[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 138 (Tuesday, August 22, 2023)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E788]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





               HONORING THE LIFE OF MR. WILLIAM FRIEDKIN

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. TED LIEU

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, August 22, 2023

  Mr. LIEU. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor the 
life of Mr. William Friedkin, who passed away on August 7, 2023. Mr. 
Friedkin was a master filmmaker who is best known for directing such 
hit films as The French Connection (1971) and The Exorcist (1973), 
which went on to become highly-acclaimed. Mr. Friedkin was born on 
August 25, 1935, in Chicago, Illinois. His parents, Louis and Rachael 
Friedkin, were Jewish emigrants who fled their dangerous home country 
due to religious persecution. Mr. Friedkin attended public schools in 
Chicago, where he developed a fascination with movies and television. 
He began his career in entertainment and television working with WGN TV 
immediately after graduating high school.
   William moved to Hollywood in 1965 and shortly thereafter began to 
direct hit television programs like The Alfred Hitchcock Hour and his 
first feature film, Good Times, which starred Sonny and Cher. Mr. 
Friedkin released his first acclaimed film in 1971, The French 
Connection, which depicted two NYPD officers who attempt to uncover a 
large smuggling ring. This film was described as one of the best films 
of its time and is widely considered one of the greatest movies of all 
time, having been selected for preservation in the United States 
National Film Registry by the Library of Congress in 2005.
  Following the success of his previous film, Mr. Friedkin released The 
Exorcist in 1973. The film was based on William Petter Blatty's novel 
which depicted the possession of a young girl. It is known today as one 
of Hollywood's top-grossing horror movies of all time. At a moment in 
history where horror movies were not considered critically acclaimed, 
The Exorcist elevated audiences' attitudes towards the entire movie 
genre. Mr. Friedkin rose to be a sought-after director in Hollywood 
after the success of both films. William's work has continued to be a 
strong influence on American and international filmmakers and he 
continued to direct into the final year of his life, directing a film 
adaptation of author Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny.
  Mr. Friedkin is survived by his wife of 32 years, Mrs. Sherry 
Lansing, the chairwoman of Universal Music Group; and two sons, Cedric 
Friedkin, a successful production manager and Jackson Friedkin, an 
accomplished film editor. May his memory be a blessing to all who knew 
him.

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