Paul Rudd

Biography

Paul Rudd is all British. But for some reason, he plopped down in New Jersey. On April 6, 1969, his folks brought Paul into this world by way of Passaic, New Jersey.

The family moved to Overland, Kansas, where Rudd attended high school and set down some roots. He attended Broadmoor Junior High and Shawnee Mission West High School. He graduated in 1987 as student body president. After graduation, he figured college was the next logical step so he enrolled at the University of Kansas, where he majored in theatre. After he finished school in Kansas, he was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles.

While at the school in Los Angeles, he decided to return to his British roots and take a course at Oxford. He had a number of roles in the British theatre while in England, and even worked as a producer for "Bloody Poetry," where he opted for the starring role.

He returned to United States in 1992, where he nabbed a role in "Sisters." He stayed with the series until 1995, the year in which he hit the big screens running with the Amy Heckerling classic "Clueless." The film received glowing reviews and amassed an incrediblely large audience for his first film.

A number of roles came and went in the next few years, without much success. "Overnight Delivery," almost the same film as "Road Trip," just before its time, only was able to go straight to video. "The Locusts," "The Size of Watermelons," and most notably "Romeo and Juliet."

But his biggest role came in 1998 as the gay object of Jennifer Aniston's eye in "The Object of My Affection." His performance was praised, and the film had decent success at the box office.

"200 Cigarettes," "Twelfth Night," and an off-Broadway show "Bash," followed in the next few years, and Rudd then had another big hit in "The Cider House Rules."

Off the screen, Paul generally keeps to himself. Unlike many of his male peers, he hasn't had too many high-profile romances.