Education
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Friedman graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and then obtained a law degree at Harvard University.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Friedman graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and then obtained a law degree at Harvard University.
In 1980 he formed Kings Road Entertainment—named after the West Hollywood street where he lived—, making him one of the first independent film producers to raise substantial film funding through a publicly traded company. He began his legal career with the Federal Trade Commission, then went to work as an entertainment attorney for Columbia Pictures and Paramount Studios. Anxious to be a producer, Friedman acquired the film rights to the 1966 novel The Last Picture Show by Larry McMurtry.
Three years later he scripted and produced Lovin" Molly, also adapted from a McMurtry novel, and followed this with producing credits on,,,, The Incubus (1981), and
Friedman"s first film produced in conjunction with Kings Road Entertainment was All of Maine with Steve Martin and Lily Tomlin. His final project was with Albert Brooks and Debbie Reynolds.
Friedman died of multiple myeloma at home in Brentwood, California at the age of 59.