Some sad news: it’s been announced that filmmaker William Friedkin has died, at the age of 87.
I’ve always been a bit torn on doing posts when people pass, a little uncomfortable about getting clicks from such awful news. But on the other side of that, it feels a little disrespectful not to post something about the loss of a cinema giant, William Friedkin, who left us yesterday.
Friedkin died on Monday at the age of 87, with his final film – The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial – set to debut later this year. His catalogue of films that he leaves us with is quite something: just this year, his classic The Exorcist is celebrating its 50th birthday.
But there’s a lot else to explore. Films such as The French Connection, Sorceror, To Live And Die In L.A. and Cruising are now strongly regarded, even if not all of them were at the time. Friedkin too directed opera, television and documentary film, and his memoir – The Friedkin Connection – comes highly recommended. Particularly the audiobook version, which he read himself.
Friedkin is survived by his wife and children, and a collection of films that are going to watched and enjoyed for decades to come. Rest in peace.
