Sam Peckinpah was an American filmmaker and screenwriter best known for his work in the Western genre. He directed films such as The Wild Bunch, Straw Dogs, and Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid. He was also a prolific television director, directing episodes of shows such as The Rifleman, The Westerner, and The Outer Limits. His films often featured themes of violence and redemption, and he was one of the most influential filmmakers of his time.