Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
Now Streaming
Movies Streaming Now
TV Shows Streaming Now
In Theaters
Coming Soon
Sign In

Home
Movies
TV Shows
Photos
More
Now Streaming Movies Streaming Now TV Shows Streaming Now In Theaters Coming Soon Celebrities
Sign In

Home
People
William Friedkin

William Friedkin

Actor, Director, Writer

Born August 29, 1935 in Chicago, Illinois, USA

Died August 7, 2023

Movies & Shows

Discover William Friedkin content online

Loading streaming options...

Finding the best places to watch

No streaming options available

Check back later for new content

No matches found for your search

Try different keywords

Content availability varies by region and time. Links open in new window.

Share with a friend

Quick Copy Link

Share on Social Media

Popular

Professional

More Options

Photos Profile Poster Backdrop Stills Logo Event Publicity Product Behind the Scenes Photos Other Photos Unknown Photos Videos Trailers Teasers Clips Behind the Scenes Videos Bloopers Featurette Credits Other Videos Awards

Biography

William David Friedkin (August 29, 1935 – August 7, 2023) was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the "New Hollywood" movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in documentaries in the early 1960s, he is best known for his crime thriller film The French Connection (1971), which won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director, and the horror film The Exorcist (1973), which earned him another Academy Award nomination for Best Director.

Friedkin's other films in the 1970s and 1980s include the drama The Boys in the Band (1970), considered a milestone of queer cinema; the originally deprecated, now lauded thriller Sorcerer (1977); the crime comedy drama The Brink's Job (1978); the controversial thriller Cruising (1980); and the neo-noir thriller To Live and Die in L.A. (1985). Although Friedkin's works suffered an overall commercial and critical decline in the late 1980s, his last three feature films, all based on plays, were positively received by critics: the psychological horror film Bug (2006), the crime film Killer Joe (2011), and the legal drama film The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (2023), released two months after his death. He also worked extensively as an opera director from 1998 until his death, and directed various television films and series episodes for television.

Description above from the Wikipedia article William Friedkin, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Less

More

18 wins and 12 nominations

William Friedkin Photos

William Friedkin Videos

Leap of Faith - Official Trailer [HD] | A Shudder Exclusive

Official Trailer

The Devil and Father Amorth (2018) | Official US Trailer HD

Filmography

Actor

116

Type

Year

Cruising: Audio Commentary Poster

Cruising: Audio Commentary Video2025Self

William Friedkin, cinéaste au coeur des ténèbres Poster

William Friedkin, cinéaste au coeur des ténèbres TV Movie2025Self

Fear and Love: The Story of the Exorcist Poster

Fear and Love: The Story of the Exorcist Documentary2024Self

The Connection Connection Short Film2024Self

TCM Remembers 2023 Poster

TCM Remembers 2023 Feature Film2023Self - Director

The Lost Print Poster

The Lost Print Feature Film2022

Algren (revised) Poster

Algren (revised) Feature Film2021Self

I Am Alfred Hitchcock Poster

I Am Alfred Hitchcock Feature Film2021Self

Fellini of the Spirits Poster

Fellini of the Spirits Documentary2020Self

The Exorcist Confidential Poster

The Exorcist Confidential Feature Film2020Self

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist Poster

Leap of Faith: William Friedkin on the Exorcist Documentary2019Self

Friedkin Uncut Poster

Friedkin Uncut Documentary2018Self

Hollywood Insider Poster

Hollywood Insider TV Series2018Self

Sonny and Cher Make a Movie Video2018Self

The 202 Xtra Poster

The 202 Xtra Mini-Series2018Self - Special Guest

Hardcore Nitzsche: Jack Nitzsche on Film Poster

Hardcore Nitzsche: Jack Nitzsche on Film Video2017Self

Pinter's Party as Told by William Friedkin Documentary2017Self

The Devil and Father Amorth Poster

The Devil and Father Amorth Documentary2017Self - Director, The Exorcist

Algren Documentary2014Self

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles Poster

Magician: The Astonishing Life and Work of Orson Welles Documentary2014Self

A Fuller Life Poster

A Fuller Life Documentary2013Self - Reader

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck Poster

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck Documentary2013Self - Interviewee

Richard Fleischer, Storyteller: William Friedkin on 'Violent Saturday' Documentary2013Self

Split Screen Personality: William Friedkin on Richard Fleischer's 'The Boston Strangler' Documentary2013Self

