FILM DIRECTOR
Billy Hayes
1947 - Today

Billy Hayes
William Hayes (born April 3, 1947) is an American writer, actor, film director and convicted drug smuggler. Hayes is best known for his autobiographical book Midnight Express about his experiences in and escape from a Turkish prison, after being convicted of smuggling hashish. Hayes was one of hundreds of U.S citizens in foreign jails serving drug charge sentences, following a drug-smuggling crackdown by foreign governments. Read more on Wikipedia
His biography is available in 17 different languages on Wikipedia (up from 16 in 2024). Billy Hayes is the 320th most popular film director (up from 683rd in 2024), the 2,436th most popular biography from United States (up from 4,301st in 2019) and the 92nd most popular American Film Director.
Memorability Metrics
Page views of Billy Hayes by language
Among FILM DIRECTORS
Among film directors, Billy Hayes ranks 320 out of 2,041. Before him are King Vidor, François Ozon, Yuen Woo-ping, Jeannot Szwarc, Edward Dmytryk, and Adrian Lyne. After him are Adolph Zukor, Sam Taylor-Johnson, Krzysztof Zanussi, Germaine Dulac, George Roy Hill, and Steve McQueen.
Most Popular Film Directors in Wikipedia
Go to all RankingsKing Vidor
1894 - 1982
HPI: 64.59
Rank: 314
François Ozon
1967 - Present
HPI: 64.57
Rank: 315
Yuen Woo-ping
1945 - Present
HPI: 64.56
Rank: 316
Jeannot Szwarc
1937 - 2025
HPI: 64.54
Rank: 317
Edward Dmytryk
1908 - 1999
HPI: 64.54
Rank: 318
Adrian Lyne
1941 - Present
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 319
Billy Hayes
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 320
Adolph Zukor
1873 - 1976
HPI: 64.49
Rank: 321
Sam Taylor-Johnson
1967 - Present
HPI: 64.49
Rank: 322
Krzysztof Zanussi
1939 - Present
HPI: 64.47
Rank: 323
Germaine Dulac
1882 - 1942
HPI: 64.45
Rank: 324
George Roy Hill
1921 - 2002
HPI: 64.44
Rank: 325
Steve McQueen
1969 - Present
HPI: 64.43
Rank: 326
Contemporaries
Among people born in 1947, Billy Hayes ranks 167. Before him are Rod Evans, Joe Wilson, Jozef De Kesel, Jerry Rawlings, Roy Raymond, and Marc Bolan. After him are Dan Quayle, Philémon Yang, Edu Coimbra, Adolfo Rodríguez Saá, Ry Cooder, and Ibrahim al-Jaafari.
Others Born in 1947
Go to all RankingsRod Evans
SINGER
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.68
Rank: 161
Joe Wilson
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.65
Rank: 162
Jozef De Kesel
RELIGIOUS FIGURE
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.65
Rank: 163
Jerry Rawlings
POLITICIAN
1947 - 2020
HPI: 64.64
Rank: 164
Roy Raymond
BUSINESSPERSON
1947 - 1993
HPI: 64.59
Rank: 165
Marc Bolan
SINGER
1947 - 1977
HPI: 64.55
Rank: 166
Billy Hayes
FILM DIRECTOR
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 167
Dan Quayle
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.42
Rank: 168
Philémon Yang
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.38
Rank: 169
Edu Coimbra
SOCCER PLAYER
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.34
Rank: 170
Adolfo Rodríguez Saá
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.34
Rank: 171
Ry Cooder
MUSICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.28
Rank: 172
Ibrahim al-Jaafari
POLITICIAN
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.23
Rank: 173
In United States
Among people born in United States, Billy Hayes ranks 2,436 out of 20,380. Before him are Joel Silver (1952), Jermaine Jackson (1954), Dean Acheson (1893), Karen Grassle (1942), Jeffrey Dean Morgan (1966), and Freddie Prinze Jr. (1976). After him are Marisa Tomei (1964), Eddie Cochran (1938), Pat Hingle (1924), Jon Kabat-Zinn (1944), Charles "Buddy" Rogers (1904), and Treat Williams (1951).
Others born in United States
Go to all RankingsJoel Silver
PRODUCER
1952 - Present
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 2,430
Jermaine Jackson
MUSICIAN
1954 - Present
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 2,431
Dean Acheson
DIPLOMAT
1893 - 1971
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 2,432
Karen Grassle
ACTOR
1942 - Present
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 2,433
Jeffrey Dean Morgan
ACTOR
1966 - Present
HPI: 64.51
Rank: 2,434
Freddie Prinze Jr.
ACTOR
1976 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 2,435
Billy Hayes
FILM DIRECTOR
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 2,436
Marisa Tomei
ACTOR
1964 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 2,437
Eddie Cochran
MUSICIAN
1938 - 1960
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 2,438
Pat Hingle
ACTOR
1924 - 2009
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 2,439
Jon Kabat-Zinn
PSYCHOLOGIST
1944 - Present
HPI: 64.49
Rank: 2,440
Charles "Buddy" Rogers
ACTOR
1904 - 1999
HPI: 64.49
Rank: 2,441
Treat Williams
ACTOR
1951 - 2023
HPI: 64.49
Rank: 2,442
Among FILM DIRECTORS In United States
Among film directors born in United States, Billy Hayes ranks 92. Before him are Raoul Walsh (1887), Michael Bay (1965), Paul Schrader (1946), Rob Reiner (1947), John G. Avildsen (1935), and King Vidor (1894). After him are George Roy Hill (1921), Richard Fleischer (1916), John Hughes (1950), Joseph Losey (1909), Steven Soderbergh (1963), and Tex Avery (1908).
Raoul Walsh
1887 - 1980
HPI: 64.85
Rank: 86
Michael Bay
1965 - Present
HPI: 64.73
Rank: 87
Paul Schrader
1946 - Present
HPI: 64.73
Rank: 88
Rob Reiner
1947 - 2025
HPI: 64.71
Rank: 89
John G. Avildsen
1935 - 2017
HPI: 64.68
Rank: 90
King Vidor
1894 - 1982
HPI: 64.59
Rank: 91
Billy Hayes
1947 - Present
HPI: 64.50
Rank: 92
George Roy Hill
1921 - 2002
HPI: 64.44
Rank: 93
Richard Fleischer
1916 - 2006
HPI: 64.42
Rank: 94
John Hughes
1950 - 2009
HPI: 64.35
Rank: 95
Joseph Losey
1909 - 1984
HPI: 64.24
Rank: 96
Steven Soderbergh
1963 - Present
HPI: 64.22
Rank: 97
Tex Avery
1908 - 1980
HPI: 64.20
Rank: 98














































