After directing television programmes like The Saint and Danger Man, Yates made a breakthrough helming the heist film Robbery (1967).

Peter James Yates was born on 24 July 1929[1] in Aldershot, Hampshire,[2] the son of an army officer.

After graduating from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, he worked for some years as an actor, director, and stage manager.

He was an assistant director to Mark Robson on The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958), Terence Young on Serious Charge (1959) with Cliff Richard, Terry Bishop on Cover Girl Killer (1959), Guy Hamilton on A Touch of Larceny (1960), Jack Cardiff on Sons and Lovers (1960), Tony Richardson on The Entertainer (1960) and A Taste of Honey (1961), J. Lee Thompson on The Guns of Navarone (1961) and José Quintero on The Roman Spring of Mrs. Stone (1961).[4]).

Through the influence of Richardson, he directed Albee's The American Dream and The Death of Bessie Smith at London's Royal Court Theatre.

[5] Yates' first feature as director was Summer Holiday (1963), a "lightweight"[6] vehicle for Cliff Richard.

[10] Robbery was a critical success in the US and led to an offer to direct Bullitt (1968), of which Bruce Weber has written, "Mr. Yates's reputation probably rests most securely on Bullitt (1968), his first American film – and indeed, on one particular scene, an extended car chase that instantly became a classic.

"[11] Yates later said, "In Hollywood back then, everyone knew a British director couldn't do action, so I think the studio had another motive in letting me come over.

[14] Yates followed Bullitt with a romantic comedy, John and Mary (1969) with Dustin Hoffman and Mia Farrow.

Yates did another heist film, The Hot Rock (1972), based on a novel by Donald Westlake starring Robert Redford from a William Goldman script.

[18] Yates stayed with crime with The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) starring Robert Mitchum.

He then did two comedies: For Pete's Sake (1974) with Barbra Streisand, and Mother, Jugs & Speed (1976); he produced the latter along with writer Tom Mankiewicz.

Yates had a big commercial success with the adventure film The Deep (1977), where Mankiewicz did some uncredited writing.

Yates also produced and directed The Dresser (1983), an adaptation of the Ronald Harwood stage play.

"[21] Following The Dresser, Yates next four directorial efforts proved to be unsuccessful at the box office: Eleni (1985), written by Tesich; Suspect (1987), a thriller with Cher and Dennis Quaid; The House on Carroll Street (1988), which he also produced; and An Innocent Man (1989) with Tom Selleck.