Detective Sergeant Joseph "Joe" Friday is a fictional
detective in the
Los Angeles Police Department. The character was created by
Jack Webb as the lead for his
Dragnet series, and first appeared on June 3, 1949 in the premiere of the
NBC radio drama that launched the franchise. Webb played the character on radio and later television from 1949-1959 and again from 1967-1970, also appearing as Friday in a 1954 theatrical release and a 1966 made-for-TV film that aired three years later.