THQ Founder Jack Friedman dies at age 70

Jack Friedman founded LJN (remember that label from the NES days?), THQ and JAKKS Pacific. He passed away at age 70, yesterday, after an extended hospital stay.

It all started back in the 1970s when toy company LJN was founded. It turned into a game company in the day of the NES, and you might remember some of them, like Friday the 13th (loved that game!), Bill & Ted’s Excellent Video Game Adventure, and the one that made me throw controllers in my first case of nerd rage, the original The Karate Kid.

THQ came later, in 1989, and you know them from current games like Red Faction, Saint’s Row, and a game I previewed today, UFC Undisputed 2010.

Friedman had retired, but was still on the company’s board as the chairman.

Thanks for all the cool games, Jack.

THQ Founder Jack Friedman Has Died [1UP]