Director William Friedkin, known for his work as the director of "The Exorcist," died Monday at the age of 87.
The Oscar-winning film legend passed away in his home in Bel Air, California due to heart failure and pneumonia, according to reports.
William Friedkin, the Oscar-winning director of "The Exorcist" and “The French Connection," has died at age 87. https://t.co/S8Q6WNLD9A
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 7, 2023
"'The Exorcist' received 10 Oscar nominations, including one for Friedkin as director, and won two, for Blatty’s script and for sound," the Associated Press reported.
"With that second success, Friedkin would go on to direct movies and TV shows well into the 21st century. But he would never again come close to matching the acclaim he’d received for those early works, and gained a reputation for clashing with both actors and studio executives," it added.
@Drumdums Oscar-Winner William Friedkin, Legendary Director of ‘The French Connection’ and ‘The Exorcist,’ Dies at 87 https://t.co/UrbPmaR06P
— Cyane (@Cyane24017402) August 7, 2023
"Based on William Peter Blatty’s book, The Exorcist often is listed as the scariest movie ever made. It also spawned two sequels and two prequels, none directed by Friedkin," Breitbart News reported.
"Another sequel, The Exorcist: Believer, comes out this October. However, Friedkin did authorize an extended version of the original film in 2000 that reinstated deleted scenes," it added.
Warner Bros. is also releasing the original Exorcist on 4K UHD next month ahead of the release of the new film.
His other well-known film was "The French Connection," a car chase movie that preceded his work with "The Exorcist." The film won two Oscars and put Friedkin among the top directors of his time.
The director's work has had an impact on an entire generation of filmmakers, with widespread condolences and tributes expressed online from those in the film industry and fans of his films.
Friedkin will forever be known for his work on "The Exorcist" though his film career included numerous efforts over multiple decades.
