William Friedkin
Biography
William Friedkin is a film, television, and opera director, producer, and screenwriter. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he began his career in documentaries in the early 1960s. Friedkin is known for directing films such as The French Connection, which won five Academy Awards, and The Exorcist, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. He also directed the drama The Boys in the Band, considered a milestone of queer cinema. Friedkin's career spans multiple decades, with a focus on directing films and television shows. He is associated with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s.
Career overview
William Friedkin began his career in the early 1960s directing documentaries. He is known for his work in the 1970s, a period during which he was closely associated with the "New Hollywood" movement.
Friedkin directed several notable films during this time, including The French Connection in 1971 and The Exorcist in 1973. The French Connection earned him five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director. The Exorcist, a horror film, earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Director.
Friedkin's directing credits also include the drama The Boys in the Band, considered a milestone of queer cinema, released in 1970.
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Career timeline
Full filmography
- Mineshaft: The Cruising Murders (2026) as Self (archive footage)
- Fear and Love: The Story of The Exorcist (2024) as Self
- 100 Years of Warner Bros. (2023) as Self
- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023) Teleplay
- The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023) Director
- The Lost Print: The Making of Orson Welles’ The Magnificent Ambersons (2022) as Self
- I Am Alfred Hitchcock (2021) as Self (archive footage)
- Algren (2021) as Self
- Fellini of the Spirits (2020) as Self
- Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on The Exorcist (2019) as Self
- Friedkin Uncut (2018) as Self
- The Devil and Father Amorth (2018) as Self
- The Devil and Father Amorth (2018) Director
- The Devil and Father Amorth (2018) Writer
- Return to the Genre (2016)
- Verdi Aida (2015) Stage Director
- Sorcerers: A Conversation with William Friedkin and Nicolas Winding Refn (2015)
- Henri Langlois vu par... (2014) as Self
- Henri Langlois vu par... (2014) Director
- Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles (2014) as Self - Filmmaker (archive footage)
- A Fuller Life (2013) as Self - Reader (segment "My Ballsy Yarns")
- Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck (2013) as Self
- Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot (2013) as Self
- The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz (2013) as Self
- Killer Joe (2012) Director
- Stanley Kubrick in Focus (2012) as Self
- Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of (2012) as Self
- Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic (2012) as Self
- Miller's Tale (2011) as Self
- Making the Boys (2011) as Self
- Godard Made in USA (2010) as Self
- The Exorcist Locations: Georgetown Then and Now (2010) as Self
- Raising Hell: Filming the Exorcist (2010) as Self
- North by Northwest: One for the Ages (2009) as Self
- Anatomy of a Chase (2009) as Self
- Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock (2009) as Self
- Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman (2009) as Self
- The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style (2009) as Self
- The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't (2008) as Self
- In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy (2008) as Self
- Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of Hitchcock (2008) as Self
- Breaking Barriers: The Sound of Hitchcock (2008) as Self
- Bug (2007) Director
- The History of 'Cruising' (2007) as Self
- The Visions of Stanley Kubrick (2007) as Self
- The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo (2007) as Self
- Exorcising 'Cruising' (2007) as Self
- The Painter's Voice (2007) Director
- View from the Overlook: Crafting 'The Shining' (2007) as Self
- Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 (2007) as Self
- Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001 (2007) as Self
- Great Bolshy Yarblockos!: Making 'A Clockwork Orange' (2007) as Self
- Tatort Oper - Wie Filmemacher Oper machen (2007) as Self
- Shadows of Suspense (2006) as Self
- Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy (2005)
- Leçon de Cinéma (2004) as Self
- A Little Solitaire (2004) as Self
- The Hunted (2003) Director
- A Decade Under the Influence (2003) as Self
- Filming “The Hunted” (2003) as Self
- Pursuing “The Hunted” (2003) as Self
- The Cutting Edge (2003) as Self
- Counterfeit World: Making 'To Live and Die in L.A.' (2003) as Self
- Narc: The Friedkin Connection (2003) as Self
- Through the Night with... (2002) as Self
- Making the Connection: Untold Stories of The French Connection (2001) as Self
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) Director
- Rules of Engagement (2000) Director
- The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection' (2000) as Self
- Without Limits (1998) as TV Director
- The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) as Self - Director
- The Fear of God: 25 Years of The Exorcist (1998) Thanks
- Billy Wilder: The Human Comedy (1998) as Self
- 12 Angry Men (1997) Director
- Howard Hawks: American Artist (1997) as Self
- Hollywood Halloween (1997) as Self
- Jade (1995) Director
- Rebel Highway (1994) Director
- Blue Chips (1994) Director
- Jailbreakers (1994) Director
- Fear in the Dark (1991) as Self
- The Guardian (1990) Director
- The Guardian (1990) Screenplay
- The Simpsons (1989) as Dr. Kenneth Humphries (voice)
- Tales from the Crypt (1989) Director
- C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988) Director
- C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988) Story
- C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf (1988) Executive Producer
- Rampage (1987) Director
- Rampage (1987) Writer
- Rampage (1987) Producer
- Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (1986) as Self
- Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album (1986) Director
- C.A.T. Squad (1986) Director
- C.A.T. Squad (1986) Executive Producer
- The Twilight Zone (1985) Director
- To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) Director
- To Live and Die in L.A. (1985) Screenplay
- Deal of the Century (1983) Director
- Cruising (1980) Director
- Cruising (1980) Writer
- The Brink's Job (1978) Director
- Sorcerer (1977) Director
- Sorcerer (1977) Screenplay
- Sorcerer (1977) Producer
- Conversation with Fritz Lang (1975) as Self
- Conversation with Fritz Lang (1975) Director
- Oscars, Actors and The Exorcist (1974) as Self
- The Exorcist (1973) Director
- The French Connection (1971) Director
- The Boys in the Band (1970) Director
- The Night They Raided Minsky's (1968) Director
- The Birthday Party (1968) Director
- Muggins (1967) Producer
- Good Times (1967) Director
- Good Times (1967) Screenplay
- The Pickle Brothers (1967) Director
- The Thin Blue Line (1966) Director
- The Thin Blue Line (1966) Producer
- The Thin Blue Line (1966) Story
- The Bold Men (1965) Director
- Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon (1965) Director
- The Alfred Hitchcock Hour (1962) Director
- The People vs. Paul Crump (1962) Director
- The People vs. Paul Crump (1962) Producer