Paul Rudd Biography
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Biography
Paul Rudd’s breakout performance, in the 1995 film Clueless, was predated by many years of acting experience, primarily in television.  Later, he would appear in different films, and even dabble with theater.  Born in Passaic, New Jersey on April 6, 1969, he first appeared in the four-hour television movie Family Reunion, which also starred Bette Davis.  He was also a recurring guest star on the NBC television series Sisters, before appearing on the short-lived 1994 sitcom Wild Oats.
His performance as Josh Lucas in Clueless, which also starred Alicia Silverstone, led him to other film roles.  In 1996, he appeared in William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Claire Danes.  In 1998, Paul Rudd performed opposite Jennifer Aniston in The Object of My Affection.  In 1999, he was part of the cast of The Cider House Rules, which received a nomination from the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture.
Paul Rudd also continued appearing in different television programs.  He guested on the television adaptation for Clueless.  He was also a recurring guest in the NBC sitcom Friends, playing the role of Mike Hannigan, who would eventually marry Phoebe (Lisa Kudrow).  He has also guest starred in programs like Reno 911! and Veronica Mars.
In 2001, he appeared in the cult comedy Wet Hot American Summer, which otherwise got mostly negative reviews.  In 2004, he starred in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, alongside Will Ferrell.  The next year, he appeared opposite Steve Carell in The 40-Year-Old Virgin.  He also appeared in other comedies such as Night at the Museum, Knocked Up, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, in a cameo appearance as John Lennon.
He has recently appeared in another film in the Judd Apatow oeuvre, Forgetting Sarah Marshall. He is slated to appear in Role Models, which he also wrote.