
Person
Ed Friendly
Production · 1922–2007 · New York City, New York
Biography
Edwin "Ed" Samson Friendly Jr. was an American television producer. He was responsible for creating the television programs Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, Little House on the Prairie, and Backstairs at the White House. Born in New York City, 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, to 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[4] and in 1978 for Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion, an adaptation of the 1972 children's novel San Domingo, the Medicine Hat Stallion by Marguerite Henry.
Known for

Little House on the Prairie
Producer

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
Creator

Backstairs at the White House
Executive Producer

Turn-On
Producer

Little House: Bless All the Dear Children
Associate Producer

Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat Stallion
Producer

Little House on the Prairie
Executive Producer

Young Pioneers
Executive Producer

Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls Christmas
Executive Producer

The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?
Executive Producer
Filmography
- 2014Little House on the Prairie: A Merry Ingalls ChristmasExecutive Producer
- 1987The LadiesStory
- 1983Little House: Bless All the Dear ChildrenAssociate Producer
- 1979The Flame Is LoveProducer
- 1979Backstairs at the White HouseExecutive Producer
- 1977Peter Lundy and the Medicine Hat StallionProducer
- 1977The Shirley MacLaine Special: Where Do We Go from Here?Executive Producer
- 1976Young Pioneers' ChristmasProducer
- 1976Young PioneersExecutive Producer
- 1974Little House on the PrairieProducer
- 1974Little House on the PrairieExecutive Producer
- 1969Turn-OnProducer
- 1968Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InCreator
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