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot Poster

Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot Documentary2013Self

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Poster

The Making of the Wonderful Wizard of Oz Video2013

Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic Poster

Casablanca: An Unlikely Classic Documentary2012Self

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of Poster

Michael Curtiz: The Greatest Director You Never Heard Of Short Film2012Self

Stanley Kubrick in Focus Poster

Stanley Kubrick in Focus Short Film2012Self

Making the Boys Poster

Making the Boys Documentary2011Self - Academy Award Winning Director

Miller's Tale Poster

Miller's Tale Documentary2011Self

Godard Made in USA Poster

Godard Made in USA Documentary2010Self

Histoires de cinéma TV Series2010Self

Anatomy of a Chase Poster

Anatomy of a Chase Documentary2009Self

Fasten Your Seatbelt: The Thrilling Art of Alfred Hitchcock Documentary2009Self

Frankenheimer in Focus Poster

Frankenheimer in Focus Documentary2009Self

Friedkin and Grosso Remember: The French Connection Documentary2009Self

Hollywood's Best Film Directors Poster

Hollywood's Best Film Directors TV Series2009Self

North by Northwest: One for the Ages Poster

North by Northwest: One for the Ages Video2009Self

Nouvelle vague vue d'ailleurs Documentary2009Self

Post Mortem with Mick Garris Poster

Post Mortem with Mick Garris TV Series2009Self

Scene of the Crime Documentary2009Self

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style Poster

The Master's Touch: Hitchcock's Signature Style Video2009Self

Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman Poster

Victor Fleming: Master Craftsman Documentary2009Self

40 x 15 Documentary2008Self

Godfather World Video2008Self

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy Poster

In the Master's Shadow: Hitchcock's Legacy Documentary2008Self

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master Poster

Pure Cinema: Through the Eyes of the Master Documentary2008Self

The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't Poster

The Masterpiece That Almost Wasn't Documentary2008Self

The Sound of Hitchcock Poster

The Sound of Hitchcock Documentary2008Self

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition Poster

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movies: 10th Anniversary Edition Documentary2007Self

Exorcising Cruising Poster

Exorcising Cruising Video2007Self

Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making 'A Clockwork Orange' Poster

Great Bolshy Yarblockos! Making 'A Clockwork Orange' Documentary2007Self

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 Poster

Standing on the Shoulders of Kubrick: The Legacy of 2001 Documentary2007Self

Tatort Oper - Wie Filmemacher Oper machen Documentary2007Self

The History of Cruising Poster

The History of Cruising Video2007Self

The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo Poster

The Man Who Shot Chinatown: The Life and Work of John A. Alonzo Documentary2007Self

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick Poster

The Visions of Stanley Kubrick Documentary2007Self

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'the Shining' Poster

View from the Overlook: Crafting 'the Shining' Documentary2007Self

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001 Poster

Vision of a Future Passed: The Prophecy of 2001 Documentary2007Self

Greatest Ever Scary Movies Poster

Greatest Ever Scary Movies Mini-Series2006Self

Shadows of Suspense Documentary2006Self

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Movie Quotes: America's Greatest Quips, Comebacks and Catchphrases Documentary2005Self

Precinct Hollywood Documentary2005Self

Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy Poster

Shadows in the Dark: The Val Lewton Legacy Documentary2005Self

TCM Guest Programmer Poster

TCM Guest Programmer TV Series2005Self

The Hour Poster

The Hour TV Series2005Self

A Little Solitaire Documentary2004Self

Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate Poster

Final Cut: The Making and Unmaking of Heaven's Gate Documentary2004Self

Just the Facts Documentary2004Director

Tavis Smiley Poster

Tavis Smiley TV Series2004Self - Guest

The Culture Show Poster

The Culture Show TV Series2004Self

A Decade Under the Influence Poster

A Decade Under the Influence Documentary2003Self

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains Poster

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Heroes & Villains Documentary2003Self

Counterfeit World: Making 'to Live and Die in L.A.' Poster

Counterfeit World: Making 'to Live and Die in L.A.' Documentary2003Self

Filming 'the Hunted' Documentary2003Self

Narc: Shooting Up Poster

Narc: Shooting Up Documentary2003Self - Filmmaker

Narc: The Friedkin Connection Poster

Narc: The Friedkin Connection Documentary2003Self - Filmmaker

Pursuing 'the Hunted' Documentary2003Self

The 100 Greatest Scary Moments Poster

The 100 Greatest Scary Moments Documentary2003Self

The Cutting Edge Documentary2003Self

Face Time TV Series2002Self - Interviewee

Into the Night with... Poster

Into the Night with... TV Series20021 episode, 2010

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies Poster

AFI's 100 Years... 100 Thrills: America's Most Heart-Pounding Movies Documentary2001Self

Making the Connection: Untold Stories of 'the French Connection' Poster

Making the Connection: Untold Stories of 'the French Connection' Documentary2001Self - Director

The 100 Greatest Films Poster

The 100 Greatest Films Documentary2001Self

The Essentials TV Series2001Self - Special Guest

Behind the Rules of Engagement Documentary2000Self

The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection' Poster

The Poughkeepsie Shuffle: Tracing 'The French Connection' Documentary2000Self - Director

