Ed Friendly

Not to be confused with Fred W. Friendly.
Ed Friendly
Born April 8, 1922
New York City, New York, USA
Died June 17, 2007 (aged 85)
Nationality American
Occupation Television producer

Edwin "Ed" S. Friendly Jr. (April 8, 1922 June 17, 2007) was an American television producer. He was responsible for creating several successful television programs including Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Little House on the Prairie, and Backstairs at the White House.[1]

Ed Friendly served with the United States Army in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II. After the war, he worked at the advertising agency of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn. He began his television career in 1949, working for ABC as director of sales before moving to CBS as a contract producer and then, in 1959, NBC as vice-president of special programs.[1]

Friendly moved to California in 1967 and formed his own production company, Ed Friendly Productions, Inc. He received the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy Hall of Fame in 1975 for Little House on the Prairie and in 1978 for Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion, an adaptation of the 1972 children's novel San Domingo, the Medicine Hat Stallion by Marguerite Henry.

Thoroughbred horse racing

Friendly was introduced to thoroughbred horse racing ownership in 1970 when he bought a racehorse in partnership with his close friend Lorne Greene. He subsequently expanded his racing interest, partnering with first wife Natalie in a large stable of horses. Some of their successful horses include:

A founding member of the National Thoroughbred Association, Friendly established the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993.[2] He also served as president of the California's Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association. [3]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Los Angeles Times, "Ed Friendly, 85; helped bring 'Laugh-In' and 'Little House' to TV" June 20, 2007
  2. TOC co-founder Friendly dies, by Matt Hegarty, from the Daily Racing Form; published June 21, 2007; archived at the National Thoroughbred Racing Association; retrieved November 3, 2013
  3. California Breeder/Owner Ed Friendly Dies, at BloodHorse.com; published June 22, 2007; retrieved November 3, 2013

External links