William Friedkin
William Friedkin was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter born on August 29, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. He became one of the leading filmmakers of the New Hollywood era, known for his intense, realistic style and psychologically powerful storytelling. Beginning his career in documentaries in the early 1960s, he is best known for his crime thriller film The French Connection (1971), which won the Academy Award for Best Picture, and the horror classic The Exorcist (1973). His other notable films include Sorcerer (1977) and To Live and Die in L.A. (1985).