His colleagues during the Warner Brothers years based the character Yosemite Sam on him. It was based on his short stature and his tendency for sudden explosive outbursts.
Adopted the name Friz after being asked to go by I. Freleng after World War II broke out, and not wanting to go simply by an initial. Friz was taken from another artist named Frisby.
According to the book "That's All Folks: The Art of Warner Bros. Animation", Freleng directed the greatest number of cartoons of anyone in the Warner Bros. animation units.
He is regarded as one of the major figures in his field as an animator and as an animation director. He had no formal training in art.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California on August 20, 1992.