Paul Rudd attends the "Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" Sydney premiere at Hoyts Entertainment Quarter on February 02, 2023 in Sydney, Australia.

Paul Rudd is a man of many hats: he’s one of the sexiest men alive, he’s a hilarious comedic actor, he’s an incredible dancer, and he plays numerous instruments. Born on April 6, 1969, in New Jersey, Rudd started out with a background in theater.

He attended the University of Kansas, where he majored in theater, then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Art with fellow actor Matthew Lillard. Furthering his education, he spent three months studying Jacobean drama in England.

The Shape of Things Opening Night, Paul Rudd's Funniest Moments in Film and Television

Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images

Paul Rudd’s funniest moments occurred in so many great pieces of comedic work. You may know him from 2009’s I Love You, Man for “slappin’ da bass” or as seemingly stupid Ned in 2011’s Our Idiot Brother. Rudd has taken on many acting roles, but most of us know him as the Ant-Man aka Scott Lang.

The actor made his debut over 30 years ago in 1991 when he starred in a Super Nintendo commercial. The following year, Rudd made his first television appearance, starring in the drama series Sisters, appearing in 20 episodes across three seasons. He then left the show to film his breakout film role in 1995’s Clueless as Alicia Silverstone’s love interest, Josh.

From there, Rudd’s acting roles came pouring in. He starred in the best rendition of Shakespeare’s iconic play Romeo and Juliet with 1996’s Romeo + Juliet alongside Leonardo DiCaprio, Claire Danes, and John Leguizamo. In 2002, he was cast on Friends as Mike Hannigan, who dates and then marries Phoebe Buffay (Lisa Kudrow).

The early 2000s is when Rudd really made his mark as a comedic actor. In 2004, he began working with director/producer Judd Apatow, first on the film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, then the following year on The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He subsequently worked with Apatow in 2007’s Knocked Up as frustrated husband Pete, married to Leslie Mann’s character Debbie.

Take a look below at Paul Rudd’s moments in film and television:

(Warning: many of these scenes are NSFW*)

  • 8. Anchorman -- The Rigid Ghost

    Paul Rudd is hilarious as Brian Fantana in the Anchorman movies. He’s always got something rare and weird to show off behind his secret wall compartments. In this scene, he gives Steve Carrell’s Brick Tamland some protection ahead of his first date ever with Chani (Kristen Wiig). Fantana gives a showy walkthrough of his “glorious cabinet of condoms.” The ridiculous condom options he presents are rare indeed, with ones made of denim, covered in cajun spices, and one that feels like an armadillo shell.

  • 7. Forgetting Sarah Marshall -- Chuck's Powerful Life Advice

    Rudd plays the super laid-back and air-headed surf instructor Chuck. When Jason Segel’s character asks if he is, in fact Chuck, Rudd’s character replies that Chuck is his “main-land name,” while his Hawaiian name is “Kunu.” Either way, “Kunu” gives depressed Peter some powerful life lessons in this scene while giving surf lessons like: “The less you do, the more you do,” “The weather outside is weather,” and “When life gets you lemons, just say, ‘f— the lemons’ and bail.”

  • 6. Our Idiot Brother -- Busted

    Rudd’s oblivious Ned doesn’t quite realize when he’s being set up in this hilarious scene at the local market. After being approached by Officer Washburn to help him “toke it up,” Ned does a good job of warding him away from the obvious setup. That is, until he buys the officer’s sob story of having a hard week. Too pure a soul, Ned doesn’t even want the officer’s money! With a little pressing to insist on paying him, the officer gives him $20 and tells him he’s under arrest.

  • 5. Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job -- Celery Man

    Before Severance was Paul Rudd’s computer sequence in the Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! in 2010, where we witness his insane dancing. Starting off in 2007, this sketch comedy show ran for five seasons on Adult Swim, obviously. Rudd’s opening sequence for his work day is “Celery Man,” where the funnyman wears a satin suit and casually dances to some funky, computer techno music. As he adds more sequences and the music gets funkier, Rudd’s dance moves and outfits continue to change on his screen. A new sequence named “Tayne” has the best and most offputting moves (in the best way). The new character’s final dance move, the “flarhgunnstow” is our personal favorite.

  • 4. Reno 911!: Miami -- Ethan the Drug Lord

    Rudd is hilarious in this obvious parody of the 1983 classic Scarface, down to the horrible Cuban accent and haircut. Somehow, Rudd’s Ethan manages to threaten his hostages on the yacht with his vicious weed whacker in this scene from 2007. Al Pacino’s got nothing on Rudd, with his outrageous brightly patterned silk shirt. Hilariously, from the faraway camera angles, Rudd looks so much like Jim Carrey too, going overboard like the other comic with his mannerisms and exaggerated facial expressions.

  • 3. This Is 40 -- Hemorrhoid / "Erase That From Your Memory"

    Paul Rudd frustratingly snapping pics of his anus while his legs are in the air in front of a vanity mirror is one of his funniest moments in This Is 40. The sheer ridiculousness of him being put in this position is comedic gold in itself, leaving us feeling as if our sides are splitting. This scene hits every time, and Rudd’s serious composure while saying, “I need you to look at something… in my butt,” has us dying of laughter.

  • 2. Wanderlust -- Mirror Scene

    No matter how many times we watch this film, Rudd’s George trying to pep himself up to swing always gets us cackling with laughter. So many quotables from this mirror scene, like, “You like my… erection selection?” and “I’m gonna pop off a piece of my d—,” and “I’m fixins to f— ya!” The absolute cherry on top is when he changes his voice to be both sassy and country at the end of the clip and says, “I’m gones puts my d— in!”

  • 1. I Love You, Man -- The Best Bond

    This movie is so hilarious, it was difficult to pick just one moment. In this particular scene, Jason Segel’s Sydney is trying to get Rudd’s Peter to pose like James Bond and give him his best impression while he films him. Rudd is not only adorably awkward, but the accent he puts on is just horrendous.

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