Ed Friendly
Encyclopedia
Edwin "Ed" S. Friendly Jr. (April 8, 1922 – June 17, 2007) was a multiple-Emmy-nominated television producer
who 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.
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.
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
ownership in 1970 when he and close friend and actor Lorne Greene
bought a racehorse in partnership. Friendly would expand 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
, Ed Friendly established the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993. He also served as president of the California's Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.
Television producer
The primary role of a television Producer is to allow all aspects of video production, ranging from show idea development and cast hiring to shoot supervision and fact-checking...
who was responsible for creating several successful television programs, including Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In is an American sketch comedy television program which ran for 140 episodes from January 22, 1968, to May 14, 1973. It was hosted by comedians Dan Rowan and Dick Martin and was broadcast over NBC...
, Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
, and Backstairs at the White House.
Ed Friendly served with the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
in the Pacific Theater of Operations
Pacific Theater of Operations
The Pacific Theater of Operations was the World War II area of military activity in the Pacific Ocean and the countries bordering it, a geographic scope that reflected the operational and administrative command structures of the American forces during that period...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, he worked at the advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
agency of Batten, Barton, Durstine & Osborn. He began his television career in 1949, working for ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
as director of sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
before moving to CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
as a contract producer and then, in 1959, NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
as vice-president of special programs.
Friendly moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
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
Thoroughbred horse racing
Introduced to Thoroughbred horse racingThoroughbred horse race
Thoroughbred horse racing is a worldwide sport and industry involving the racing of Thoroughbred horses. It is governed by different national bodies. There are two forms of the sport: Flat racing and National Hunt racing...
ownership in 1970 when he and close friend and actor Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene
Lorne Greene , was the stage name of Lyon Himan Green, OC, a Canadian actor.His television roles include Ben Cartwright on the western Bonanza, and Commander Adama in the science fiction movie and subsequent TV Series Battlestar Galactica...
bought a racehorse in partnership. Friendly would expand his racing interest, partnering with first wife Natalie in a large stable of horses. Some of their successful horses include:
- Vivid Angel - won 1997 Oak Leaf StakesOak Leaf StakesThe Oak Leaf Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race held annually at the end of September at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. It is restricted to two-year-old fillies...
- Friendly Michelle - won 2004 Santa Paula StakesSanta Paula StakesThe Santa Paula Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually at the end of March at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. An event open to three-year-old fillies, it is contested over a distance of six and one half furlongs...
- Gray Slewpy - multiple stakes winner including the 1992 Ancient Title HandicapAncient Title Breeders' Cup HandicapThe Ancient Title Breeders' Cup Stakes is an American Thoroughbred horse race run annually in early October as part of the Oak Tree Racing Association meeting at Santa Anita Park in Arcadia, California. Open to horses three years old and up, it is run at the sprint distance of 6 furlongs and can...
A founding member of the National Thoroughbred Association
National Thoroughbred Racing Association
The National Thoroughbred Racing Association is a broad-based coalition of horse racing interests consisting of leading thoroughbred racetracks, owners, breeders, trainers and affiliated horse racing associations, charged with increasing the popularity of horse racing and improving economic...
, Ed Friendly established the Thoroughbred Owners of California in 1993. He also served as president of the California's Horsemen's Benevolent and Protective Association.