Sidney Lumet (pronounced loo-MET), (born June 25, 1924) is an Academy Award winning American film director, with over 50 films to his name, including the critically acclaimed 12 Angry Men (1957), Serpico (1973), Dog Day Afternoon (1975), Network (1976) and The Verdict (1982), all of which, except for Serpico (1973), earned him Academy Award nominations for Best Director.

According to “The Encyclopedia of Hollywood,” Lumet is one of the most prolific directors of the modern era. He has made more than one movie per year on average since his directorial debut in 1957. He is noted for his ability to draw major actors to his projects which has allowed him to make many ambitious movies for over fifty years.