Sidney Lumet
Directing Born Jun 25, 1924 Died Apr 9, 2011 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA 139 credits
Biography
Sidney Lumet was an American director, producer, and screenwriter. He was born on June 25, 1924, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA. Lumet's directorial debut was in 1957. He directed over 50 films throughout his career. His films were nominated for various Academy Awards, with 14 of his films receiving nominations. Lumet was also the recipient of an Academy Honorary Award. He is known for his prolific work, averaging more than one movie per year since his directorial debut. Lumet passed away on April 9, 2011, at the age of 86.
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Career overview
Sidney Lumet was a prolific director with a career spanning over five decades. He made his directorial debut in 1957 and went on to direct more than one movie per year on average. This impressive output earned him recognition as one of the most prolific directors of the modern era.
Throughout his career, Lumet directed over 50 films. He was nominated for the Academy Award as Best Director on multiple occasions, including for 12 Angry Men, Dog Day Afternoon, Network, and The Verdict. Although he did not win an individual Academy Award, he received an Academy Honorary Award and 14 of his films were nominated for various Oscars.
Lumet's body of work includes a wide range of films, many of which have become classics of American cinema. His ability to balance commercial appeal with artistic vision made him a respected and sought-after director in Hollywood. With a career spanning over 50 years and numerous nominations and accolades, Sidney Lumet left a lasting impact on the film industry.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Breakdown: 1975
One Step Further: Becoming Lumet
By Sidney Lumet
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
In Her Skin · Consulting ProducerI Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale
You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. StoryDirected by Sidney Lumet: How the Devil Was MadeBeyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making '12 Angry Men'
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead · DirectorPrince of the City: The Real Story
Find Me Guilty · DirectorFind Me Guilty · ScreenplayEugene O’Neill: A Documentary FilmThe Making of 'Network'The Making of 'Dog Day Afternoon'
The Manchurian CandidateRachel, When the Lord · DirectorStrip Search · DirectorImaginary Witness: Hollywood and the HolocaustMaking 'Murder on the Orient-Express'
A Decade Under the InfluenceThe Education of Gore VidalThe Evolution of an American Filmmaker
Dziga and His BrothersNew York at the MoviesInside 'Serpico'The Tramp and the DictatorSerpico: From Real to Reel
100 Centre Street · Director100 Centre Street · Executive Producer100 Centre Street · Writer
Revisiting 'Fail-Safe'Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb'
Gloria · DirectorAnthony Perkins: A Life in the Shadows
Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery
Night Falls on Manhattan · ScreenplayNight Falls on Manhattan · DirectorCritical Care · DirectorCritical Care · Producer
Inside the Actors Studio
Guilty as Sin · Director
A Stranger Among Us · DirectorFonda on Fonda
Q & A · ScreenplayQ & A · DirectorNight of 100 Stars III
Family Business · DirectorWilliam Holden: The Golden Boy
Running on Empty · DirectorFunny
American MastersThe Morning After · DirectorPower · Director
Garbo Talks · Director
Daniel · DirectorDaniel · Executive Producer
The Verdict · DirectorDeathtrap · Director
Prince of the City · ScreenplayPrince of the City · Director
Just Tell Me What You Want · DirectorJust Tell Me What You Want · Producer
The Wiz · DirectorWiz on Down the Road
Equus · Director
Full filmography
- Breakdown: 1975 (2025) as Self - Director of Dog day afternoon (archive footage)
- One Step Further: Becoming Lumet (2023) as Self
- By Sidney Lumet (2015) as Self
- Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (2010) as Self
- In Her Skin (2009) Consulting Producer
- I Knew It Was You: Rediscovering John Cazale (2009) as Self
- You Must Remember This: The Warner Bros. Story (2008) as Self
- Directed by Sidney Lumet: How the Devil Was Made (2008) as Self
- Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: Making '12 Angry Men' (2008) as Self
- Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2007) Director
- Prince of the City: The Real Story (2007) as Self
- Find Me Guilty (2006) Director
- Find Me Guilty (2006) Screenplay
- Eugene O’Neill: A Documentary Film (2006) as Self
- The Making of 'Network' (2006) as Self
- The Making of 'Dog Day Afternoon' (2006) as Self
- The Manchurian Candidate (2004) as Political Pundit
