Biography
David Friedkin (1912–1976) was an American writer, producer and director who worked in radio, film and television. He began in radio, collaborating with Morton Fine on series including Gunsmoke, before moving into television and film. He studied violin at the Juilliard School and served in the US Army Signal Corps during the Second World War.
Friedkin is known for writing the screenplay for The Pawnbroker (1964) with Fine, and for his work on the series I Spy (1965–1968), where he contributed as writer and producer. He directed episodes of numerous television programmes, including Kojak (1973), Hawaii Five-O (1968), Ironside (1967) and The Rifleman (1958). He received six Primetime Emmy nominations and won Directors Guild of America awards for his directing.
He was married to actress and dancer Audrey Westphal.
