Ed Friendly should not be confused with Fred Friendly.

Edwin "Ed" S. Friendly Jr. (April 8, 1922 in New York City - 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.^[1]

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.^[1]

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

Thoroughbred horse racing

Introduced to Thoroughbred horse racing 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:

• Vivid Angel - won 1997 Oak Leaf Stakes
• Friendly Michelle - won 2004 Santa Paula Stakes
• Gray Slewpy - multiple stakes winner including the 1992 Ancient Title Handicap

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. ^[2]

References

nl:Ed Friendly

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