Friz Freleng

Biography

Isadore "Friz" Freleng (1906–1995), sometimes credited as I. Freleng, was an American animator, cartoonist, director, and producer best known for his work on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies series of cartoons from Warner Bros. He introduced and/or developed several of the studio's biggest stars, including Bugs Bunny, Porky Pig, Tweety Bird, Sylvester the cat, Yosemite Sam (to whom he was said to bear more than a passing resemblance) and Speedy Gonzales. The senior director at Warners' Termite Terrace studio, Freleng directed more cartoons than any other director in the studio (a total of 266), and is also the most honored of the Warner directors, having won four Academy Awards. After Warners shut down the animation studio in 1963, Freleng and business partner David H. DePatie founded DePatie-Freleng Enterprises, which produced cartoons (notably The Pink Panther Show), feature film title sequences, and Saturday morning cartoons through the early 1980s. The nickname "Friz" came from his friend Hugh Harman, who initially nicknamed him "Congressman Frizby" after a fictional senator that was in articles in the Los Angeles Examiner. Over time this shortened to "Friz".

Known For

Bugs Bunny Superstar

as Himself

Bugs Bunny/Looney Tunes All-Star 50th Anniversary

as Self

Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town

as Self

Camera Three

as Self

The Magical World of Chuck Jones

as Self

King-Size Comedy: Tex Avery and the Looney Tunes Revolution

as Himself

Behind the Tunes: Bosko, Buddy and the Best of Black and White

as Himself (Archive footage)

That's All Folks! Tales from Termite Terrace

as Himself (archive footage)

Behind the Tunes: Leon Schlesinger - The Merrie Cartoon Mogul

as Himself (Archive Footage)

Irreverent Imagination: The Golden Age of the Looney Tunes

as Himself