Episode #160: Donavan Freberg (Stan Freberg)

Rarified Heir Podcast

Today on the Rarified Heir Podcast, we are talking to professional photographer Donavan Freberg, son of actor, musician, author, advertising executive, comedian, musician & radio personality Stan Freberg & mother Donna Freberg. On the first part of this episode, we learn from Donavan about his years growing up in a somewhat dysfunctional (his words) but very loving home (also his words). We learn that every day was Christmas in the Freberg home and that school was more of an suggestion than a firm commitment. We also learn how and where Stan Freberg literally (my words, not his) came up with the term “Grammy”.

On top of that we learn that mother Donna was Frank Sinatra’s assistant and likely was the person who booked both Stan and Josh’s mother Edie Adams on The Frank Sinatra Show in 1958. We also talk about Stan’s career in advertising where he won 21 Clio Awards, his puppet Orville the Moon Man and how his dad got into show business, when he literally (our words) got on a bus and said, “Take me to Hollywood,” and landed on the doorstep of a talent agent.

In the second half of this episode, Donavan was brutally honest & raw and frankly it gets a bit dark. We’ve tackled this topic of aging parents on previous episodes and it’s always a bit gut wrenching. It also hits home with our host Josh Mills who has his own story on this very topic. When hangers-on latch on to the celebrity, and look to grab whatever specialness and the fame they crave for themselves, in order to get what they want well…. take a listen to this episode of the Rarified Heir Podcast. Everyone has a story. And this one is all too familiar.