Bruce Jay Friedman was a prominent American novelist, screenwriter, and playwright known for his satirical style and dark comedy. His work often explored themes of anxiety, paranoia, and the complexities of modern American life, particularly within Jewish-American culture. Friedman is credited with popularizing the term "black humor" through his influential 1965 anthology of the same name. He earned an Academy Award nomination for co-writing the screenplay for the 1984 film "Splash."