Budd Friedman, American comedian and creator of The Improv Comedy Club, died on Saturday, November 12 at the age of 90. He died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of heart failure. The official Hollywood Improv Twitter profile announced his death. The tweet said,
“Today, the comic book world has lost a giant. In 1963, he revolutionized the comedy world by founding the first comedy club where audiences could laugh together. This club changed the world in 1963. It became international. He was a pioneer. He was a true gentleman. He was a celebrity.”
In 1963, shortly after leaving his job as an advertising executive, the actor and producer founded Improv in New York.
Budd Friedman’s fans and celebrities paid tribute to him on Twitter.
Budd Friedman, born June 6, 1932 in Norwich, Connecticut, served in the United States Army’s infantry during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Friedman was hospitalized after being wounded by a bullet enemy on his first day of combat in the summer of 1953. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantry Badge (CIB). The comedy club pioneer, along with his future wife, Silver Saunders, founded The Improv in Manhattan’s Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood in 1963. The club’s only location was on 44th Street. , on the southeast corner of 9th Avenue.
Originally, the Improv Comedy Club was an after-hours cafe where Broadway actors performed. Over time, comedians began using the club to test out new material, and talent scouts from other New York shows began signing up for hip hop repertoire from the venue. Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Steve Landesberg and Jimmie Walker are just a few of the famous comedians Budd Friedman helped debut.
The untimely death of a man of such legendary importance and influence has caused a large number of followers and celebrities to pay their respects. Friedman is a household name in the comedy world, comedians and fans have mourned his death on Twitter. The Improv has become a chain of comedy clubs, with locations across the United States including Hollywood, Miami, Ontario, Tampa, Kansas City, Cleveland and many more. Budd Friedman’s Comedy Club provided a stage for various industry heavyweights to perform at the same time.
Budd Friedman passed away yesterday. Budd really invented the modern comedy club. It has enabled me and many others to make a living for our families doing what we love! It was through Budd’s support and kindness that I had the opportunity to live my dream and be discovered. pic.twitter.com/cc6kWezHeq
– Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) November 13, 2022
Budd Friedman, a legend in the comedy world. Personally, I love this man, he gave me one of the first times I took a break from his classic stand-up repertoire, Improvised Home Evening. And when I moved to LA, he gave that silly kid from San Francisco a regular gig, Melrose Improv. RIP Budd. pic.twitter.com/FE5ALhpebr
– Brian Posehn (@thebrianposhn) November 13, 2022
Other jobs
Friedman served as the host of the A&E television series An Evening at the Improv from 1982 to 1996. In addition to his work as an MC, the popular character also starred in films such as Star 80. , National Lampoon’s Funny Money, Jim Carrey’s Man on the Moon (as him) and the 2009 Judd Apatow comedy Funny People.
Budd Friedman sold the Improv franchise to Levity Live in 2014. He co-authored The Improv: An Oral History of the Comedy Club That Revolutionized Stand-Up in 2017. His wife Alix, children Zoe, Dax, Beth and Ross, and grandchildren Noah, Sophia, Jacob, Bronte and Gibson outlived him.
Categories: Entertaintment
Source: vcmp.edu.vn