- Rachel, When the Lord (2004) Director
- Strip Search (2004) Director
- Imaginary Witness: Hollywood and the Holocaust (2004) as Self
- Making 'Murder on the Orient-Express' (2004) as Self
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- The Education of Gore Vidal (2003) as Self
- The Evolution of an American Filmmaker (2003) as Self
- Dziga and His Brothers (2002) as Self
- New York at the Movies (2002) as Self
- Inside 'Serpico' (2002) as Self
- The Tramp and the Dictator (2002) as Self (uncredited)
- Serpico: From Real to Reel (2002) as Self
- 100 Centre Street (2001) Director
- 100 Centre Street (2001) Executive Producer
- 100 Centre Street (2001) Writer
- Revisiting 'Fail-Safe' (2000) as Self
- Inside: 'Dr. Strangelove or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb' (2000) as Self - Director, 'Fail Safe'
- Gloria (1999) Director
- Anthony Perkins: A Life in the Shadows (1999) as Self
- Intimate Portrait: Sean Connery (1998) as Self
- Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) Screenplay
- Night Falls on Manhattan (1997) Director
- Critical Care (1997) Director
- Critical Care (1997) Producer
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- Guilty as Sin (1993) Director
- A Stranger Among Us (1992) Director
- Fonda on Fonda (1992) as Self
- Q & A (1990) Screenplay
- Q & A (1990) Director
- Night of 100 Stars III (1990) as Self
- Family Business (1989) Director
- William Holden: The Golden Boy (1989) as Self
- Running on Empty (1988) Director
- Funny (1988) as Self
- American Masters (1986) as Self
- The Morning After (1986) Director
- Power (1986) Director
- Garbo Talks (1984) Director
- Daniel (1983) Director
- Daniel (1983) Executive Producer
- The Verdict (1982) Director
- Deathtrap (1982) Director
- Prince of the City (1981) Screenplay
- Prince of the City (1981) Director
- Just Tell Me What You Want (1980) Director
- Just Tell Me What You Want (1980) Producer
- The Wiz (1978) Director
- Wiz on Down the Road (1978) as Self - Director
- Equus (1977) Director
- Network (1976) Director
- Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Director
- Spécial cinéma (1974) as Self
- Murder on the Orient Express (1974) Director
- Lovin' Molly (1974) Director
- Serpico (1973) Director
- The Offence (1973) Director
- Child's Play (1972) Director
- Film '72 (1971) as Self
- The Anderson Tapes (1971) Director
- Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970) Director
- Last of the Mobile Hot Shots (1970) Producer
- King: A Filmed Record... Montgomery to Memphis (1970) Director
- The Appointment (1969) Director
- The Dick Cavett Show (1968) as Self - Guest
- Bye Bye Braverman (1968) Director
- Bye Bye Braverman (1968) Producer
- The Sea Gull (1968) Director
- The Sea Gull (1968) Producer
- The Deadly Affair (1967) Producer
- The Deadly Affair (1967) Director
- The Group (1966) Director
- The Hill (1965) Director
- The Pawnbroker (1965) Director
- The Sun... the Sand... the Hill (1965) as Self
- Fail Safe (1964) Director
- Fail Safe (1964) Executive Producer
- Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962) Director
- A View from the Bridge (1962) Director
- John Brown's Raid (1960) Director
- The Fugitive Kind (1960) Director
- Beyond the Time Barrier (1960) Casting Director
- Playhouse 90: The Hiding Place (1960) Director
- The Iceman Cometh (1960) Director
- The Iceman Cometh (1960) Director
- Play of the Week: Rashomon (1960) Director
- The Dybbuk (1960) Director
- Play of the Week (1959) Director
- NBC Sunday Showcase (1959) Director
- Sunday Showcase (1959) Director
- That Kind of Woman (1959) Director
- All the King's Men (1958) Director
- Stage Struck (1958) Director
- Hans Brinker or the Silver Skates (1958) Director
- Three Plays by Tennessee Williams (1958) Director
- 12 Angry Men (1957) Director
- DuPont Show of the Month (1957) Director
- The Seven Lively Arts (1957) Director
- Mr. Broadway (1957) Director
- Mr. Broadway (1957) Producer
- Playhouse 90 (1956) Director
- Tragedy in a Temporary Town (1956) Director
- Frontier (1955) Director
- The Alcoa Hour (1955) Director
- Star Stage (1955) Director
- The Challenge (1955) Director
- Producers' Showcase (1954) Director
- The Elgin Hour (1954) Director
- The Best of Broadway (1954) Director
- The United States Steel Hour (1953) Director
- You Are There (1953) Director
- Omnibus (1952) Director
- CBS Television Workshop (1952) Director
- Goodyear Television Playhouse (1951) Director
- Hallmark Hall of Fame (1951) Director
- Casey, Crime Photographer (1951) Director
- Danger (1950) Director
- Mama (1949) Director
- Studio One (1948) Director
- Kraft Television Theatre (1947) Director
- One Third of a Nation (1939) as Joey Rogers
- The 400 Million (1939) as Additional Voice (voice)