Sidney Lumet

Biography:

Sidney Lumet was an acclaimed American film director, producer and screenwriter whose films were noted for their realism, social awareness and focus on characters. Sidney Lumet was born on June 25, 1924 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The career of Sidney Lumet started at a young age where he worked in theatre and on television. His directorial debut was 12 Angry Men (1957). Sidney Lumet is known for his socially aware, morally challenging and tense films which often dealt with issues of corruption, injustice, incompetence of authorities and moral dilemmas. Other well-known films by Sidney Lumet include The Pawnbroker (1964), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982).

Sidney Lumet received five Academy Awards nominations, namely four nominations for Best Director and one for Best Adapted Screenplay; however, he did not receive any Academy Award in competitive category. However, Sidney Lumet was honored with an Honorary Academy Award in 2005 for his contributions to filmmaking. Among other major films by Sidney Lumet were Murder on the Orient Express (1974), Prince of the City (1981), Running on Empty (1988), and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007), which was his last film. As a director, Sidney Lumet was known for his careful attention to actors and use of real locations and naturalistic performances. In addition, Sidney Lumet can be regarded as one of the most significant filmmakers in the history of American cinema. Sidney Lumet died on April 9, 2011 in New York City.