Who directed the 1973 film 'The Exorcist'?

'The Exorcist' is a 1973 American supernatural horror film directed by William Friedkin from a screenplay by William Peter Blatty, based on his 1971 novel. The film stars Ellen Burstyn, Max von Sydow, Jason Miller, and Linda Blair.

The story chronicles a single mother’s struggle to save her daughter from a mysterious ailment, later revealed to be demonic possession. She enlists the help of two Roman Catholic priests, who attempt to perform an exorcism.

'The Exorcist' had a significant influence on pop culture, and several publications regard it as one of the greatest horror films ever made. In 2010, the Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the United States National Film Registry as being 'culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant'.

William David Friedkin (August 29, 1935 – August 7, 2023) was an American film, television and opera director, producer, and screenwriter who was closely identified with the 'New Hollywood' movement of the 1970s. Beginning his career in documentaries in the early 1960s, he is best known for his crime thriller film 'The French Connection' (1971), which won five 'Academy Awards', including 'Best Picture' and 'Best Director', and the horror film 'The Exorcist' (1973), which earned him another 'Academy Award' nomination for 'Best Director'.