| Rick Friedberg | |
| Birth Date: | 11 March 1944 |
| Nationality: | American |
| Known For: | Spy Hard |
| Occupation: | Film director, producer, writer |
| Children: | Jason, Alix, Nicholas |
Rick Friedberg (born March 11, 1944) is an American film and television director, screenwriter and producer, best known for his work with Leslie Nielsen. He is also the author of Hollywood War Stories, How to Survive in the Trenches, a memoir/advice guide on the film industry.[1]
Friedberg made his feature film debut in 1980 with the comedy Pray TV starring Dabney Coleman, followed by 1983's Off the Wall.[2] He would direct television episodes for The Twilight Zone, New Monkees and CityKids. When Friedberg made the comic instruction video Bad Golf Made Easier with Leslie Nielsen, he showed his son Jason Friedberg's script to him, which was parodying James Bond movies and other action films. Nielsen approved, and this led to 1996's Spy Hard.[3] The film eventually grossed $26 million against a production budget of $18 million.
Through the 2000s and 2010s, Friedberg served as second unit director on series like and Scorpion, as well as director/field producer on The Real Housewives of Orange County.[4]
| Year | Title | width=65 | Director | width=65 | Writer | width=65 | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Off the Wall | |||||||
| 1996 | Spy Hard |
| Year | Title | width=65 | Director | width=65 | Writer | width=65 | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | Pray TV | TV movie; lyrics: "Billy Bob Jingle" | ||||||
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | 1 Episode (Wish Bank) | ||||||
| 1987 | New Monkees | 2 episodes | ||||||
| 1993 | CityKids | 6 episodes | ||||||
| 2006-2008 | The Real Housewives of Orange County | 28 episodes | ||||||
| 2008-2009 | 5 episodes | |||||||
| 2014-2018 | Scorpion | 12 episodes | ||||||
| Year | Title | width=65 | Director | width=65 | Producer | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | W.A.S.P. - Videos... In the Raw | |||||
| 1990 | Playboy: Sensual Pleasures of Oriental Massage | Documentary | ||||
| 1993 | Leslie Nielsen's Bad Golf Made Easier | |||||
| 1993 | Our First Video | Video Short "Brother for Sale" | ||||
| 1994 | Bad Golf My Way | |||||
| 1997 | Our Music Video | Segment "Brother for Sale" |