Stephen Friedman; Film Producer

Stephen Friedman, 59, producer of such films as “The Last Picture Show” and “The Big Easy.” Friedman earned a bachelor’s degree in economics and a law degree at Harvard University. Entering the motion picture business as an attorney, he worked for Columbia Pictures, Ashley-Famous Agency and Paramount. He founded and operated Kings Road Entertainment with profits from his first producing effort, “The Last Picture Show” in 1971. He followed that with “Lovin’ Molly,” for which he also wrote the screenplay. Using his business and legal skills, Friedman carved out an enviable contract among small independent producers with Universal--which the studio later pared--to distribute a dozen of his films. Among the features Friedman went on to produce were “Slap Shot,” “Bloodbrothers,” “Fast Break,” “Hero at Large,” “Little Darlings,” “Eye of the Needle,” “All of Me,” “Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home” and “There Goes the Neighborhood.” He was known as a hands-on producer and also a difficult producer, often asked to stay away from his own sets. On Friday in Brentwood of cancer.