Budd Friedman Obituary, Funeral

Budd Friedman was a Broadway producer and founder of The Improv comedy club franchise. 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.

The club helped launch the careers of some of Hollywood’s biggest comic voices including;

Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Steve Landesberg and 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.

Aside acting and producing, Friedman also 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).

Friedman is survived by his wife of many years Alix and daughter Zoe.