Budd Friedman

Not to be confused with musician Bud Freeman.

Budd Friedman
Born
Gerson Merton Friedman

(1932-06-06)June 6, 1932
Norwich, Connecticut, U.S.[1][2]
DiedNovember 12, 2022(2022-11-12) (aged 90)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, producer
Years active1971–2022

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.

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]

  1. ^ a b "How Budd Friedman, Founder of the Improv, Basically Invented the Modern Comedy Club". LA Weekly. September 21, 2017. Retrieved June 17, 2022.
  2. ^ Cite error: The named reference norwich was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  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