Arny Freeman Explained

Arny Freeman
Birth Name:Arthur Raymond Freedman
Birth Date:August 28, 1908
Birth Place:Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Death Date:February 13, 1986 (aged 77)
Death Place:Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Relatives:Bud Freeman (brother)

Arny Freeman (born Arthur Raymond Freedman;[1] [2] August 28, 1908[1] – February 13, 1986[3]), sometimes credited as Arnold or Arnie Freeman,[4] [5] was a Chicago-born American character actor in commercials, television series episodes, Broadway plays, and motion pictures. A featured interviewee in Studs Terkel’s Working who also appeared in that book's Broadway musical adaptation,[6] [7] Freeman was the younger brother of jazz saxophonist Lawrence "Bud" Freeman.[8] [9] [10]

Early life and career

Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois, Freeman was the son of Emilie Antoinette Frenette and Louis Milton Freedman.[11] [12] [2] [13]

Among the television series in which he appeared are Naked City (1958, 1959 and 1961 [two episodes]), NBC Friday Night Special Presentation (1959's "Miracle on 34th Street"), Have Gun, Will Travel (1961), The Untouchables (1961, 1962), Kojak (1975), Maude (1976), The Jeffersons (1976), Barnaby Jones (1977), All in the Family (1977), The Incredible Hulk (1978) and Barney Miller (in 6 episodes, 1976 to 1981).

Movie credits

Freeman appeared in feature films, including Phffft! (1954), The Brain That Wouldn't Die (1962), Popi (1969), The Valachi Papers (1972) and The Super Cops (1974).

Personal life and death

In 1938, Freeman married Esther Stepansky.[14]

On February 13, 1986, Freeman died in Los Angeles at the age of 77.[3]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1954Phffft! Language Teacher Uncredited
1962The Brain That Wouldn't Die Photographer
1968What's So Bad About Feeling Good? 1st Mate Uncredited
1969Popi Diaz
1972The Valachi Papers Warden Uncredited
1974The Super Cops Judge Benny Kellner

Notes and References

  1. "Illinois, World War II Draft Registration Cards, 1940-1945",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QPHC-B1TL : Sat Mar 09 20:42:01 UTC 2024), Entry for Arthur Raymond Freeman and Arthur R Freeman, 16 October 1940.
  2. "United States Census, 1910",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MKCB-6PF : Fri Jul 19 11:56:56 UTC 2024), Entry for Louis M Freedman and Emily A Freedman, 1910.
  3. "California Death Index, 1940-1997," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:VPM9-56N : 26 November 2014), Arny Freeman, 13 Feb 1986; Department of Public Health Services, Sacramento.
  4. News: Frankie Laine Faces Suit Over New Tune. April 22, 1954. Variety. 14. Laine faces a $25,000 suit in New York Supreme Court over his tune, It Only Happens Once, it was disclosed this week. Suit was filed by Arnold Freeman, actor and songwriter, who claims to have written the lyrics for the song.. .
  5. News: Freeman in Film Bow. April 22, 1954. The Hollywood Reporter. 34. Arnie Freeman, New York stage, radio and television personality, will make his film debut in Columbia's 'Phffft.'. . See also:
    • News: BRIEFS. August 24, 1977. The Hollywood Reporter. 6. Arnie Freeman, Stanley Brock and George Karliss on the 'Goodbye, Mr. Fish' Part I episode of 'Barney Miller.'. .
  6. Terkel, Studs (1975). Working: People Talk About What They Do All Day and How They Feel About What They Do. New York: Avon Books. p. 118. .
  7. https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/arny-freeman-41282 Arny Freeman credits
  8. https://www.newspapers.com/article/star-gazette/158168783/ "Types Suit Arny Freeman"
  9. Freeman, Bud; Wolf, Roger (1989). Crazeology. Oxford: Bayou Press. p. xii. .
  10. Mulligan, Gerry (2023). Being Gerry Mulligan: My Life in Music. Lanham, MD: Backbeat Books. p. 234. .
  11. "Illinois, Cook County Birth Registers, 1871-1915",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:N7WB-DZB : Sun Mar 10 17:21:21 UTC 2024), Entry for Jacob Lawrence Freedman and Louis Milton Freedman, 1906.
  12. "Illinois, Cook County Deaths, 1871-1998",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:QV92-3Y6C : Sun Mar 10 15:06:30 UTC 2024), Entry for Lawrence Freeman and Louis Milton Freedman, 15 Mar 1991.
  13. "United States Census, 1920",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:MJ7P-1R6 : Fri Mar 08 07:03:35 UTC 2024), Entry for Louis Freedman and Emily Freedman, 1920.
  14. "Illinois, Cook County Marriages, 1871-1968",, FamilySearch (https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:Q212-LCC5 : Fri Mar 08 22:58:24 UTC 2024), Entry for Arthur R Freedman and Esther Stepansky, 25 Mar 1938.