Sam Peckinpah

Earned a master's degree from U.S.C. in 1950. Established himself in Hollywood by selling scripts to television Western series, including: Gunsmoke, Have Gun WIll Travel and The Rifleman. Fired from the Liberace Show for not adhering to the dress code. Attained first job on a major motion picture in Riot in Cell Block 11 in 1954 under the direction of Don Siegel. Worked with Siegel again on four more films, including Invasion of the Body Snatchers in 1956.  Directed what is regarded as his finest film, The Wild Bunch, in 1969. The film gained notoriety for its explicit violence. Again the director was met with equal parts praise and criticism for his portrayal of explicit violence with the 1971 release Straw Dogs. Directed Julian Lennon video for the single "Too Late for Goodbyes" in 1985. ~ Rovi