Friedman married his first wife, Ginger Howard, in 1954.
 Together, they had three sons: Josh, Kipp and Drew.
 They divorced in 1978, after their marriage "crumbled like an old graham cracker".
 Five years later, he married Patricia O'Donohue.
 They remained married until his death, and had one daughter, Molly.

Friedman once got into a quarrel with fellow writer Norman Mailer at the latter's house party.
 It turned physical when Mailer headbutted him and Mailer's wife egged him on to "kill the bastard".
 Although Friedman eventually prevailed in the fistfight, he had to receive a tetanus shot after Mailer bit him in the neck.

Friedman died on June 3, 2020, at his home in Brooklyn.
 He was 90, and had been suffering from neuropathy in the years leading up to his death.
 According to his wife, Patricia, he was hospitalized one month before his death due to an infection that was not related to COVID-19.
Friedman married his first wife, Ginger Howard, in 1954.  Together, they had three sons: Josh, Kipp and Drew.  They divorced in 1978, after their marriage "crumbled like an old graham cracker".  Five years later, he married Patricia O'Donohue.  They remained married until his death, and had one daughter, Molly.
Friedman once got into a quarrel with fellow writer Norman Mailer at the latter's house party.  It turned physical when Mailer headbutted him and Mailer's wife egged him on to "kill the bastard".  Although Friedman eventually prevailed in the fistfight, he had to receive a tetanus shot after Mailer bit him in the neck.
Friedman died on June 3, 2020, at his home in Brooklyn.  He was 90, and had been suffering from neuropathy in the years leading up to his death.  According to his wife, Patricia, he was hospitalized one month before his death due to an infection that was not related to COVID-19.
Bruce Jay Friedman