William Friedkin: podcast appearances and interviews

William David Friedkin was an American film, television, and opera director, producer, and screenwriter associated with the New Hollywood movement of the 1970s. He began his career in documentaries during the early 1960s and gained recognition for directing the crime thriller film The French Connection in 1971. This film won five Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director. Friedkin is also known for his 1973 horror film The Exorcist, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Director. His work in the 1970s and 1980s includes the drama The Boys in the Band, the thriller Sorcerer, the crime comedy The Brink's Job, the controversial thriller Cruising, and the neo-noir thriller To Live and Die in L. A. Although his works experienced a decline in commercial and critical reception in the late 1980s, his later films such as Bug, Killer Joe, and The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial received positive critical response. Additionally, Friedkin worked extensively as an opera director from 1998 onwards and directed various television films and series episodes. He passed away in August 2023, leaving a notable legacy in film and opera.