Visual History with William Friedkin

William Friedkin was born in Chicago and immediately after graduating high school began working in the mailroom of the television station WGN-TV. Within two years Friedkin was directing live television shows and documentaries for the station, most notably The People vs. Paul Crump which won an award at the San Francisco International Film Festival. After several other documentary directorial efforts (The Bold Men [1965] and Time-Life Specials: The March of Time [1965]), Friedkin moved to Hollywood and was immediately given the opportunity to direct an episode of The Alfred Hitchcock Hour, where Hitchcock himself famously chastised Friedkin for not wearing a tie on set. After just two years in Hollywood, Friedkin directed his first feature, the Sony and Cher comedy Good Times in 1967. Continuing into the late 60’s and early 70’s Friedkin directed “art” films such as The Birthday Party (1968), The Night They Raided Minsky’s (1968) and The Boys in the Band (1970). In 1971 Friedkin, wanting to create films with more action and serious drama, directed what has become known as arguably his most famous work—1971’s The French Connection. The film won him the DGA Feature Film Award and was followed by the equally successful and praised The Exorcist in 1973, which revolutionized the horror genre. The film was nominated for the DGA Feature Film Award and 10 Academy Awards, including a directing nod for Friedkin.

As one of the leading directors of the “New Hollywood” wave of filmmaking, Friedkin continued directing both film and television for the rest of his career. His additional film credits include Sorcerer (1977), The Brink’s Job (1978), Deal of the Century (1983), To Live and Die in L.A. (1985), The Guardian (1990), Rules of Engagement (2000), Bug (2006), and Killer Joe (2011). His television credits include episodes of The Twilight Zone, Tales from the Crypt, Rebel High and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, as well as the television movies C.A.T. Squad (1986), and 12 Angry Men (1997).

In addition to his two DGA Award nominations, including his French Connection win, Friedkin received a third nomination in 1998 for the movie for television 12 Angry Men. In 1972 Friedkin won the Academy Award for Best Director for The French Connection and was again nominated in 1974 for The Exorcist. Friedkin also won the Golden Globe for Best Director of a Motion Picture for both The French Connection and The Exorcist. Friedkin served on the DGA’s National Board from 1973-79 as well as the Eastern Directors Council from 1972-78. In April 2013 Friedkin published his memoir, The Friedkin Connection, which was reviewed in the Spring 2013 issue of the DGA Quarterly.

This interview was conducted over 3 days in 2007, 2009, and 2014.