Born in England in 1929, he began his career in the film industry as a dubbing assistant and assistant director before making his directorial debut with "Summer Holiday" in 1963. Gaining fame for the action-packed "Bullitt" in 1968, he became known for his ability to blend thrilling action with strong character development. His diverse body of work includes classics like "The Friends of Eddie Coyle" and "Breaking Away." Throughout his career, he received multiple Academy Award nominations before passing away in 2011.