William Friedkin, the daring cinematic visionary who played a pivotal role in transforming the landscape of 1970s Hollywood through his captivating and era-defining masterpieces "The French Connection" and "The Exorcist," has passed away as announced by his family.
The family's statement revealed that Friedkin, aged 87, succumbed to heart failure and pneumonia at his residence in Los Angeles.
Friedkin became emblematic of the late 1960s and '70s New Hollywood era, a time when daring young directors seized artistic authority from studio executives, causing a significant upheaval in the industry. Renowned for infusing established genres with dynamic vitality and a provocative flair, he left an indelible mark.
He secured an Academy Award for his direction of "The French Connection," an intense crime thriller from 1971 that follows a bold narcotics detective in New York City, portrayed by Gene Hackman. The movie, centered around an exhilarating and adrenaline-pumping car chase, additionally claimed Oscars for best picture and best adapted screenplay.
In 2021, Friedkin had admitted in an interview that he had come to realize he had been overly daring during the filming of the iconic car chase. Reflecting on the situation, he acknowledged that the absence of injuries was nothing short of a miraculous outcome. He further emphasized the recklessness of his actions and the potential danger, noting that he, along with several crew members, narrowly escaped harm or even death. Friedkin expressed a shift in perspective, emphasizing that he would never willingly undertake such a risk again. He attributed his past audacity to his youth and a sense of indifference at the time, explaining that he had simply proceeded without much concern for the potential consequences.
"The Exorcist," an exceptionally chilling horror masterpiece from 1973, revolves around a young girl possessed by Satan. This film granted Friedkin the most significant box office success of his profession, amassing a staggering $440 million worldwide. Its mind-boggling violence and unsettling visuals astonished audiences globally, leaving an indelible mark.
Friedkin helmed a collection of cult classics that have garnered devoted fan bases throughout the years. Among these are the tense film "Sorcerer," the Al Pacino psychological thriller "Cruising," and the sprawling crime saga "To Live and Die in L.A." Despite these accomplishments, he faced challenges in achieving the same level of commercial success and critical acclaim as his work in the 1970s. In more recent times, he gradually stepped away from the public eye.
He was born in Chicago on August 29, 1935 and his journey commenced in community television and documentary endeavors before transitioning to full-length movies. His inaugural entry into the world of feature films was "Good Times," starring Sonny & Cher, in 1967. Just three years afterward, he helmed "The Boys in the Band," a significant achievement in LGBTQ cinema, which depicted a circle of gay friends in Manhattan.
