Born in Westchester, NY; studied English literature at the University of Michigan and did graduate work at the Sorbonne in Paris. After returning to Boston, where he was raised, Friedenberg joined an educational film company where his duties included everything from writing to directing. At another educational film company in Salt Lake City, Friedenberg began directing both television and low-budget films. After moving to Los Angeles, Friedenberg wrote "Bitter Harvest" (1981), a television movie starring Ron Howard, for which he won the WGA Award for Best Teleplay and received his first Emmy nomination in the same category. Friedenberg was selected by Robert Redford to write the screen adaptation for A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT (1992), a script which won him an Oscar® nomination and began his professional association with producer Jake Eberts. The screenplay also earned him the honor of NATO Show West Screenwriter of the Year. Friedenberg received two Emmy® Awards for writing and co-producing and a WGA Award nomination for Best Teleplay for the Hallmark Hall of Fame production "Promise" (1986), starring James Garner and James Woods. This sensitive story of a man's love for his schizophrenic brother won the Peabody Award, and additional Emmys were awarded to the director and to stars James Woods and Piper Laurie. His 1991 original script DYING YOUNG starred Julia Roberts. He also wrote and directed the 1996 Showtime original movie "Mr. and Mrs. Loving." In 1992, Friedenberg toured Somalia for the United Nations and his journal was published in The Village Voice. Other notable credits include THE LIFE AND TIMES OF GRIZZLY ADAMS (1975 and the 1977 TV series, director), THE ADVENTURES OF FRONTIER FREMONT (1976, story & director), THE BERMUDA TRIANGLE (1979, director), THE EDUCATION OF LITTLE TREE (1997, screenplay & director) and "Snow in August" (2001, TV - teleplay & director).  Nominated for Achievement in Writing - Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published 1992: A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT 1 nomination