Born on March 30, 1957 in New York, Paul Reiser started his career in campus theater. While taking up his music degree at Binghamton University, he founded “The Little Theater Than Could,” a theater organization based in Hinman College, which would eventually evolve into the Hinman Production Company. During summer breaks, he would perform in various comedy clubs in New York.
He appeared in different movies in the 1980s, such as the Beverly Hills Cop series and in 1986’s Aliens. He also starred in the NBC sitcom My Two Dads, opposite Greg Evigan and Staci Keenan, from 1987 to 1990. However, Paul Reiser is best known for his work in the television sitcom Mad About You, both as creator and as a star, alongside Helen Hunt. The comedy about newlyweds dealing with their new life together was a hit with both viewers and critics, winning four Screen Actors Guild Awards and four Golden Globes. It also received six Emmy nominations.
The success of Mad About You was massive. During the show’s last season, in 1999, both Reiser and Hunt were receiving one million dollars per episode. Ratings, however, sank that year, and the program aired its finale on May 24, 1999. That same year, he had a cameo appearance in the Bruce Willis film The Story of Us.
In 2001, Paul Reiser appeared alongside Julie Walters in the British television drama My Beautiful Son, about a successful doctor getting into terms with his being diagnosed with leukemia. He also appeared in the 2005 documentary The Aristocrats, along with other comedians.
Reiser was included in Comedy Central’s list of 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time, charting at number 77. He has also written two books, both tackling family life: Couplehood, about being in a committed relationship, and Babyhood, about having and raising a baby. In 2010, he returned to his career in television and was cast in The Paul Reiser Show on NBC.
2005: Florida Film Festival -Artistic Achievement Award
1998: BMI Film & TV Awards - American Comedy Award - Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication for: "Mad About You"
1997: BMI Film & TV Awards - BMI TV Music Award for: "Mad About You". Shared.
1995: BMI Film & TV Awards - BMI TV Music Award for: "Mad About You". Shared.
1994: Viewers for Quality Television Awards - Q Award - Best Actor in a Quality Comedy Series for: "Mad About You"
2011: The Paul Reiser Show (TV series) - Paul Reiser
2005: The Thing About My Folks - Ben Kleinman
2002: Women vs. Men (TV movie) - Bruce
2002: Purpose - Ben Fisher
2001: Strange Relations (TV movie) - Dr. Jerry Lipman
2001: One Night at McCool's - Carl Harding
1999: The Story of Us - Dave, Ben's Literary Agent
1992-1999: Mad About You (TV series) - Paul Buchman
1999: Pros & Cons - Prison man #1
1995: Bye Bye Love - Donny
1994: Mr. Write - Charlie Fischer
1993: The Tower (TV movie) - Tony Minot
1993: Family Prayers - Dan Linder
1991: The Marrying Man - Phil Golden
1987-1990: My Two Dads (TV series) - Michael Taylor
1990: Crazy People - Stephen Bachman
1988: Reach (TV short)
1987: Cross My Heart - Bruce Gaynor
1987: Beverly Hills Cop II - Det. Jeffrey Friedman
1987: You Ruined My Life (TV movie) - Dexter Bunche
1986: Aliens - Carter Burke
1986: Odd Jobs - Max- 1985: George Burns Comedy Week (TV series)
1985: From Here to Maternity (TV short) - Marco
1984: Beverly Hills Cop - Jeffrey
1983: Sunset Limousine (TV movie) - Jay Neilson
1983: Diner (TV short) - Modell
1983: Remington Steele (TV series) - Ivan Turbell
1982: Diner - Modell