Monday, September 15, 2025

Ron Friedman obit

Ron Friedman, ‘Transformers’ and ‘G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero’ Writer, Dies At 93

 He was not on the list.


Ronald I. Friedman, a television and film writer and producer known for his work on “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero,” the 1986 “The Transformers: The Movie” and “Marvel Action Hour,” died Sept. 15. He was 93.

Friedman died from cardiopulmonary arrest at Motion Picture and Television Fund in Woodland Hills.

Born in West Virginia in 1932, Friedman was raised in Pittsburgh, Penn. where he earned his B.A. in Architecture at Carnegie Mellon University.

As a member of the WGA, Friedman amassed over 700 hours of written content for primetime television with his work on shows such as “The Andy Griffith Show,” “Bewitched,” “Gilligan’s Island,” “The Odd Couple,” and “Happy Days.” As a writer, Friedman worked on various other projects like “My Favorite Martian,” “Get Smart,” “I Dream of Jeannie,” “The Ghost and Mrs. Muir,” “The Partridge Family,” “The Good Guys” and “That’s My Mama.”

In 1966, Friedman was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for his written work on “The Danny Kaye Show,” and he would go on to write for television shows such as “Chico and the Man” “Starsky and Hutch,” “The Fall Guy” and “Fantasy Island.”

After writing on live-action series, Friedman went on to write on animated projects like 1990’s “G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero” and Marvel’s 1994 “Fantastic Four” series. Friedman also served as a writer for Marvel, working on the “Iron Man” animated series in 1994. He previously worked on Warner Bros. Animation’s animated sitcom “Taz-Mania,” with ran from 1991 to 1995.

Friedman is survived by his wife, Val.

 

riter

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Short

Writer

2013

 

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Legend

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Iron Man

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storywriter

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4 episodes

 

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Timmy's Gift: A Precious Moments Christmas (1991)

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Video

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Duncan Regehr in Zorro (1990)

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G.I. Joe: The Movie (1987)

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Orson Welles, Leonard Nimoy, Susan Blu, Robert Stack, and Lionel Stander in The Transformers: The Movie (1986)

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TV Short

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TV Movie

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1980

 

Waikiki (1980)

Waikiki

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B.J. and the Bear

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TV Series

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Marathon (1980)

Marathon

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TV Movie

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TV Series

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TV Series

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Vega$

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TV Series

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TV Series

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TV Series

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writer

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TV Series

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TV Series

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Wonder Woman

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written by

1976

 

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TV Series

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TV Movie

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1972

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1967

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1966

1 episode

 

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1965

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Actor

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1985

 

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6.6

TV Series

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1982

1 episode

 

Producer

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Iron Man

6.5

TV Series

supervising producer

1994

13 episodes

 

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6.4

TV Series

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13 episodes

 

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8.1

TV Series

supervising producer

1987–1988

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Animation Department

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7.7

Video Game

animator

1999

 

Script and Continuity Department

Fantastic Four: The Animated Series (1994)

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6.4

TV Series

story editor

1994

8 episodes

 

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8.0

TV Series

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1984

2 episodes

 

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6.6

TV Series

script consultant

1981

1 episode

 

Additional Crew

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6.4

TV Series

story editor

1994

2 episodes

 

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Iron Man

6.5

TV Series

story editor

1994

1 episode

 

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TV Series

story editor

1983–1984

10 episodes

 

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That's My Mama

7.0

TV Series

story editor

1974

2 episodes

 

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6.4

TV Series

story editor

1971

1 episode

 

The Survivors (1969)

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7.3

TV Series

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1969

1 episode

 

Thanks

Greetings from Florida! (2014)

Greetings from Florida!

8.4

Short

special thanks

2014

 

Wild Child

Short

special thanks

2014

 

Bully

Short

special thanks

2008

 

Self

Faking Filmation

Self

Post-production

 

Stu's Show (2006)

Stu's Show

6.8

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2015–2019

4 episodes

 

Gilbert Gottfried in Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast (2014)

Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast

9.6

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2018–2019

2 episodes

 

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Excelsior Journeys with George Sirois

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2018

 

The Interviews: An Oral History of Television (1997)

The Interviews: An Oral History of Television

7.3

TV Series

Self

2016

1 episode

 

Good Life Project (2014)

Good Life Project

Podcast Series

Self - Guest

2015

1 episode

 

Lucy in London Revisited

Video

Self

2011

 

Men and Women of Action: Creating the G.I. Joe Animated Series (2009)

Men and Women of Action: Creating the G.I. Joe Animated Series

Short

Self

2009

 

The Jonathan Winters Show (1967)

The Jonathan Winters Show

8.2

TV Series

Self

1968

1 episode


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