Budd Friedman

Not to be confused with musician Bud Freeman.

Gerson Merton Lenord Friedman^[3][4] (June 6, 1932 – November 12, 2022), known professionally as Budd Friedman, was an American actor and comedian, as well as the founder and original proprietor and MC of the Improvisation Comedy Club, which opened in 1963, on West 44th Street near the SE corner of 9th Avenue, in the Hell's Kitchen neighborhood of Manhattan. He was instrumental in launching the comedy careers of Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Steve Landesberg, Jimmie Walker, and for a brief time, managed Bette Midler at the early stages of her career. It was with Friedman's help and guidance that Ms. Midler first appeared on The Tonight Show.

Budd Friedman
Born	Gerson Merton Friedman (1932-06-06)June 6, 1932 Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.[1][2]
Died	November 12, 2022(2022-11-12) (aged 90) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Actor, producer
Years active	1971–2022

He was also an actor and producer. Friedman also opened Improv clubs at other locations including Pechanga Resort and Casino in Temecula, California, on March 23, 2007, in Los Angeles in 1975, and in Fantasy Springs Resort and Casino in Indio, California.^{[1][5][citation needed]}

Korean War

Friedman served in the infantry in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He was wounded by an enemy grenade during his first day in action in the summer of 1953 while his unit was assaulting Pork Chop Hill. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The ceasefire went into effect while he was still recuperating in the hospital.^[6]

Personal life and death

Friedman married his first wife, Silver Saundors, they divorced in 1979.^[7][8]

Friedman married Alix Friedman (nee Mark) in 1981, and remained with her for an unconfirmed number of years. They had 4 children named Zoe, Beth, Ross, and Dax. Friedman died in Los Angeles, on November 12, 2022, at the age of 90, from heart failure.^[9][10]

Filmography

Actor

• National Lampoon's Funny Money (2003) ... as Announcer
• Man on the Moon (1999) ... as Himself
• Star 80 (1983) ... as Emcee
• An Evening at the Improv (1982) ... as Host

Producer

• National Lampoon's Funny Money (2003) ... executive producer
• An Evening at the Improv (1982) ... executive producer

Awards and recognition

• Norwich (Connecticut) Native Son Award (1980)^[2]
• Golden Goody Award (2013)^[11]

See also

• The Improv

References

1. "How Budd Friedman, Founder of the Improv, Basically Invented the Modern Comedy Club". LA Weekly. September 21, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
2. "Budd Friedman - 1980 Norwich Native Son - Norwich Rotary Events". Norwich Rotary Events. October 24, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
3. Risen, Clay (October 16, 2022). "Budd Friedman, Who Built an Empire of Comedy Clubs, Dies at 90". The New York Times. Retrieved October 16, 2022.
4. Risen, Clay (November 16, 2022). "New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
5. A Conversation With Improv Founder Budd Friedman By Nancy Fay Archived July 23, 2007, at the Wayback Machine
6. Marc Maron, WTF with Marc Maron Podcast, Episode 339 - Budd Friedman, 20121129
7. "Ten Things We Learned from 'The Improv'". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved April 19, 2022.
8. Roberts, Sam (December 9, 2022). "Silver Saundors Friedman, Who Helped Found the Improv, Dies at 89". The New York Times.
9. Barnes, Mike (November 12, 2022). "Budd Friedman, Founder of the Improv, Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
10. "Budd Friedman Dies: The Improv Comedy Club Founder Was 90". Deadline. November 12, 2022. Retrieved November 13, 2022.
11. "Improv Founder Budd Friedman honored with Golden Goody Award – Goody Awards". goodyawards.com. Retrieved November 28, 2018.

External links

• Budd Friedman at IMDb
• Budd Friedman and Tripp Whetsell collection, ACC-MSS 020, shelf: Digital. Emerson College Archives and Special Collections.