Oscar-winning director William Friedkin has died. He was 87 years old.

His wife, Sherry Lansing, confirmed the news of his passing to The Hollywood Reporter. Friedkin is known for his notable works, such as The Exorcist and The French Connection.

In a statement by Directors Guild of America President Lesli Linka Glatter:

"When it comes to directorial influence, Billy was a titan – both on the screen and behind the scenes for his fellow members of the DGA.  A master of storytelling across multiple genres, his aptitude for creating atmosphere and building tension broke convention and he was one of the key influences in the New Hollywood era of Director-driven filmmaking. The French Connection, for which he won the DGA Feature Film Award was the quintessential thriller; and The Exorcist remains the template for horror to this very day.
To our good fortune, Billy was as adept at filmmaking as he was dedicated to culturally advancing the role of director – serving multiple terms on our Guild’s National Board as First Vice-President and as Eastern Directors Council Chair. Billy never kept his talent to himself. Throughout the years, he continually volunteered his time, sharing his expertise with newer generations of filmmakers through the DGA’s Special Projects Committee seminars, panels and events. Our thoughts are with Sherry and his family during this difficult time."

In addition, he also worked on episodes of The Twilight Zone, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and more.

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