critically divisive "Sorcerer" and "Cruising." Friedkin's oeuvre, marked by a penchant for psychological depth and moral ambiguity, includes "Bug," "Killer Joe," and "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," each a testament to his enduring influence on American cinema. Beyond film, he directed numerous operas and television episodes, his work consistently challenging and polarizing audiences until his death in 2023.