Friedkin in 2013, photo by s_bukley/www.bigstockphoto.com
Date of Birth: August 29, 1935
Place of Birth: Chicago, Cook, Illinois, United States
Date of Death: August 7, 2023
Place of Death: Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
William Friedkin was an American film director, producer, and screenwriter. He won the Academy Award for Best Director for The French Connection (1971). He also directed the films Good Times (1967), The Birthday Party, The Night They Raided Minsky’s, The Boys in the Band (1970), The Exorcist, Sorcerer (1977), The Brink’s Job, Cruising, Deal of the Century, To Live and Die in L.A., Rampage (1987), The Guardian (1990), Blue Chips, Jade, Rules of Engagement (2000), The Hunted (2003), Bug (2006), Killer Joe, and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial; the documentaries The People vs. Paul Crump, The Bold Men, Mayhem on a Sunday Afternoon, The Thin Blue Line, and The Devil and Father Amorth, and the made-for-tv movies C.A.T. Squad, C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf, Jailbreakers, and 12 Angry Men (1997). He also wrote his Cruising and Rampage, and co-wrote To Live and Die in L.A., The Guardian, The Caine Mutiny, The Devil and Father Amorth, and the second C.A.T. Squad film.
William was the son of Raechael/Rachael “Rae” (Green), an operating room registered nurse, and Louis Friedkin, a merchant seaman, men’s clothing salesman, and semi-professional softball player. His father was born in Illinois, U.S., to Russian Jewish parents. His mother was a Jewish emigrant, who was born in Kiev, Russian Empire, now Ukraine.
William was married to actress and film studio executive Sherry Lansing, until his death. He has a son with his former partner, Australian dancer and choreographer Jennifer Nairn-Smith; and a son with his former wife, English actress, model, and singer Lesley-Anne Down.
William’s paternal grandfather was named David Friedkin (the son of Selig Friedkin). David was a merchant.
William’s paternal grandmother was named Lena Cohen.
William’s maternal grandfather was named Morris Green.
William’s maternal grandmother was named Eva Lovenberg.
Sources: Genealogy of William Friedkin – http://www.geni.com
Marriage record of William’s parents – http://www.familysearch.org
William’s mother on the 1910 U.S. Census – http://www.familysearch.org
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