Comedian and Radio Pioneer Stan Freberg Dies at 88

LOS ANGELES (AP) — If you've ever laughed at a funny commercial, you can thank Stan Freberg. The comedy pioneer has died.

Freberg is considered by many to be the father of the funny commercial. He influenced generations of young comics with 70 years of radio, TV, albums, advertising jingles and nightclub performances.

His wife, Hunter, said Freberg died Tuesday at the UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 88.