Eric Freiwald, R.I.P.

Here's an obit for Eric Freiwald, a prolific TV writer who also wrote or co-wrote a staggering number of comic books in his long, productive life.

Freiwald wrote an estimated 1,500 TV scripts, including thirteen seasons of the Lassie show. For a long time, most were written in tandem with his partner — who for some reason isn't mentioned in the obituary — Robert Schaefer. Their other credits included The Lone Ranger, The Gene Autry Show, Maverick, Zorro, 77 Sunset Strip, The Beverly Hillbillies and Hopalong Cassidy. Freiwald continued working in TV, mainly writing the soap opera The Young and the Restless, after Schaefer retired in 1984.

In 2007, Schaefer passed away and I wrote this item about him. It will tell you all about their work in comic books for Western Publishing. From 1957 until around 1965, the team wrote one full book of something per week for editor Chase Craig at Western. The list included comic book versions of many of the TV shows they worked on, plus Disney adaptations and even Magnus, Robot Fighter. Chase always spoke highly of their creativity and dependability.