‘Transformers: The Movie’ writer Ron Friedman dead at 93
Hollywood screenwriter Ron Friedman has died aged 93.
Friedman’s death has been confirmed by his wife, Valerie Friedman, who revealed that her husband passed away on September 16th, following complications from a lower gastrointestinal infection.
Over the course of his career, Friedman wrote for television series including G.I. Joe: A Real American Hero, The Jonathan Winters Show, Chico and the Man, Starsky & Hutch and Fantasy Island. However, his most notable contribution to the world was Transformers: The Movie in 1986.
His controversial work on the aforementioned movie provided him with the title of his 2014 memoir, I Killed Optimus Prime, which was a decision that was made against his will, and Friedman tried to get Hasbro to reverse while he was writing the movie.
Friedman said in a 2014 interview: “These are things I thought about and tried to be true to. Although nobody would get it consciously there might be some sort of communication of the sense of worth of all this and I think I succeeded because I’ve heard about it from fans who all say how moved they were and how much Optimus Prime dying meant to them.”
The writer continued, “It was like a relative dying. I wanted it to be that way. In that regard it was successful, but I sure as hell hated doing it and I was thrilled when he came back.”
Friedman had been in the film and television industry for many years before his pen was used as a sword on Optimus Prime. Born in Pittsburgh in 1932, it was in the mid-1960s that he established himself as a prolific writer, writing for hit shows such as Get Smart, Bewitched and Gilligan’s Island. Prior to this point, he found work as a joke writer in New York, which led to him transitioning to television.
In total, Friedman was responsible for creating 700 hours worth of television during a career that lasted 30 years. He also worked closely with the late Stan Lee on The Marvel Action Hour, which helped make the current raft of superheroes at Marvel become beloved cultural figures.
Friedman is survived by his wife and their three children.
Never Miss A Scene
The Far Out Film Newsletter
All the latest film news from the independent voice of culture.
Straight to your inbox.