On television, Paul Rudd was known as Mike Hannigan on the award-winning comedy series
Friends. His character was introduced in season nine as the date of Phoebe Buffay (
Lisa Kudrow), whom Joey found by chance in the coffee house when he forgets to set her up with one of his friends. Despite the obstacles, personal issues and differences, his relationship with Phoebe eventually blossomed into marriage, putting a happy ending to Phoebe's lifelong quest for a family and long-lasting love.
Next year, the 38-year-old former
Friends actor will be featured in a string of comedy movies starting with director Jeff Lowell's film
Over My Dead Body. Scheduled for release on January 25, 2008, the fantasy-romantic comedy is about a ghost trying to sabotage her former boyfriend's current relationship with a psychic. Also included are Lake Bell, Jason Biggs (
American Pie) and Lindsay Sloane.
Subsequently, Rudd will be featured in a romantic comedy entitled
Forgetting Sarah Marshall, joining
Jason Segel (
How I Met Your Mother) and
Kristen Bell (
Veronica Mars). The movie is currently in post-production stages and is expected for release on May 30, 2008.
Last but not the least, he is slated to shoot a comedy flick in which he stars as one of the lead characters who is forced to enroll in a Big Brother program. Joining Rudd in the movie
Big Brother is Seann William Scott (
American Pie).
Aside from
Friends, Paul Rudd was also known for being part of Will Ferrell's
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy as Brian Fantana, a role he once again reprised in the film
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie.
On the small screen, he graced many television series, miniseries and tele-films, usually portraying supporting roles. Most recently, he was known as Guy Gerricault on the comedy show
Reno 911!
-Kris De Leon, BuddyTV Staff Columnist
(Image courtesy of E! Online)