Motion Picture Director, Screenwriter. Known for his utilization of slow motion scenes, particularly bloody and violent sequences. Born David Samuel Peckinpah in Fresno, California, his ancestors were pioneers who helped settle the West; he was the grandson of former U.S. Congressman Denver S. Church. Prone to destructive fits of rage during his youth, he finished his senior year of high school in a military academy and served in China with the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. Upon returning home, he attended Fresno State College and met a drama student named Marie Selland (whom he later married) who introduced him to the theater. After receiving his master's degree in Drama, he acquired experience as an actor and director in the theater and moved onto behind-the-scenes work for an area television station. His break in films came as a production assistant for Don Siegel in the picture "Riot in Cell Block 11" (1954) and not long after, he was penning stories for the TV programs "Trackdown," "Gunsmoke," "The Rifleman" and "The Westerner." During this period, he began directing television episodes and marked his feature film debut with "The Deadly Companions" (1961). He conveyed a touch of Western nostalgia with "Ride the High Country" (1962), which starred veteran actors Randolph Scott and Joel McCrea, and directed the imposing Charlton Heston in "Major Dundee" (1965, screenplay co-written by Peckinpah). He will perhaps be best remembered for "The Wild Bunch" (1969, also co-written by him), a story of aged outlaws attempting one last thrill led by William Holden. The final scene where the main characters are killed in a gory shootout left an indelible impression on movie audiences. The picture received an Academy Award nomination for Best Screenplay. Further memorable credits include: "The Ballad of Cable Hogue" (1970), "Straw Dogs" (1971), "Junior Bonner" (1972), "The Getaway" (1972), "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid" (1973), "Bring Me the Head of Alfredo Garcia" (1974), "The Killer Elite" (1975), "Cross of Iron" (1977), "Convoy" (1978) and "The Osterman Weekend" (1983). Throughout his career, Peckinpah was a heavy drinker and drug user, both of which took their toll and caused his death from heart failure at the age of 59.