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THQ Founder Jack Friedman Passes Away

THQ founder and legendary video game businessman Jack Friedman passed away yesterday after several weeks of hospitalization. Freidman was 70 years old.

Though many gamers probably won’t recognize his name, it’s hard to say that Jack Friedman didn’t have a dramatic influence on the video game industry. In addition to founding game publisher THQ, Freidman helped start the NES-era game publisher LJN as well as the toy manufacturer Jakks Pacific. Older gamers might remember some of the intellectual properties THQ established as video games while under the leadership of Jack Freidman: Home Alone, The Flash, Swamp Thing, Ren & Stimpy, and Wayne's World.

"Jack was a legendary toymaker and a real titan in our industry," said JAKKS Pacific CEO Stephen Berman. "He dedicated his talents to JAKKS Pacific for 15 years, and he will be sorely missed."

Game Informer extends its best wishes to those who are mourning the loss of a friend and family member today.

via 1up.com

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Comments
  • i can't even think of a witty comment

  • RIP Jack

  • RIP Jack

  • RIP

  • RIP we will miss ya bauddy

  • Hoped he Saved the game.

  • Hoped he Saved the game.

  • that's sad, but he's in a better place now

    R.I.P.

  • That can ruin your day.
    Whats stupid is most of us had no idea who he was now hes dead and we are all like...oh thats who he is...

    RIP
  • thats really too bad thq was an amazing and great company

  • Awwww poor guy.

  • peace out jack, we'll see you in a bit. all respect and RIP

  • how sad...

  • It's sad and all, but really, I'd like to forget everything about is involvement in games.

    No offense to the person, but LJN was a really bad gaming company, and the THQ games arn't that good, either.

  • RIP Jack old friend

    we will miss you :(

  • RIP

  • RIP Jack

  • Sorry Jack, your contributions to gaming were greatly appreciated.

    Rest In Peace

  • oh man, that sucks. =(

  • @Reducer - I personally loved Red Faction: Guerrilla.  Great game.  Amazing engine for destructible environments.  It's an extremely underrated game in my opinion.

    RIP Mr. Friedman.  See ya on the other side.

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