Sam Peckinpah was an American film director and screenwriter who is 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. His films often featured violence and moral ambiguity, and he was one of the first directors to use slow motion and other innovative techniques. He was also known for his collaborations with actors such as Steve McQueen and Charles Bronson.