Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Email
Answers.com

Judah Friedlander

 
Actor: Judah Friedlander
Home > Library > Entertainment & Arts > Actors
  • Occupation: Actor
  • Active: 2000s
  • Major Genres: Comedy, Drama
  • Career Highlights: American Splendor, Feast, Duane Hopwood
  • First Major Screen Credit: American Splendor (2003)

Biography

In his public appearances, standup comedian Judah Friedlander usually wears big glasses and a trucker hat over his shaggy head of dark hair. He's one of those guys who has the decency to appear untainted by his own mediocre brand of stardom. In other words, he can play in Hollywood movies that show at major theaters, yet still maintain a safe comedic distance from slimy show business. This has mostly been accomplished by doing short scenes in smallish comedies, starting with Meet the Parents (starring Ben Stiller). Friedlander then did the walk-on role of no-good husband Ron in the hilarious spoof Wet Hot American Summer. (He was the guy with sideburns to trying to win back his wife [Molly Shannon].) Other bit parts came about in the mock documentary Endsville and the MTV movie Spring Break Lawyer. He worked with Stiller again in Zoolander and had a small part in the stoner comedy How High. In 2002, he had a brief speaking role in the terrible action comedy Showtime, starring Eddie Murphy and Robert De Niro. Friedlander is perhaps best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff in American Splendor, the innovative documentary/biography about comic book author Harvey Pekar. The film was a festival success and earned Friedlander a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards. Television audiences may remember him as the guy who gives out hugs in the popular Dave Matthews Band video for "Everyday." He's also made numerous appearances on late-night variety shows and various sitcoms. Projects for 2004 include Along Came Polly (starring Stiller again) and Palindromes (directed by Todd Solondz). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide
Search unanswered questions...

Enter a question here...
Search: All sources Community Q&A Reference topics

Wikipedia: Judah Friedlander
Top
Home > Library > Miscellaneous > Wikipedia
Judah Friedlander

Friedlander at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
Born Judah Friedlander
March 16, 1969 (1969-03-16) (age 40)
Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.
Occupation Comedian, Actor
Years active 1999-present

Judah Friedlander (born March 16, 1969) is an American comedian and actor, known for his trademark trucker's hats, oversized glasses and unkempt appearance, which he retains in most of his screen roles.[1]

Contents

Life and career

Friedlander was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland; his mother, a native of Pittsburgh, is Croatian American, and his father is of Russian Jewish descent.[2] Friedlander started in show business as a soundman on Chris Rock's short Who is Chris Rock? Ten years later, Friedlander began working in front of the camera, with appearances on Lateline and roles in numerous feature film comedies including Meet the Parents, Zoolander and Full Grown Men. Friedlander's most noted movie role to date was in the film American Splendor, as Toby Radloff.[3] His first exposure to many was as "The Hug Guy" from the Dave Matthews Band 2001 video "Everyday".[3] He was also a series regular on VH1's Best Week Ever and currently on NBC's 30 Rock, on which he plays Frank Rossitano, one of the writers of TGS with Tracy Jordan, a spoof of Saturday Night Live. In every episode, Friedlander can be seen wearing a different slogan on his trademark hat, which he designs himself.[1]

Friedlander headlines at various standup comedy venues in New York and LA, including Caroline's. His best-known "schtick" is "The World Champion of the World", in which he makes outlandish claims of greatness.[4] For example, he claims on his website to have once scored 243 goals in a single game of international soccer in Brazil while also acting as the referee. Friedlander hosted Comedy's Central Live at Gotham.

For the second year in a row, Friedlander is the backstage host of The TV Land Awards online.[5]

Filmography

Films
Year Title Role Other Notes
2000 Endsville Wrestling Fan
Meet the Parents Pharmacy Clerk
2001 Wet Hot American Summer Ron van Kleinenstein
Spring Break Lawyer Mervin (TV)
Zoolander Scrappy Zoolander
How High Student
2002 Showtime Julio
2003 The Trade Duffy Dyer
Old School Action Figure Dude (TV version)
American Splendor Toby Radloff
The Janitor Drunk Man
2004 Channel Surfing (voice (TV)
Along Came Polly Dusty
Starsky and Hutch Ice Cream Man
Bad Meat Maintenance Man
2005 Duane Hopwood Anthony
Southern Belles Duane
Pizza Jimmy
The Unseen Earl
Sunday Pants (voice) (TV series)
Feast Beer Guy
2006 The Darwin Awards Simon
Date Movie Nicky
Live Free or Die Hesh
The Cassidy Kids Max Cassidy(Adult)
Full Grown Men Elias Guber
2007 Chapter 27 Paul
The Proctor Harry
2008 Meet Dave Engineer
The Wrestler Scott Brumberg
2009 I Hate Valentine's Day Dan O'Finn
Cabin Fever 2: Spring Fever Toby
30 Rock Frank Rossitano (2006-present)
2010 Beware the Gonzo Cafeteria Guy (post-production)

References

  1. ^ a b February 22 Interview
  2. ^ Judah Friedlander Thinks Manhattan Pizza Has ‘Gone Downhill’
  3. ^ a b Biography at StarPulse.com
  4. ^ Interview, March 8 - TV Guide
  5. ^ [1]

External links

v • d • e
30 Rock
Characters
(and cast)
Primary
Secondary
Seasons
Other

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

 
 
Learn More
Feast (2006 Horror Film)
Duane Hopwood (2004 Drama Film)
Pizza (2005 Comedy Drama Film)

Who is judah's father? Read answer...
What was the capitol of judah? Read answer...
What is the tribe of Judah? Read answer...

Help us answer these
What then is a judah praise?
When was Judah born?
Who was Judah the Maccabee?

Post a question - any question - to the WikiAnswers community:

 

Copyrights:

Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Judah Friedlander".  Read more