Director William Friedkin was married to Sherry Lansing for over 30 years after three failed marriages. He had two children. Let’s meet his current wife, ex-partners, and kids.
William Friedkin had a successful career in the entertainment industry from 1962 to 2023.
He was a famed American film and television director, producer, and screenwriter closely identified with the “New Hollywood” movement of the 1970s.
On August 7, 2023, the world learned about his death as he reportedly died in Los Angeles, California, United States. And following this tragic news, many might want to know more about his bereaved wife and kids. Read on for more about his personal life before his death.
Who was William Friedkin married to?
William Friedkin was married four time to four women and also had several relationships in-between. Before he died, his wife was Sherry Lansing. His other three ex-spouses are Kelly Lange, Lesley-Anne Down, and Jeanne Moreau.
When William Friedkin was 42 years old, he married his first wife, Jeanne Moreau. They tied the knot on February 8, 1977, but two years later, in 1979, they divorced.
Following his first divorce, he waited for three years at age 47 to marry his second wife, Lesley-Anne Down. The former couple wed in 1982 but ended their marriage three years later. They divorced in 1985.
The late director then moved on and married his third wife, Kelly Lange, for three years. They walked down the aisle on June 7, 1987, but divorced in 1990.
After having three short-lived marriages, his fourth and current wife was Sherry Lansing. She is a former studio chief at Paramount Pictures. They tied the knot on July 6, 1991 and lived together for 32 years until his death in August 2023.
Who else did William Friedkin dated?
While filming The Boys in the Band in 1970, Friedkin began a relationship with Kitty Hawks, daughter of director Howard Hawks. It lasted two years, during which the couple announced their engagement, but the relationship ended about 1972.
Friedkin began a four-year relationship with Australian dancer and choreographer Jennifer Nairn-Smith in 1972. Although they announced an engagement twice, they never married.
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Did William Friedkin have any children?
Movie and television director William Friedkin was a father of two before he died. He had two sons namely Cedric Friedkin, and Jackson “Jack” Friedkin with two women; including a girlfriend and one of his wives.
Friedkin had his first child at the age of 41. In Friedkin’s four-year relationship with Jennifer Nairn-Smith, they welcomed his eldest son, Cedric. He was born on November 27, 1976.
At age 47, he became a father of two as he welcomed his second child with his second wife Lesley-Anne Down. Friedkin and Lesley had Jackson aka Jack in 1882.
Upon his death, the director is survived by his widow Lansing and two sons.
William Friedkin had a successful career.
William Friedkin’s career spans over 60 years.
He was associated with the New Hollywood movement that occurred in the 1970s. Friedkin started out with documentaries and moved on to feature films.
He directed the movies Good Times in 1967, The Birthday Party in 1968, The Night They Raided Minsky’s in 1968, and The Boys in the Band in 1970.
William Friedkin directed The French Connection in 1971 and won an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award for Best Director. He also won a Golden Globe Award for Best Director for The Exorcist in 1973.
Friedkin produced and directed the movie Sorcerer in 1977 and directed the film The Brink’s Job in 1978. He also directed the films Cruising, Deal of the Century, To Live and Die in L.A., Rampage, The Guardian, Blue Chips, Jade, Rules of Engagement, The Hunted, Bug, Killer Joe, and The Devil and Father Amorth. William Friedkin was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1997 at 6925 Hollywood Blvd.