Background
Friesen was born and raised in Fresno, California.
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Don Friesen
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He graduated with a business degree from the University of Southern California.
Career
In his senior year at University of Southern California, Friesen founded a campus-based improv troupe called Commedus Interruptus that still performs weekly shows on campus. In 1992, Friesen married Jill Scariano. The second set aired a month later.
Friesen has also appeared on Byron Allen’s Comics Unleashed.
His episode was tapped for the syndicated program’s compilation “Best of Comics Unleashed” Digital Video Disc. Friesen’s stand-up performance Digital Video Disc/Civil Defense “Inexplicable,” was taped at the Crest Theatre in Sacramento, California, and released independently in July 2005. Friesen performed on Comedy Central"s "Live at Gotham" (2009) episode #4.2, which originally aired in October 2009.
He currently tours the country performing live in a variety of venues ranging from comedy clubs, theaters, and casinos, to corporate events, colleges and cruise ships. He can be heard regularly in Los Angeles on the 95.5 KLOS Five O-Clock Funnies, and nationally on XM and Sirius Satellite Radio.
Achievements
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In 1999, Friesen won the prestigious San Francisco International Comedy Competition. In 2005, he returned to the competition with different material and took first place again, becoming the only person to win the competition twice. His first win led to a performance on the Martin Short Show, where, immediately after his set, he was asked to change his shirt and tape a second performance in front of the same audience.
