Paul Rudd
April 6, 1969 — Passaic, New Jersey
Paul Rudd is an American actor and comedian who spent years as Hollywood's most charming second-lead — the funny, warm, effortlessly likable guy who makes everyone else look good — before finally becoming a genuine leading man as Scott Lang / Ant-Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, all while refusing to age in a manner science cannot fully explain.
From Kansas to the Screen
Born Paul Stephen Rudd on April 6, 1969, in Passaic, New Jersey, he grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, after his British-born parents emigrated from England. He studied theatre at the University of Kansas and then at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco. His first notable role was as Josh, the older would-be boyfriend in Amy Heckerling's Clueless (1995), opposite Alicia Silverstone — a film that became an instant classic and cemented his position as a particular type of appealing, slightly dorky leading man. He appeared regularly on Broadway and in studio films, but spent most of the 1990s and 2000s in comedic supporting roles, often in Judd Apatow's ensemble comedies.
The Apatow Years and Ant-Man
Rudd became a beloved ensemble presence in comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Knocked Up (2007), I Love You, Man (2009), and This Is 40 (2012), demonstrating a gift for improvisation and a genuine warmth that made him one of the most well-liked performers in Hollywood. When Marvel cast him as Scott Lang / Ant-Man in 2015, he was 46 — older than the typical action franchise lead — and the character's self-deprecating humor and accessibility made the films among the most enjoyed in the MCU. He appeared in five Marvel films total, including both Avengers: Infinity War and Avengers: Endgame.
Did You Know?
Paul Rudd's apparent immunity to aging became such a widespread cultural phenomenon that it spawned thousands of memes, multiple tabloid investigations, and genuine scientific curiosity. He looks essentially the same in 2024 as he did in Clueless in 1995. When he was named People magazine's "Sexiest Man Alive" in 2021, at age 52, the announcement was widely celebrated as a victory of agelessness. He has consistently deflected the attention with humor, attributing his appearance to "good sleep, water, and a vague feeling of mild panic."
Beyond the MCU
Rudd's work outside the MCU has demonstrated genuine range: his performance in The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012) was understated and affecting, and his comedic instincts were fully deployed in the cult classic Wet Hot American Summer (2001) and its Netflix sequel series. He is married to producer Julie Yaeger and has two children, and is known in the entertainment industry for being genuinely decent and easy to work with — a rare reputation in a complicated industry. He named Seinfeld's George Costanza as his primary acting inspiration.