William Friedkin

The first biography of acclaimed American film director known as "Hurricane Billy."

William Friedkin—"Hurricane Billy"—was a fearless, trailblazing filmmaker of the 1970s American New Wave. Born a streetwise kid in Chicago, he burst onto the scene with The People vs. Paul Crump, a documentary that helped commute a death row inmate's sentence. His eclectic early work included a film with Sonny and Cher and an adaptation of Harold Pinter's first play.

Friedkin soared to fame with The French Connection, winning an Oscar for Best Director, then shattered box-office records with The Exorcist. He risked everything for Sorcerer, his audacious masterpiece, and was vilified for Cruising. Reinventing himself yet again, he crafted the slick neo-noir To Live and Die in L.A. in the 1980s.

Loved, loathed, admired, and imitated, Friedkin was a cinematic risk-taker and master storyteller, known for his contradictions, sharp wit, and relentless pursuit of visceral, uncompromising cinema. His legacy remains as bold and unpredictable as his films.