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THQ and Jakks Pacific founder Jack Friedman passes away at 70
After being hospitalized for several weeks, THQ and Jakks Pacific founder Jack Friedman passed away yesterday at the age of 70. Friedman started THQ in 1989 and led the company for six years, when he founded toymaker Jakks Pacific and served as chairman and CEO until March of this year. Before founding THQ in the late '80s, Friedman held a position at LJN Toys, helping to develop licensed toys for major motion pictures (E.T., among others). When the company was purchased by MCA in 1985, Friedman moved on and eventually founded "Toy Headquarters" (THQ) with $1 million of his own startup capital. Jakks Pacific CEO Stephen Berman said of his company's founder and former CEO, " Jack was a legendary toymaker and a real titan in our industry. He dedicated his talents to Jakks Pacific for 15 years, and he will be sorely missed. On behalf of all Jakks employees, we send our sincere condolences to his wife Karen and his children for their loss." [Via Gamasutra]
