From 1983 to 1990, Fried held various executive positions. He served as Executive Vice President of Production for Columbia Pictures, Director of Film Finance and Special Projects for Columbia Pictures and Director of Business Development at Twentieth Century Fox. Orion Pictures hired Fried as Vice President of Production in 1986. He founded Fried Films, a production company, in 1990 and served as founding CEO. He founded Fried Films, a production company, in 1990 and served as founding CEO. Fried won an Academy Award in 1992 for his short film, Session Man. His film Rudy won the Christopher Award that year.
In 1994, Fried married Actress Nancy Travis, they have two sons. He is an alumnus of Cornell University and Columbia University.