Na plovárne Poster

Na plovárne TV Series1999Self

The Directors Poster

The Directors TV Series1999Self

Bravo Profiles Poster

Bravo Profiles TV Series1998Self

Comme au cinéma Poster

Comme au cinéma TV Series1998Self

The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' Poster

The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' Documentary1998Self - Director

The Uttmost Documentary1998Self

Without Limits Poster

Without Limits Feature Film1998TV Director

Hollywood Halloween Poster

Hollywood Halloween Documentary1997Self

Howard Hawks: American Artist Poster

Howard Hawks: American Artist Documentary1997Self

In the Grip of Evil Poster

In the Grip of Evil Documentary1997Self - Director of 'The Exorcist'

Good Day L.A. Poster

Good Day L.A. TV Series1993Self

Intimate Portrait Poster

Intimate Portrait TV Series1993Self

Fear in the Dark Poster

Fear in the Dark Documentary1991Self

The Secrets of Dick Smith Poster

The Secrets of Dick Smith Documentary1991Self - Discussing The Exorcist

The Horror Hall of Fame Poster

The Horror Hall of Fame Documentary1990Self

The Simpsons Poster

The Simpsons TV Series1989Dr. Kenneth Humphries

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album Poster

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album Video1986Self

American Masters Poster

American Masters TV Series1985Self

Fantasy Film Festival TV Series1979Self

The 48th Annual Academy Awards Poster

The 48th Annual Academy Awards TV Special1976Self - Presenter

Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin Poster

Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin Documentary1975Self

Oscars, Actors and The Exorcist Poster

Oscars, Actors and The Exorcist TV Special1974Self

The 44th Annual Academy Awards Poster

The 44th Annual Academy Awards TV Special1972Self - Winner

The David Frost Show Poster

The David Frost Show TV Series1969Self

The Merv Griffin Show Poster

The Merv Griffin Show TV Series1962Self - Director

This Is Your Life Poster

This Is Your Life TV Series1955Self

The Irv Kupcinet Show Poster

The Irv Kupcinet Show TV Series1953Self

Director

37

Type

Year

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Poster

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Feature Film2023

The Devil and Father Amorth Poster

The Devil and Father Amorth Documentary2017

Killer Joe Poster

Killer Joe Feature Film2011

The Painter's Voice Poster

The Painter's Voice Documentary2007

Bug Feature Film2006

The Hunted Poster

The Hunted Feature Film2003

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Poster

CSI: Crime Scene Investigation TV Series2000

Rules of Engagement Poster

Rules of Engagement Feature Film2000

12 Angry Men Poster

12 Angry Men TV Movie1997

Jade Feature Film1995

Blue Chips Poster

Blue Chips Feature Film1994

Rebel Highway Poster

Rebel Highway TV Series1994

The Guardian Poster

The Guardian Feature Film1990

Tales from the Crypt Poster

Tales from the Crypt TV Series1989

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf Poster

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf TV Movie1988

Rampage Feature Film1987

C.A.T. Squad Poster

C.A.T. Squad TV Movie1986

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album Poster

Putting It Together: The Making of the Broadway Album Video1986

The Twilight Zone Poster

The Twilight Zone TV Series1985

To Live and Die in L.A. Poster

To Live and Die in L.A. Feature Film1985

Deal of the Century Poster

Deal of the Century Feature Film1983

Cruising Poster

Cruising Feature Film1980

The Brink's Job Poster

The Brink's Job Feature Film1978

Sorcerer Poster

Sorcerer Feature Film1977

Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin Poster

Fritz Lang Interviewed by William Friedkin Documentary1975

The Exorcist Poster

The Exorcist Feature Film1973

The French Connection Poster

The French Connection Feature Film1971

The Boys in the Band Poster

The Boys in the Band Feature Film1970

The Birthday Party Poster

The Birthday Party Feature Film1968

The Night They Raided Minsky's Poster

The Night They Raided Minsky's Feature Film1968

Good Times Poster

Good Times Feature Film1967

The Thin Blue Line Poster

The Thin Blue Line Documentary1966

Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon Poster

Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon Documentary1965

The Bold Men Poster

The Bold Men Documentary1965

Time-Life Specials: The March of Time TV Series1965

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour Poster

The Alfred Hitchcock Hour TV Series1962

The People vs. Paul Crump Poster

The People vs. Paul Crump Documentary1962

Thanks

18

Type

Year

Ditched Feature Film2021

Jay Sebring....Cutting to the Truth Poster

Jay Sebring....Cutting to the Truth Feature Film2020

M3/H301 Short Film2020

A Missed Connection Poster

A Missed Connection Short Film2018

The Cleansing Hour Poster

The Cleansing Hour Short Film2016

Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk Poster

Nosferatu vs. Father Pipecock & Sister Funk Feature Film2014

The Day of the Living Dead Poster

The Day of the Living Dead Feature Film2014

American Federale Poster

American Federale Documentary2013

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck Poster

Don't Say No Until I Finish Talking: The Story of Richard D. Zanuck Documentary2013

