John Friedrich (born March 15, 1958) is an American film actor.

Career

A character actor of the 1970s and early 1980s, John Friedrich is probably best known for his portrayal of Joey Capra in '' The Wanderers'' (1979),

Philip Kaufman Philip Kaufman (born October 23, 1936) is an American film director and screenwriter who has directed fifteen films over a career spanning more than six decades. He has been described as a "maverick" and an "iconoclast," notable for his versati ...

's film adaption of

Richard Price Richard Price (23 February 1723 – 19 April 1791) was a British moral philosopher, Nonconformist minister and mathematician. He was also a political reformer, pamphleteer, active in radical, republican, and liberal causes such as the French ...

's novel. A familiar face on television throughout the '70s, Friedrich made guest starring appearances on the police drama series, ''

Baretta ''Baretta'' is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a revised and milder version of a 1973–1974 ABC series, '' Toma'', starring Tony Musante as chameleon-like, real-life New Jersey pol ...

'', and ''

The Streets of San Francisco ''The Streets of San Francisco'' is a television crime drama filmed on location in San Francisco and produced by Quinn Martin Productions, with the first season produced in association with Warner Bros. Television (QM produced the show on its ...

''. He also had a strong supporting role in the John Travolta telefilm, ''

The Boy in the Plastic Bubble ''The Boy in the Plastic Bubble'' is a 1976 American made for television drama film inspired by the lives of David Vetter and Ted DeVita, who lacked effective immune systems. It stars John Travolta, Glynnis O'Connor, Diana Hyland, Robert Reed, ...

''. In 1984 Friedrich played the lead role of Marshall Weatherly in '' The Paper Chase'' episode "Not Prince Hamlet". In 1978, he appeared in two films; the much-criticized disco film, '' Thank God It's Friday'', and the school comedy '' Almost Summer''. A year later he was cast as Joey in '' The Wanderers''. In 1982, he worked alongside

James Woods James Howard Woods (born April 18, 1947) is an American actor. He is known for his work in various film, stage, and television productions. He started his career in minor roles on and off- Broadway. In 1972, he appeared in ''The Trial of the ...

in the prison drama, '' Fast-Walking'', in which he portrayed a

gay ''Gay'' is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the trait of being homosexual. The term originally meant 'carefree', 'cheerful', or 'bright and showy'. While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the late 1 ...

convict called "Squeeze." Another of Friedrich's most recognizable roles was as Frank Cleary, the oldest of the Cleary brothers, in the 1983 mini-series, '' The Thorn Birds''; based on the novel by

Colleen McCullough Colleen Margaretta McCullough (; married name Robinson, previously Ion-Robinson; 1 June 193729 January 2015) was an Australian author known for her novels, her most well-known being '' The Thorn Birds'' and ''The Ladies of Missalonghi''. Life ...

. In both ''The Thorn Birds'', and Friedrich's final film release, ''

The Final Terror ''The Final Terror'' is a 1983 American slasher film directed by Andrew Davis, and starring John Friedrich, Rachel Ward, Daryl Hannah, Adrian Zmed, Mark Metcalf, Akosua Busia, and Joe Pantoliano. Blending elements of the survival thriller and t ...

'', he worked with the British actress

Rachel Ward Rachel Claire Ward (born 12 September 1957) is an English-Australian

. After working in ''The Thorn Birds'', Friedrich ended his film career. ''

'' was filmed in 1981 but released in 1983 (after Friedrich's retirement), due to the popularity of its female leads,

Rachel Ward Rachel Claire Ward (born 12 September 1957) is an English-Australian

and

Daryl Hannah Daryl Christine Hannah (born December 3, 1960) is an American actress and environmental activist. She made her screen debut in Brian De Palma's supernatural horror film '' The Fury'' (1978). She has starred in various movies across the years, i ...

. At the peak of his career with ''The Thorn Birds'', Friedrich retired to New Mexico, married, started a family, and began a career as a financial consultant. He also became something of a cult icon as his films developed a cult following. Rumors persisted about him, including one recurring myth that he was working as a live-in gardener for his ''Wanderers'' co-star,

Ken Wahl Ken Wahl (born October 31, 1957) is a retired American film and television actor, popular in the 1980s and 1990s, best known for the CBS television crime drama '' Wiseguy''. Early life and career Wahl, who was born in Chicago, Illinois, Note: ...

, who had gone on to success in the television series '' Wiseguy''. There has also been confusion between the film actor and an Australian criminal and former government official of the same name who committed suicide in 1991. At least one website has claimed that the actor and the criminal, John Friedrich, are one and the same. In 2007, Friedrich resurfaced when he appeared on stage at the

University of Hawaiʻi The University of Hawaiʻi System, formally the University of Hawaiʻi and popularly known as UH, is a public college and university system that confers associate, bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees through three universities, seven com ...

to discuss his films with professor Marc Moody. During this stage appearance, Friedrich shared anecdotes of his decade-long career and commented that he would like to return to acting, to "complete that chapter" in his life.

Filmography

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Friedrich, John 1958 births Living people American male film actors