Donald Freed was born on May 13,1932 and is an American playwright, novelist, screenwriter, historian, teacher and activist.
21 Facts About Donald Freed
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Donald Freed's work is a unique and fearless marriage of politics and art.
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Donald Freed maintained a relationship with his father David throughout his life, although he was young when his parents separated.
4.
Donald Freed's mother remarried Arthur Malsin, a merchant by trade.
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At age 4, Donald Freed moved with his mother and stepfather to Eagle River, Wisconsin.
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Donald Freed is the eldest of the children and has four half-siblings: Lynnel Hope, Anne, Paulette, and Byron.
7.
Donald Freed has said that many people have known a Willy Loman in their lives.
8.
Donald Freed referred to Arthur Miller's classic play, Death of a Salesman, in which the protagonist committed suicide, hoping his death would provide insurance to help his family survive.
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Donald Freed sold insurance "in the back roads of Louisiana".
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Donald Freed took leading roles in The Country Girl, The Lady's Not for Burning, The Lower Depths, Voice of the Turtle, Taming of the Shrew, and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof.
11.
Donald Freed directed Joe Stern in Detective Story, Harry Towne in Separate Tables, and Guy Stockwell in Billy Budd.
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In 1960, Donald Freed became artistic director of the Los Angeles Art Theatre, based in the Coronet Theatre.
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Donald Freed has been an investigative journalist publishing articles and books related mostly to politics and civil rights movements.
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Donald Freed was a member of the Friends of the Panthers, a group of white supporters of the Black Panther movement.
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Donald Freed was a close friend of Huey Percy Newton, a political activist and founding member of the Black Panther Party.
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Donald Freed acted as one of the unofficial historians of the Black Panther Party, and served as one of the advisors to Newton's doctoral thesis for the University of California.
17.
FBI case agent, Phil Denny, ensured that Donald Freed lost his teaching contract at the San Fernando Valley State College and that the California State College in Fullerton would not hire him.
18.
In 1973, Donald Freed published Agony in New Haven, a book that explored the implications of racial bias in jury selection in the 1970s trial of Bobby Seale and Ericka Huggins, leaders of the Black Panther Party.
19.
Donald Freed visited Jonestown before the mass suicide of over 900 members of Peoples Temple.
20.
Donald Freed's visit followed his being contacted by Jim Jones, who wanted him and Mark Lane to uncover alleged plots by intelligence agencies against the Temple.
21.
In 1952, at 20, Donald Freed married Patricia McGowan and the couple moved to Los Angeles, California three years later.