John Friedrich

John Friedrich

John Friedrich (b. March 15, 1958, California) is an American film actor. A talented and enigmatic 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's film adaption of Richard Price's novel. A familiar face on television throughout the '70s, Friedrich made guest starring appearances on the police drama series, Baretta, and The Streets of San Francisco. He also had a strong supporting role in the John Travolta telefilm, The Boy in the Plastic Bubble. In 1984 Friedrich played the lead role of Marshall Weatherly in The Paper Chase episode "Not Prince Hamlet". In 1978, he appeared in the much-criticized disco film, Thank God It's Friday. The year later he was cast as Joey in The Wanderers. In 1982, he worked alongside James Woods in the prison drama, Fast-Walking, in which he portrayed a gay 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. In both The Thorn Birds, and Friedrich's final film release, The Final Terror, he worked with the British actress Rachel Ward. After working in The Thorn Birds, Friedrich ended his film career. The Final Terror, which was filmed in 1980 under the title Three Blind Mice, was released (after Friedrich's retirement) due to the popularity of its female leads: Rachel Ward and Daryl Hannah. 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.[1] 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,[2] 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, listing actors (Answers.com) has claimed that the actor and the criminal, John Friedrich, are one and the same.[3] In 2007, Friedrich resurfaced when he appeared on stage at the University of Hawai'i to discuss his films with UH 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.[4]

  • Title: John Friedrich
  • Popularity: 3.123
  • Known For: Acting
  • Birthday: 1958-03-15
  • Place of Birth: Los Angeles, California, USA
  • Homepage:
  • Also Known As:
img

John Friedrich Movies

  • 1979
    imgMovies

    The Wanderers

    The Wanderers

    7 1979 HD

    The streets of the Bronx are owned by '60s youth gangs where the joy and pain of adolescence is lived. Philip Kaufman tells his take on the novel by...

    img
  • 1983
    imgMovies

    The Final Terror

    The Final Terror

    5.1 1983 HD

    A group of friends head out for what is expected to be a vacation of hiking, camping and a good time, but when a backwoods mama finds them on her...

    img
  • 1976
    imgMovies

    The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

    The Boy in the Plastic Bubble

    5.671 1976 HD

    Tod Lubitch is born with a deficient immune system. As such, he must spend the rest of his life in a completely sterile environment. His room is...

    img
  • 1982
    imgMovies

    Fast-Walking

    Fast-Walking

    5.9 1982 HD

    A dirty corrections officer gets involved in a murder plot involving one of the inmates.

    img
  • 1980
    imgMovies

    A Small Circle of Friends

    A Small Circle of Friends

    6.5 1980 HD

    In the late 1960s, three Harvard students Jessica, Leo and Nick grow close as they undergo personal changes, but their friendship is jeopardized by...

    img
  • 1976
    imgMovies

    Bittersweet Love

    Bittersweet Love

    3.7 1976 HD

    A pregnant woman and her husband discover they are half-brother and half-sister, thanks to his father and her mother.

    img
  • 1978
    imgMovies

    Thank God It's Friday

    Thank God It's Friday

    5 1978 HD

    It's Friday and everyone is going to the hot new disco. The Commodores are scheduled to play if Floyd shows up with the instruments and Nicole dreams...

    img
  • 1978
    imgMovies

    Almost Summer

    Almost Summer

    4.4 1978 HD

    A high-school election gets nasty.

    img
  • 1978
    imgMovies

    Forever

    Forever

    1 1978 HD

    Romantic drama about a teenage girl's first love and the perennial adolescent dilemma of whether to give herself to him in order to hang on to him....

    img
  • 1977
    imgMovies

    The Death of Richie

    The Death of Richie

    6.7 1977 HD

    A sensitive but confused teenager feels pressure from all directions and turns to drugs, which causes problems for him in school and at home.

    img
  • 1972
    imgS5 E24

    The Streets of San Francisco

    The Streets of San Francisco

    7 1972 HD

    Two police officers, the older Lt. Stone and the young upstart Inspector Keller, investigate murders and other serious crimes in San Francisco. Stone...

    img
  • 1975
    imgS4 E24

    Baretta

    Baretta

    6.347 1975 HD

    Baretta is an American detective television series which ran on ABC from 1975 to 1978. The show was a milder version of a successful 1973–74...

    img
  • 1983
    imgS1 E4

    The Thorn Birds

    The Thorn Birds

    7.2 1983 HD

    The story based on a novel by Colleen McCullough focuses on three generations of the Cleary family living on a sheep station in the Australian...

    img
  • 1979
    imgS1 E3

    Studs Lonigan

    Studs Lonigan

    9.5 1979 HD

    The story of the Irish-American Lonigan family between 1918 and 1930.

    img
  • 1980
    imgS1 E2

    A Rumor of War

    A Rumor of War

    6 1980 HD

    Miniseries based on the 1977 autobiography by Philip Caputo about his service in the United States Marine Corps in the early years of American...

    img