William Friedkin Dies: Oscar-Winning ‘French Connection’ Director & ‘Exorcist’ Nominee Was 87
deadline.comWilliam Friedkin, who won as Oscar for directing The French Connection, scored a nomination for The Exorcist and also helmed The Boys in the Band, To Live and Die in L.A., Rules of Engagement and others, died today in Los Angeles.
He way 87. His death Chapman University dean Stephen Galloway, a friend of Friedkin’s wife, producer and ex-studio chief. Sherry Lansing Friedkin beat out some serious heavyweights to win the Best Direct Academy Award for The French Connnection at the 1972 ceremony.
Also up for the statuette that year were Stanley Kubrick (A Clockwork Orange), Peter Bogdanovich (The Last Picture Show) and Norman Jewison (Fiddler on the Roof).
He would go up against more heavy hitters with The Exorcists two years later. George Roy Hill won that year for The Sting, also besting Bernardo Bertolucci (Last Tango in Paris), Ingmar Bergman (Cries & Whispers) and George Lucas (American Graffiti).
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