Summary:
- Legendary Hollywood director William Friedkin has passed away at the age of 87.
- Friedkin's career was marked by box office hits like 'The Exorcist' and 'The French Connection,' which redefined their respective genres.
- His death-defying car chase in 'The French Connection' is considered one of the best in film history.
- 'The Exorcist' terrified audiences and became one of the highest-grossing movies ever, grossing about $1.3 billion in today's dollars.
We look back at the career of Hollywood director William Friedkin, a man who thrilled and terrified us. Here's ABC's chief national correspondent, Matt Gutman.
There were the box office hits that made William Friedkin one of the most sought after directors in Hollywood in the 1970s, and redefined their genres. The exorcist, which made horror big business. And the French connection, Friedkin, the once-documentarian, bringing gritty realism to a lowish budget film, starring relative unknowns, Roy Scheider and Gene Hackman. That death-defying car chase, often called one of the best in film history, the winner is William Friedkin. The French connection, winning five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director for Friedkin.
A year later, Friedkin terrifying audiences with the exorcist, starring Linda Blair as a 12-year-old possessed by demons. Fans lined up for hours in the cold theaters sold out of tickets. And the exorcist became one of the top-grossing movies ever, about $1.3 billion in today's dollars. To subscribe to our channel, and don't forget to download the ABC News app for breaking news alerts. Thanks for watching.
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