Doug Friedlander Was Born in Los Angeles on March 3, 1942. Being known for His Dramatics, His Parents put Him in a Children 's Theater Group when he was 7. He got a Tremendous Laugh at His Very First Line that sealed his Fate in Theater. His Mother told Him He would never be the Hero but The one who would Get the laughs. By the Time he was in High School, He was playing Roles in the Burbank Community Theater and went to work at MGM Studios in Culver City. It was not long before he was in classes the Studio provided for their contract players (Richard Chamberlain, George Hamilton, Yvette Mimieux Pamela Tiffin and Paula Prentiss). Deciding to take His Mother 's Challenge He decided to audition for Tony (the Hero)in West Side Story at The Los Angeles Youth Theater. Hundreds of Young People auditioned and after weeks of callbacks, Doug Was given the Role.
Six Months later, He enlisted in the Army(as opposed to being drafted), so He would have the option to choose his first Duty Station. He picked Germany because of His interest in the Christmas and German toy making markets. Within several months, He took a 3 Day pass and Auditioned for the Frankfurt Playhouse, an Army facility that produced English speaking Theater. He became invaluable member by acting, costuming and and set designing in The Fantasticks, a Tennessee Williams one act, This Property is Condemned, You Can't Take it With You The Rainmaker and many others. The Rainmaker won the Award for the Best Military Production in Europe, where He designed the Set and costumes and played the Role of Jimmy. The Army lost track of Him and he remained in the Theater until it was Time Rotate back to the States.
He went Home to the States, married a woman He met at the Theater in Germany and moved to New York. He joined an Off Broadway theater group called The Players Workshop in 1969 He was Nominated for Newcomer of the Year by the Trade Newspaper, Show Business. It was at that time He started studying at the HB Studios Where he attended classes held By Uta Hagen. After Doug and Carol had a Baby, Laurel, they decided to go back Doug's Home State of California. Later while there he went to work at Bob Baker's Marionette Theater where He designed and built sets and costumes
By the mid 80's, Laurel Was grown, Doug and Carol had divorced and He had settled down with Nelson Fox in Ojai. He Auditioned at the Ojai Art Center Theater and played Daddy in Daddy's Dying Who's Got the Will. Several Roles followed such as The Gin Game, The Last of the Red Hot Lovers, Peter Pan ( Hook), Oliver!(Fagan), Fiddler on the Roof (The Butcher) and Finally Of Mice and Men,(Candy). He also Performed Touchstone in As You Like It with Ojai Shakespeare Festival, The Lead Role in the Miser as Well as the Laramie at Skyway Playhouse. Another Special Theater for Doug Was The Santa Paula Theater Center where He performed in many Plays including The Hallow, The Late Christopher Bean, Second Samuel,Casa Valentina, The Seagull The Philadelphia Story and so many others. He also Performed in Several Ghostwalks (SPTC 's Yearly Theater in the street where Ghosts Tell their Stories.
He is Survived by His Partner of almost 37 Years Nelson Fox, His Daughter Laurel, His Brother's Daniel and David and All of the Loving Members of Their Families.