Paul Feig
Paul Feig | |
---|---|
![]() Feig in July 2007 | |
Born | Royal Oak, Michigan,U.S. | September 17, 1962
Occupations |
|
Years active | 1986–present |
Paul Feig(/fiːɡ/;[1]born September 17, 1962) is an American film director, producer, screenwriter and actor. He is best known for directing films such asBridesmaids(2011),The Heat(2013),Spy(2015),Ghostbusters(2016),A Simple Favor(2018), andLast Christmas(2019). He often collaborates with actressMelissa McCarthy.
Feig created the comedy seriesFreaks and Geeks(1999–2000) andOther Space(2015). He has also directed several episodes ofArrested Development,Nurse Jackie,Mad Men,The Office,Parks and Recreation,30 Rock,andWeeds.He received nominations for twoPrimetime Emmy Awardsfor writing onFreaks and Geeks,and two for producing and directing onThe Office.His most notable acting roles were as Bobby Wynn in the sitcomThe Jackie Thomas Show(1992–1993), Tim the Camp Counselor in the comedy filmHeavyweights(1995), and Mr. Eugene Pool on the sitcomSabrina the Teenage Witch(1996–1997).
Early life[edit]
Feig was born inRoyal Oak, Michigan,on September 17, 1962,[2]the son of telephone operator Elaine Elizabeth (née Artingstall) andGratiot Avenuestore owner Sanford William Feig.[3][4][5]He grew up in aChristian Scientisthome inMount Clemens, Michigan.[6][7]Sanford was born into aJewishfamily, but converted to Christian Science to marry Elaine, whom he had met at a church social.[3][8][9]
Career[edit]
1986–2010: Early career,Freaks and Geeksand directorial debut[edit]
After a year atWayne State University,Feig moved to Los Angeles and transferred to theUniversity of Southern California.He also worked as a tour guide atUniversal Studios Hollywood,embarked on astand-up comedyact, and landed minor roles on various television shows.[10]Feig also appeared in a number of films, such asSki Patrol,[11]and in a role alongsideBen Stillerin the 1995 filmHeavyweights,in which he played camp counselor Tim. On the first season ofSabrina, the Teenage Witch,Feig portrayed Mr. Eugene Pool,Sabrina's science teacher.
WithHeavyweightsco-scripterJudd Apatow,Feig created the short-lived comedy seriesFreaks and Geeks,inspired by his experiences atChippewa Valley High SchoolinClinton Township,Michigan.The show aired onNBCduring the 1999–2000 television season. Eighteen episodes were completed, but the series was canceled after only twelve had aired. Despite the short run,Freaks and Geekshas since maintained a devoted cult following. The show was named inTimemagazine's 100 Greatest Shows of All Time,[12]and in summer 2008,Entertainment WeeklyrankedFreaks and Geeksas the 13th best show of the past 25 years.[13]Feig was nominated for two Emmys for writing the show's pilot and the season finale.
Feig made his directorial debut with the drama filmI Am David,which premiered at the 2003Cannes Film Festival.He later directed the Christmas comedy filmUnaccompanied Minors(2006).
2011–2016:Bridesmaidsand other film works with Melissa McCarthy[edit]
In 2011, Feig was consulted to direct the Apatow-produced comedy filmBridesmaids.Written byAnnie MumoloandKristen Wiig,the plot centers on Annie (Wiig), who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve asmaid of honorfor her best friend, Lillian, played byMaya Rudolph.[14]Budgeted at $32.5 million,Bridesmaidswas both critically and commercially successful, eventually grossing over $288 million worldwide, and served as a touchstone for discussion about women in comedy.[15][16]The film was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedyand received multiple other accolades, includingAcademy Awardnominations in theBest Supporting ActressforMelissa McCarthyandBest Original Screenplayfor Wiig and Mumolo.[17]
In 2013, Feig reunited with McCarthy onbuddy copaction comedy filmThe Heat,also starringSandra Bullock.Directed by Feig and written byKatie Dippold,it centers on a mismatched police pairing who must overcome their differences in order to take down a mobster. The film received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the chemistry, and performances of Bullock and McCarthy,[18]and was a success at the box office, grossing $229 million worldwide against a $43 million budget.[19]
In 2015, Feig wrote, directed, and produced the spy comedy movieSpyfor20th Century Fox,again starring Melissa McCarthy.[20]It follows the life of a secret agent, Susan Cooper, trying to expose the black-market. The film received acclaim from critics and became another box office success at an international gross of $235.7 million.[21]It was nominated for twoGolden Globe Awards:Best Motion Picture – Musical or ComedyandBest Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedyfor McCarthy.[22]Also in 2015, Feig produced the animated featureThe Peanuts MovieforBlue Sky Studios,based on thePeanutscomic strip and characters created byCharles M. Schulz.[21]That same year, it was announced that Feig will direct a film adaptation ofPlay-DohsforHasbro Studios,20th Century Fox, andChernin Entertainment.[23]
