Louis N. Friedland, 92; Headed MCA TV Division
Louis N. Friedland, a former president and chairman of entertainment conglomerate MCA’s television division who helped pioneer syndicated programming, has died. He was 92.
Friedland died Wednesday in New Hyde Park, N.Y., of respiratory failure, said his son, Eric.
The Brooklyn-born Friedland joined MCA, formerly known as the Music Corp. of America, in 1952 and remained a consultant long after his retirement in 1986. He worked closely with company Chairman Lew Wasserman.
Friedland handled distribution of Universal Studios television programs for many years when MCA owned Universal. He led MCA-TV and its sister company, Universal Television, in pioneering the creation and distribution of syndicated action series and other shows.
Educated at Brooklyn College and New York University, Friedland served as a lieutenant in the Coast Guard during World War II. He taught psychology, worked in the Veterans Administration and was general manager of U.S. Microfilm Co. before joining MCA.
Friedland was a past chairman of the National Hemophilia Foundation.
Widowed in 1999, he is survived by his son, Eric; daughter, Joanne Roberts; and one granddaughter.
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