Andy Friendly, a veteran television executive and Emmy-nominated producer, died Sunday, January 4, at his home in Bel Air, according to his family. Friendly was 74.
The son of legendary journalist Fred Friendly and brother of producer David Friendly, Friendly began his career as a writer and producer at NBC News in New York and later became a producer on the network’s Tom Synder late-night talk show “Tomorrow.”
From there, Friendly helped launch the long-running entertainment news magazine Entertainment Tonight in 1981 as the original producer of the strip series. Friendly then served as vice president of primetime programming at CNBC, where he oversaw talk shows hosted by Snyder, Tim Russert, Geraldo Rivera, Tom Snyder, and other notable journalists and talk show hosts.
His boss at the time was David Zaslav, now CEO of Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Andy was a tremendous producer and an extraordinary leader who helped define CNBC during a pivotal period of growth and creativity,” Zaslav said. “He had an uncanny ability to identify talent, nurture ideas, and bring out the best in those around him. But beyond his professional accomplishments, Andy was a special person and a dear and loyal friend. He led with generosity, humor, and heart, and cared so deeply for people. Andy made everyone feel valued, and his unique kindness and integrity will be remembered as powerfully as his creative legacy.”
After CNBC, Friendly served as president of programming and production at King World Productions. At King World, Friendly was responsible for first-run syndication programming strategy, development and production for the company that distributed series such as “Oprah Winfrey” and “Wheel of Fortune.”
Friendly was also a busy member of the television community as president of the Hollywood Radio & Television Association. He was also an adjunct professor at his alma mater, the USC School of Motion Picture Arts.
Friendly served on the Board of Trustees of the USC Shore Foundation and the Friends of the Saban Community Clinic.
Friendly is survived by his immediate family, sister Lisa Friendly, brothers David Friendly, Richard Mark, Michael Mark, John Mark and Ruth Friendly, and many grandchildren, nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his late wife, Pat Crowley, who passed away in September. They married in 1986.
