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A familiar face on television throughout the '70s, Friedrich made guest starring appearances on the police drama series, ''[[Baretta]]'', and ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]''. He also had a strong supporting role in the [[John Travolta]] telefilm, ''[[The Boy in the Plastic Bubble]]''.
In 1978, he appeared in the oftmuch-malignedcriticized disco film, ''[[Thank God It's Friday]]''. And theThe year later he was cast as Joey in [[The Wanderers]]. In 1982, he worked alongside [[James Woods]] in the prison drama, ''[[Fast-Walking]]'', in which he portrayed a [[homosexual|gay]] convict called "Squeeze"."
Another of Friedrich's most recognizable roles was as Frank Cleary, the oldest of the Cleary brothers, in the 1983 mini-series, ''[[The_Thorn_Birds_(TV_miniseries)|The Thorn Birds]]''; based on the novel by [[Colleen McCullough]]. In both The Thorn Birds, and Friedrich's final film release, The Final Terror, he worked with the British actress, [[Rachel Ward]].
After working in The Thorn Birds, Friedrich ended his Hollywoodfilm career.
The Final Terror, which was filmed in 1980 under the working title, ''Three Blind Mice'', was subsequently released (after Friedrich's retirement from film) due to the popularity of its female leads-: Rachel Ward, and [[Daryl Hannah]].
At the peak of his career with The Thorn Birds; Friedrich retired to New Mexico, married, started a family, and began a successful career as a financial consultant.<ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/05/04/features/story07.html</ref> In the meantime heHe also became something of a cult icon as his films developed a cult following. Rumors persisted as to what had become ofabout him, including one recurring myth that he was working as a live-in gardener for his Wanderers co-star, [[Ken Wahl]] <ref>http://www.markallencam.com/?p=99</ref>, who had gone on to reasonable success in the television series, [[Wiseguy]].
There has also been confusion between John Friedrich, the film actor, and an Australian criminal and former government official of the same name who committed suicide in 1991. At least one website, listing actors (Answers.com) has claimed that the actor and the criminal, [[John Friedrich]], are one and the same <ref>http://www.markallencam.com/?p=99</ref>.
In 2007, Friedrich resurfaced when he appeared on stage at the [[University of Hawai'i]] to discuss his films with UH professor, Marc Moody. During this stage appearance, Friedrich shared anecdotes of his decade-long career and commented that he would like to return to acting, to "complete that chapter" in his life <ref>http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/05/04/features/story07.html</ref>.
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