R.I.P.: Mark 'Friedo' Friedman, D/FW Sports Radio Host, Producer

Mark Friedman

Longtime Dallas sports radio host and producer Mark Friedman, known by friends, listeners and coworkers as “Friedo,” has died. Friedman’s brother announced the news in a Facebook post on Monday.

The Dallas Morning News reports Friedman spent over two decades working in Dallas sports radio, starting at 570 KLIF in 1994 and eventually joining host Norm Hitzges in moving to 1310 The Ticket [KTCK-AM] in 2000, where he worked as a producer on Hitzges’ mid-morning show. Friedman had also been serving as the editor and digital producer for Hitzges’ new podcast.

“It is with a heavy heart that I share the news of my brother’s passing,” Joel Friedman posted on Facebook. “Many of you knew about his health battle over the past several years, and he had been doing remarkably well considering everything he had gone through.”

Mary and I are simply devastated by the sudden death of my 30-year-plus wonderful friend Mark Friedman. I'd talked to Friedo 4-5 times last week alone. He was the editor and digital producer for our new podcast "Just Wondering...with Norm Hitzges."

— Norm Hitzges (@NormsClubhouse) October 2, 2023

Trying to process that Friedo is gone. You can't write the story of DFW sports radio w/o @friedo1033. From KLIF to The Ticket to ESPN Dallas, he enhanced everything he touched. His health battles the last few years have been harrowing, but inspirational. Just a special person.

— Ted Emrich (@tedemrich) October 2, 2023

Heartbroken. Rest in Peace, Friedo. @SkinWade & I probably don’t have a career in radio without this man. So many great memories from working with him at both 1310 The Ticket and to a much larger degree as our producer and APD at 1033 ESPN. He was so damn funny. So unique. Truly… pic.twitter.com/pWd2hspemF

— Ben Rogers (@BenRogers) October 2, 2023

Friedman had suffered a bout of double pneumonia in the summer of 2020, an ordeal that he detailed thoroughly on The Ticket’s “The Hardline” afternoon show in February of 2021.

In 2016, Friedo founded FriedoNation Productions, an audio production business that specializes in podcasts.

A graduate of Stephen F. Austin, Friedman also volunteered as a coach with Special Olympics Texas and was a board member on the Allen Fairview Chamber of Commerce.