The Exorcist director William Friedkin hailed as a ‘cinematic master’
The Oscar-winning filmmaker and screenwriter, who was behind horror basic The Exorcist and The French Connection, died at his house from coronary heart failure and pneumonia on Monday in Los Angeles.
Lord Of The Rings star Wood hailed Friedkin as a “true cinematic master whose influence will continue to extend forever”.
Alongside a black and white picture of the filmmaker on set, Wood added: “So long, William Friedkin.”
Acclaimed writer King, who has written horror classics together with The Shining, tweeted: “Very sorry to hear of the passing of William Friedkin, a deeply talented filmmaker.
“The Exorcist is great, but for me the real classic was Sorcerer.”
Oscar-winning filmmaker del Toro, behind movies together with Pan’s Labyrinth and The Shape Of Water, stated “the world has lost one of the gods of cinema”.
He added: “Cinema has lost a true scholar and I have lost a dear, loyal and true friend. William Friedkin has left us. We were blessed to have him.”
Actress Ellen Burstyn, who was nominated for an Oscar for her starring position in The Exorcist, described him as “undoubtedly a genius”.
“My friend Bill Friedkin was an original; smart, cultured, fearless and wildly talented,” she stated in an announcement to the PA news company.
“On the set, he knew what he wanted, would go to any length to get it and was able to let it go if he saw something better happening.”
Film director Eli Roth, who’s greatest identified for horror movies 2002’s Cabin Fever and 2005’s Hostel, described Friedkin as a “legend” and “one of a kind”.
He shared a photograph of them collectively to his Instagram and wrote: “One of the most impactful directors of all time and certainly set the course of my life in a different direction with The Exorcist.
“He was so incredibly nice and supportive the few times I was lucky enough to meet him.”
He additionally inspired his followers to observe Friedkin’s 1977 thriller Sorcerer and 1980’s Cruising if they’d not seen them but.
Scott Derrickson, who directed The Exorcism Of Emily Rose and Marvel movie Doctor Strange, stated it was an “honour” to have quite a few chats with Friedkin on Twitter.
He added: “If you ever heard him speak in public about his films (I heard him introduce The Exorcist, Sorcerer and To Live And Die In LA) then you know that Friedkin was perhaps the greatest raconteur director ever.
“His wit and insight were spellbinding to behold.”
Friedkin newest venture was an upcoming authorized drama, titled The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, which is scheduled to premiere on the Venice International Film Festival in September.
Actor Kiefer Sutherland, who stars within the movie, advised PA that working with the director was “one of the great honours of my career”.
Friedkin rose to additional prominence with 1971’s motion thriller The French Connection because it acquired a number of awards together with 5 Oscars.
Among the gathering was the prize for greatest image, greatest actor for Gene Hackman and greatest director for Friedkin.
He adopted with a good larger blockbuster, The Exorcist, primarily based on William Peter Blatty’s best-selling novel a few 12-year-old woman possessed by the satan.
It additionally gained the Oscar for greatest screenplay and garnered Friedkin one other nomination for greatest director.
Bafta, which nominated him for The French Connection, stated it was “saddened” to listen to of Friedkin’s loss of life.
His different movie credit embody To Live And Die In LA, Rules Of Engagement and a TV remake of the basic play and Sidney Lumet film 12 Angry Men.
Friedkin additionally directed episodes for TV reveals comparable to The Twilight Zone, Rebel Highway and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
He is survived by his spouse Sherry Lansing and sons Cedric and Jack.