Budd Friedman, the Broadway producer and founder of The Improv comedy club franchise which helped launch the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest comic voices has died. He was born on June 6, 1932 and died on Saturday, November 12, 2022 of heart failure in Los Angeles. He was 90 years old.
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Through the Improv comedy club, he helped discover amazing talents in comedy such as Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Steve Landesberg, Jimmie Walker.
He also managed Bette Midler for a brief time at the early stages of her career. In fact, it was through his guidance that Ms. Midler had her maiden appearance on The Tonight Show.
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He started the Improv in New York City in 1963, shortly after quitting his job as an advertising executive.
Friedman will also be remembered for serving 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).
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