Isadore Freleng, better known as Friz Freleng, was born on August 21, 1906, in Kansas City, Missouri. Despite having no formal training in drawing, he began his career as an animator at United Film Advancement Services in 1924 at the age of 17.
Freleng's early work included animation for Disney Studios, where he worked on the "Alice" series in 1927. He also worked on projects for Robert Winkler Productions and Screen Gems, before joining Warner Brothers, where he worked under the direction of Hugh Harmon and Rudolf Ising on Bosko the Talk-Ink Kid in 1929.
Under the supervision of Leon Schlesinger, Freleng's career as an animator and director flourished, producing some of the most beloved cartoons in America's golden age of animation. He went on to work as the head animator and producer on the Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies subdivisions, established by Warner Brothers.
Freleng's career as a director took off in the late 1940s, after Tex Avery and Robert Clampett left Warner Brothers. He won several Academy Awards for his work, including Oscars for Tweetie Pie, Speedy Gonzales, Birds Anonymous, Knighty Knight Bugs, and The Pink Phink.
In 1963, Freleng co-founded the DePatie-Freleng Studio with David De Patie, which specialized in short films and television commercials. The studio enjoyed great success with the Pink Panther television series.
Freleng returned to Warner Brothers to direct several specials, including Daffy Duck's Quackbusters and Porky Pig in Hollywood. He also appeared as himself in the Looney Tunes 50th Anniversary and Roger Rabbit and the Secrets of Toon Town.
In addition to his production work, Freleng wrote the script for The Looney, Looney, Looney Bugs Bunny Movie, and contributed to Bugs Bunny's 3rd Movie: 1001 Rabbit Tales and Daffy Duck's Movie: Fantastic Island. He also penned the book "Animation: The Art of Friz Freleng" in 1994.
Freleng's artwork is highly prized and sought by many collectors, with his work often fetching a pretty penny.
