William Friedkin Wife: Who Is Sherry Lansing?

May 2024 · 4 minute read

William Friedkin Wife: Who Is Sherry Lansing?: William Friedkin, officially known as William David Friedkin was an American film and television director, producer, and screenwriter.

He was one of the most admired directors to emerge from a wave of brilliant filmmakers who made their mark in the 1970s

Friedkin made his name following the production of two of the biggest box-office hits of the 1970s; “The French Connection” and “The Exorcist”

“The French Connection” won him five Academy Awards including best picture, screenplay, and film editing, and also earned him the best director award.

The Exorcist, released in 1973, had audiences horrified and entranced by the story of a 12-year-old girl possessed by the devil.

The film is reported to have grossed $500m (£391m) worldwide. It was nominated for 10 Oscars, winning two, and spawned multiple sequels.

Friedkin was also known for his work on “Bug, “Killer Joe”, “To Live and Die in L.A.,” “Sorcerer” and “The Boys in the Band”, among others.

His most recent work was 2017’s “The Devil and Father Amorth,” a documentary about exorcism.

Sadly, the multifaceted director has died. Friedkin passed away at 87 on Monday, August 7, 2023, at his home in the Bel Air neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Friedkin died of heart failure and pneumonia at his home in Bel Air, his wife, former producer and studio head Sherry Lansing, announced.

Friedkin died before his latest movie, The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, could hit screens at the Venice Film Festival beginning on 30 August.

Following his demise, tributes have started to come in from figures in Hollywood, well-wishers as well as movie lovers.

Guillermo del Toro tweeted; “The world has lost one of the Gods of Cinema. 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.

The world has lost one of the Gods of Cinema. 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. pic.twitter.com/6Mi0EL1gla

— Guillermo del Toro (@RealGDT) August 7, 2023

Semih Tareen tweeted; “Today we lost a legendary filmmaker, William Friedkin. Not only did he make classics like The Exorcist, The French Connection, but he created lesser known masterpieces like Cruising, Bug, and the most recent Killer Joe.

Friedkin also helped bring other masterpieces to daylight, such as Tobe Hooper’s Texas Chainsaw Massacre, “an Umami burger of a movie” as Friedkin called it.

In the photo below, taken in 2012, I had the honor of meeting Mr. Friedkin and tell him how I thought the Turkish Exorcist “Şeytan” was better than his film ☺️. He responded “Somebody, bring me a handkerchief!” R.I.P. maestro 💔

Today we lost a legendary filmmaker, William Friedkin. Not only did he make classics like The Exorcist, The French Connection, but he created lesser known masterpieces like Cruising, Bug, and the most recent Killer Joe.
Friedkin also helped bring other masterpieces to daylight,… pic.twitter.com/hPNOM7nlaM

— Semih Tareen (@virusfantom) August 7, 2023

At the time of this report, the family was planning his final funeral arrangement and the details are yet to be finalized. We will keep you updated.

William Friedkin Wife: Who Is Sherry Lansing?

Before his death, William Friedkin was married four times:

His first marriage was to Jeanne Moreau, a French actress, singer, screenwriter, director, and socialite. The couple married on February 8, 1977, and divorced in 1979.

Friedkin married his second wife, Lesley-Anne Downin 1982 and divorced in 1985. Lesley-Anne is a British actress, singer, and former model.

Following their separation, the director got married to his third wife, Kelly Lange on June 7, 1987. The marriage ended in divorce in 1990.

Kelly Lange is an American journalist, most notable for being the first woman to be a nightly news anchor in Los Angeles

The late American film and television director is survived by his fourth wife, Sherry Lansing, an American philanthropist and retired film studio executive.

Sherry, born on July 31, 1944, attended the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (1962) and Northwestern University (1966). She’s the chairwoman of the Universal Music Group.

Sherry worked as the chairman and CEO of Paramount Pictures and president of production at 20th Century Fox. From 1999 to 2022, she was on the University of California Board of Regents

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