Sidney Lumet

Sidney Arthur Lumet ( ; June 25, 1924 – April 9, 2011) was an American film director. Lumet started his career in theatre before moving to film where he gained a reputation for making realistic and gritty New York dramas which focused on the working class, tackled social injustices, and often questioned authority.

He was nominated five times for Academy Awards: four for Best Director for ''12 Angry Men'' (1957), ''Dog Day Afternoon'' (1975), ''Network'' (1976), and ''The Verdict'' (1982) and one for Best Adapted Screenplay for ''Prince of the City'' (1981). Other films include ''A View from the Bridge'' (1962), ''Long Day's Journey into Night'' (1962), ''The Pawnbroker'' (1964), ''Fail Safe'' (1964), ''The Hill'' (1965), ''Serpico'' (1973), ''Murder on the Orient Express'' (1974), ''Equus'' (1977), ''The Wiz'' (1978), ''The Morning After'' (1986), ''Running on Empty'' (1988), and ''Before the Devil Knows You're Dead'' (2007). He received the Academy Honorary Award in 2004.

A member of the inaugural class at New York's Actors Studio, Lumet started acting off-Broadway and made his Broadway acting debut in the 1935 play ''Dead End''. He later went on to direct the Broadway plays ''Night of the Auk'' (1956), ''Caligula'' (1960), and ''Nowhere to Go But Up'' (1962). Lumet is also known for his work on television. He received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Directing for a Drama Series nomination for ''NBC Sunday Showcase'' (1961). He also directed for ''Goodyear Television Playhouse'', ''Kraft Television Theatre'', and ''Playhouse 90''. Provided by Wikipedia