1980 Norwich Native Son Gerson Merton “Budd” Friedman founded the Improv Comedy Club, and has helped launch the careers of many successful comedians.
1980 Honoree Budd Freidman was instrumental in launching the comedy careers of Rodney Dangerfield, Richard Lewis, Robert Klein, Jay Leno, Andy Kaufman, Freddie Prinze, Steve Landesberg, Jimmie Walker, and for a brief time, managed Bette Midler at the early stages of her career.
Friedman served in the infantry in the US Army during the Korean War. He was wounded by an enemy grenade during his first day in action in the summer of 1953 while his unit was assaulting Pork Chop Hill. He was awarded the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge (CIB). The ceasefire went into effect while he was still recuperating in the hospital.
Frideman passed away on November 12th, 2022 in Los Angeles.