Lumet, Sidney (1924-2011), was an American motion-picture director known for his skill at directing intense dramas. He won recognition for expertly guiding the performances of strong actors, such as Henry Fonda, Al Pacino, Dustin Hoffman, Peter Finch, William Holden, Paul Newman, and Rod Steiger. Lumet earned five Academy Award nominations for his directing.
Lumet gained immediate recognition as a movie director with his first film, Twelve Angry Men (1957), a tense story about jurors deliberating a murder case. His other major films include Fail Safe (1964), The Pawnbroker (1965), The Group (1966), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976), The Verdict (1982), Family Business (1989), Night Falls on Manhattan (1997), and Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007).
Lumet was born on June 25, 1924, in Philadelphia, the son of performers on the Yiddish stage. He was a child actor on the stage before entering military service in 1942, during World War II. After his military discharge in 1946, Lumet formed an acting company in New York City and served as its director. During the 1950’s, he became a highly praised director of television dramas. Lumet died on April 9, 2011.
