David T. Friendly

David T. Friendly (born August 29, 1958) is an American film producer, director, and screenwriter. He is best known for producing Academy Award-winning film Little Miss Sunshine, and directing the biopic The Pursuit of Happyness.

Friendly grew up in Los Angeles, California and attended the University of California, Berkeley. After graduating he began working in the film industry, starting as a production assistant on The Right Stuff in 1983. He worked his way up to associate producer on The Fabulous Baker Boys in 1989.

In 1995, Friendly directed his first feature film, Flirting with Disaster. He followed this up with the critically acclaimed independent film The Deep End of the Ocean in 1999.

In 2006, Friendly produced the dark comedy Little Miss Sunshine, which was a critical and commercial success, earning four Academy Award nominations, including Best Picture. The film won two Oscars, for Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor.

Friendly’s next project was the biopic The Pursuit of Happyness, which starred Will Smith and was released in 2006. The film was a major success, earning over $300 million worldwide.

In 2009, Friendly produced the romantic comedy He’s Just Not That Into You. The film was a box office success and earned over $180 million worldwide.

Friendly’s most recent projects include producing the comedy-drama The Big Sick in 2017, and directing the biographical drama Made in Italy in 2021.

Throughout his career, Friendly has been nominated for multiple awards, including the Academy Award, the Golden Globe Award, and the Emmy Award. He is a member of the Producers Guild of America, and was honored with the PGA Vision Award in 2011.

Friendly is currently working on several upcoming projects, including the romantic comedy Mother’s Day and the drama True Believer. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.