Arbitrage Poster

Arbitrage Feature Film2012

Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter Poster

Acid Head: The Buzzard Nuts County Slaughter Feature Film2011

On Tour Feature Film2010

Narc: Shooting Up Poster

Narc: Shooting Up Documentary2003

Making the Connection: Untold Stories of 'the French Connection' Poster

Making the Connection: Untold Stories of 'the French Connection' Documentary2001

Behind the Rules of Engagement Documentary2000

The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' Poster

The Fear of God: 25 Years of 'The Exorcist' Documentary1998

Reputations Poster

Reputations TV Series1994

The Chili Con Carne Club Poster

The Chili Con Carne Club Short Film1993

Writer

8

Type

Year

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Poster

The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Feature Film2023

The Devil and Father Amorth Poster

The Devil and Father Amorth Documentary2017

The Guardian Poster

The Guardian Feature Film1990

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf Poster

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf TV Movie1988

Rampage Feature Film1987

To Live and Die in L.A. Poster

To Live and Die in L.A. Feature Film1985

Cruising Poster

Cruising Feature Film1980

The Thin Blue Line Poster

The Thin Blue Line Documentary1966

Producer

8

Type

Year

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf Poster

C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf TV Movie1988

Rampage Feature Film1987

C.A.T. Squad Poster

C.A.T. Squad TV Movie1986

Sorcerer Poster

Sorcerer Feature Film1977

The 49th Annual Academy Awards Poster

The 49th Annual Academy Awards TV Special1977

Paper Moon Poster

Paper Moon Feature Film1973

The Thin Blue Line Poster

The Thin Blue Line Documentary1966

Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon Poster

Pro Football: Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon Documentary1965

Other Crew

1

Featured Celebrity Photos

Zara Larsson Delivers Electrifying Performance at 2026 Lollapalooza Festival in Chicago

Kristen Stewart Shines at the Premiere of Teenage Sex and Death in Los Angeles

Ashley Roberts Makes a Stylish Exit from Heart Radio on Last Day Before Summer Break

Taylor Momsen Live Performance at The Wiltern in Los Angeles

Chase Sui Wonders Shines at New York Premiere of 'I Want Your Sex

Hannah Einbinder Shines at Teenage Sex and Death Premiere in Los Angeles

Dakota Johnson Stars as Marilyn Monroe in Upcoming Short Film Set for July 2026 Release

Hayes Warner Attends FX's The Shards London Screening

Madison Beer Stops by Nail Salon Ahead of Los Angeles Meeting on July 30, 2026

Emily Feld Features Stylish Looks in That's So Fetch August 2026 Edition

Kathryn Newton Attends "The Devil's Mouth" Beach Party in Malibu

Hayes Warner Shines at FX's The Shards Premiere in New York

Aisling Sharkey Shines at Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Jennifer Lopez Spotted Exploring the Streets of Rome

Florence Pugh Shines at London Premiere of "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" July 29, 2026

Zendaya Shines at the "Spider-Man: Brand New Day" UK Premiere in London

Selena Gomez Enjoys Yacht Day in a Bikini on the French Riviera

Lana Condor Attends "The Devil's Mouth" Screening Event in Culver City

Lindsey Pelas Shines at Ted Lasso Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Anna Sitar Shines at Spider-Man: Brand New Day Premiere in Los Angeles

Anna McClelland Shines at Spider-Man: Brand New Day Premiere in Los Angeles

Chloe Veitch Shines at Los Angeles Premiere of Ted Lasso Season 4

Kaia Gerber Attends Press Junket for "The Shards" in New York

Mary Beth Barone Appears on Live with Kelly & Mark in New York

Chase Sui Wonders Shines at "I Want Your Sex" Los Angeles Premiere

Karlie Kloss Spotted on Book Tour in New York City

Katherine McNamara Shines at "Ted Lasso" Season 4 Premiere in Los Angeles

Karlie Kloss Spotted Out and About in New York City

Evan Rachel Wood Shines at FX's "The Shards" World Premiere in New York

Lauren Betts Shines at AT&T WNBA All-Star Weekend in Chicago

Oops!

Sign up for free

Company

About Us
Contact Us
Send feedback

Contribute

Add Movie
Add TV Show
Contribution Guide

Legal

Terms
Privacy

© 2026 Gawby.com

Send feedback to Gawby.com

Describe your issue or suggestion