Alfred Hitchcock is a person.
Sir Alfred Joseph Hitchcock ( 13 August 1899 -- 29 April 1980 ) was an English film director and producer , at times referred to as `` The Master of Suspense '' . Hitchcock moved to Hollywood in 1939 , and became a U.S. citizen in 1955 . Hitchcock became a highly visible public figure through interviews , movie trailers , cameo appearances in his own films , and the ten years in which he hosted the television programme Alfred Hitchcock Presents ( 1955 -- 1965 ) . Prior to 1980 , there had long been talk of Hitchcock being knighted for his contribution to film .