Bruce Jay Friedman, a renowned novelist, playwright, short-story writer, and Oscar-nominated screenwriter, was born on April 26, 1930, in the vibrant city of New York. Growing up in The Bronx with his parents, Irving and Molly (Liebowitz) Friedman, he was determined to pursue a career in writing from a young age.
Friedman's academic journey took him to the University of Missouri, where he majored in journalism in the school's esteemed journalism department. Following his graduation, he served as an Air Force officer during the Korean War, an experience that likely had a profound impact on his future writing endeavors.
After the war, Friedman married model Ginger Howard, who would later become a writer and acting coach, in 1954. He began his writing career as a writer for men's magazines published by the Magazine Management Co., eventually rising through the ranks to become the executive editor of three titles: "Men", "Male", and "Man's World". These magazines, which focused on macho subjects like hunting, fishing, and war, distinguished themselves from Hugh Hefner's "Playboy" magazine.
Friedman's literary career took off with the publication of his first novel, "Stern", in 1962. He went on to establish himself as a writer and playwright, with his off-Broadway hit "Steambath" (filmed as Steambath in 1973) and his 1978 novel "The Lonely Guy's Book of Life" being two of his most notable works. "Steambath" ran at the Truck and Warehouse Theater from June 30 to October 18, 1970, for a total of 128 performances and was adapted for television in 1973, making it the first American TV program to feature nudity. "The Lonely Guy's Book of Life" was adapted into the 1984 Steve Martin vehicle The Lonely Guy, with a screenplay written by Friedman himself.
In addition to his work in novels and plays, Friedman has also published seven other novels and has written numerous screenplays, including the Oscar-nominated Splash in 1984. He is married to his second wife, educator Patricia J.O'Donohue, and resides in New York City.
