Benedict Freedman

Benedict Freedman was born in New York City on December 19, 1919. He graduated from Townsend Harris High School at the age of 13. He was studying math at Columbia University, but left at the age of 16 to help support his family after his father died. He became a writer for radio stars like Al Jolson, Jimmy Durante and Red Skelton and later wrote for television shows including My Favorite Martian and Mr. Skelton's comedy-variety hour. During World War II, he used his mathematics training to secure a job as a stress tester with Hughes Aircraft and worked on the Spruce Goose. He wrote numerous books with his wife Nancy Freedman. Their first novel, Mrs. Mike, was published in 1947. In 1949, it was adapted into a film starring Dick Powell and Evelyn Keyes. Their other works include The Spark and the Exodus, The Search for Joyful, and Kathy Little Bird. He went back to college and received a bachelor's degree in mathematics and a Ph.D. in mathematics from the University of California, Los Angeles. He taught math for many years at Occidental College, in Los Angeles. He died on February 24, 2012 at the age of 92.