The first biography of acclaimed American film director known as “Hurricane Billy.” William Friedkin—"Hurricane Billy"—was a fearless, trailblazing filmmaker of the 1970s American New Wave. Born a streetwise kid in Chicago, he burst onto the scene with The People vs. Paul Crump, a documentary that helped commute a death row inmate’s sentence. His eclectic early work included a film with Sonny and Cher and an adaptation of Harold Pinter’s first play. Friedkin soared to fame with The French Connection, winning an Oscar for Best Director, then shattered box-office records with The Exorcist. He risked everything for Sorcerer, his audacious masterpiece, and was vilified for Cruising. Reinventing himself yet again, he crafted the slick neo-noir To Live and Die in L.A. in the 1980s. Loved, loathed, admired, and imitated, Friedkin was a cinematic risk-taker and master storyteller, known for his contradictions, sharp wit, and relentless pursuit of visceral, uncompromising cinema. His legacy remains as bold and unpredictable as his films. Christopher Heard built his career out of a lifetime love of movie history and culture. His first screenplay was optioned at twenty-one and enjoyed a long, Gemini-Award-winning stint on the CBC show On The Arts, which led to his creation and co-hosting role on Reel to Real for nine years. He has written books on a number of filmmakers and actors, including Johnny Depp. He currently lives in Toronto.