Improv Founder Budd Friedman honored with Golden Goody Award

Live from the What’s Trending Studio in Hollywood, Improv Founder Budd Friedman (81) was honored with a Golden Goody Award (our top humanitarian award) by the Goody Awards and Comedy Gives Back during CGB’s 24 hours of comedy benefit for Malaria No More on Nov 6, 2013. After the awards presentation, we interviewed Budd about why he started the Improv and his favorite charity moment with Sir Anthony Hopkins that you can watch here VIDEO: Improv Founder Budd Friedman talks 50 Yr of Comedy and Charity.

Goody Awards Founder Liz H Kelly kicked off the presentation by sharing that Budd was chosen for this lifetime achievement award because he is “the King of Comedy, who has set the gold standard for giving back.” Liz added that Budd was the “force for good” that indirectly inspired this Comedy Gives Back event because his daughter, Zoe, is one of the founders.

Comedy Gives Back Founder Zoe Friedman then presented this top award to her father with a heartfelt speech about how he has given back to charities for decades and set an example for her. Comedy Gives Back Founders Amber J Lawson and Jodi Lieberman were also there to cheer on Budd, who is celebrating the 50^th Anniversary of the Improv. Actor/manager Mark Lonow became Friedman’s partner 25 years ago and together they licensed Improv Comedy Clubs in 25 U.S. cities.

Budd hugged Zoe, and then accepted the Golden Goody Award (that is a crystal, engraved statue) by saying, “I thought it was going to be gold.” He also gave thanks to the many women in his life (with a special shout out to his wife, Alixandra) and emphasized with a big grin, “It’s all about giving back.”

For decades, Budd has been a trailblazer for good, doing fundraising work with/for the Actors Fund; Motion Picture Home; American Cancer Society; 1099 Assn (California Highway Patrolmen); L.A. Free Clinic, and Comedy Gives Back.

We later saw Budd Friedman with his wife Alixandra at the Hollywood Improv show with top comedians performing: Rove McManus, Aisha Tyler, Kevin Nealon, Dane Cook, Marc Maron, Dana Gould – who all donated their time to this Comedy Gives Back show to benefit Malaria No More.

In addition to this special award for Budd Friedman, the Goody Awards and Comedy Gives Back recognized over 50 top comedians globally with a “Hero Goody necklace” for donating their time to this 24 hours of comedy livestream and live show event. This “Tag Good” product represents global citizens who are inspiring positive change, and you can tag your hero here https://goodyawards.com/hero-goody-tag-good/

Congratulations Budd Friedman, Comedy Gives Back, their partners (Dailymotion, The Standard LA, Virgin Produced and many more), Malaria No More, brilliant comedians who made us laugh for 24 hours and everyone who contributed to making this event a smashing success!

Photo Credit: Andrew Furtado

© Goody Awards 2013