David Friedkin (March 8, 1912 â€" October 15, 1976) was an American
writer and director of radio shows, film, and television shows.David
Friedkin was born on March 8, 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri to Russian
Jewish immigrants. His father wanted him to become a doctor. When
Friedkin graduated from high school at 15, he attended Julliard on a
violin scholarship. At 17, Friedkin decided to become a stage actor.
According to his son Anthony Friedkin, he was in the running for the
lead role in the film adaptation of Golden Boy. He then focused on
writing and directing. He served in the Signal Corp during World War
II.Early in his writing career, Friedkin teamed with Morton Fine; the
two would frequently collaborate for radio, television, and film for
the rest of Friedkin's working life. Friedkin and Fine worked on
Elliott Lewis' shows Broadway Is My Beat, Crime Classics, The Line-Up,
and On Stage. The two also wrote for Bold Venture, Escape, and other
programs. Friedkin and Fine wrote the audition show for Gunsmoke and
came up with the name "Matt Dillon". He served as president of the
radio division of the Writers Guild of America West.Friedkin directed
the B-movies Hot Summer Night (1957), which was filmed in nine days,
setting a speed record for MGM, and Handle with Care (1958). His and
Fine's screenplay for Sidney Lumet's The Pawnbroker (1964), lauded by
critics, earned them a Writers Guild of America Award.
writer and director of radio shows, film, and television shows.David
Friedkin was born on March 8, 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri to Russian
Jewish immigrants. His father wanted him to become a doctor. When
Friedkin graduated from high school at 15, he attended Julliard on a
violin scholarship. At 17, Friedkin decided to become a stage actor.
According to his son Anthony Friedkin, he was in the running for the
lead role in the film adaptation of Golden Boy. He then focused on
writing and directing. He served in the Signal Corp during World War
II.Early in his writing career, Friedkin teamed with Morton Fine; the
two would frequently collaborate for radio, television, and film for
the rest of Friedkin's working life. Friedkin and Fine worked on
Elliott Lewis' shows Broadway Is My Beat, Crime Classics, The Line-Up,
and On Stage. The two also wrote for Bold Venture, Escape, and other
programs. Friedkin and Fine wrote the audition show for Gunsmoke and
came up with the name "Matt Dillon". He served as president of the
radio division of the Writers Guild of America West.Friedkin directed
the B-movies Hot Summer Night (1957), which was filmed in nine days,
setting a speed record for MGM, and Handle with Care (1958). His and
Fine's screenplay for Sidney Lumet's The Pawnbroker (1964), lauded by
critics, earned them a Writers Guild of America Award.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.