During 2015, Feig also created the science fiction comedy seriesOther SpaceforYahoo!'svideo on demandserviceYahoo! Screenand wrote the show's first episode. The series starsTrace Beaulieu,Neil Casey,Eugene Cordero,Joel Hodgson,Conor Leslie,Bess Rous,Karan Soni,andMilana Vayntrubas the dysfunctional crew of an exploratory spaceship who become trapped in an unknown universe.Other Spacereceived positive reviews,[24][25]but was not renewed for a second season due to Yahoo! Screen being shut down in 2016. Feig later created aTumblrto provide direct links to each episode after he reobtained the rights to the series.[26]In 2020, the series was picked up by streaming service DUST.[27]
In 2016, Feig directed and co-wrote thefemale driven rebootof theGhostbustersfranchise, starring McCarthy,Kristen Wiig,Kate McKinnon,andLeslie Jonesas four women who begin aghost-catchingbusiness in New York City.[28]The announcement of the female-led cast in 2015 drew a polarized response from the public and internet backlash,[29]leading to the film'sIMDbpage and associatedYouTubevideos receiving low ratings prior to the film's release.[30][31]The film grossed $229 million worldwide against a production budget of $144 million, becoming the highest-grossing live-action comedy domestically of 2016.[32]However, due to its high production and marketing budget, it is considered abox-office bomb.[33]
2017–present:A Simple FavorandLast Christmas[edit]
In 2017, Feig producedJonathan Levine's comedy filmSnatched,starringAmy SchumerandGoldie Hawnas a mother-daughter couple who are abducted while on vacation in South America.[34]The same year, he began production on the comedy thrillerA Simple Favor.Based on the 2017novel of the same nameby Darcey Bell, it starsAnna Kendrick,Blake Lively,andHenry Golding,and follows a small town blogger who tries to solve the disappearance of her mysterious and rich best friend. Released in September 2018, the film received generally favorable reviews from critics, with praise for the plot twists and performances of Kendrick and Lively.[35]
In 2018, Feig directed an advertisement forDiet CokestarringHayley Magnus,which was shown during theSuper Bowl.[36]In 2019, he directed the romantic comedyLast Christmas,reteaming withHenry Golding,who starred in the film alongsideEmilia Clarke.The film received mixed reviews and was a box office success, earning over $120 million.[37]
In March 2019, following 20th Century Fox's acquisition byThe Walt Disney Company,Feig announced he would be moving his Feigco production studio toUniversal Pictures.[38][39]
Personal life[edit]
After his friend Laura Ann Carleton wasmurdered for hanging a pride flagin August 2023, Feig stated, "This intolerance has to end. Anyone using hateful language against theLGBTQ+community has to realize their words matter, that their words can inspire violence against innocent loving people. Let's all keep moving forward with tolerance and love. "[40]
Filmography[edit]
Film[edit]
Year | Title | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Producer | Writer | ||
2003 | I Am David | Yes | No | Yes |
2006 | Unaccompanied Minors | Yes | No | No |
2011 | Bridesmaids | Yes | Yes (exec.) | No |
2013 | The Heat | Yes | Yes (exec.) | No |
2015 | Spy | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2016 | Ghostbusters | Yes | Yes (exec.) | Yes |
2018 | A Simple Favor | Yes | Yes | No |
2019 | Last Christmas | Yes | Yes | No |
2022 | The School for Good and Evil | Yes | Yes | Yes |
2024 | Jackpot | Yes | Yes | No |
TBA | Untitled A Simple Favor sequel | Yes | Yes | No |
Producer only[edit]
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2015 | The Peanuts Movie | |
2017 | Snatched | |
2019 | Someone Great | |
2020 | Holler | Executive producer |
Acting roles[edit]
Year | Title | ||
---|---|---|---|
Role | Note | ||
1987 | Zombie High | Emmerson | |
Three O'Clock High | Hall Monitor | ||
1990 | Ski Patrol | Stanley | |
Zoo Radio | Chester Drawer | credited as Skylar Billings | |
1994 | Naked Gun33+1⁄3:The Final Insult | Oscar Audience Member | |
1995 | The TV Wheel | Various | |
Heavyweights | Tim The Camp Counselor | ||
1996 | That Thing You Do! | KMPC D.J. | |
My Fellow Americans | Reporter #2 | ||
1997 | Life Sold Separately | Clark | |
Statical Planets | Renfester | ||
2000 | Bad Dog | Messenger | Short film |
2002 | Stealing Harvard | Electrician | |
2003 | I Am David | American Man | |
2007 | Knocked Up | Fantasy Baseball Guy | |
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Different DJ | Uncredited | |
2011 | Bad Teacher | Dad at the Car Wash | |
Bridesmaids | Guy at Wedding | Uncredited | |
2013 | The Heat | Doctor | |
2015 | Spy | Drunken Guest at Paris Hotel | |
2017 | Ferdinand | Picador (voice)[41][42] | |
2018 | Song of Back and Neck | Dr. Street |
Television[edit]
Year | Title | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999–2000 | Freaks and Geeks | Yes | No | Yes | Also creator and producer; 18 episodes Episode directed: "Discos and Dragons" Episodes written:
|
2001 | Undeclared | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Oh, So You Have a Boyfriend?" |
2004–2005 | Arrested Development | Yes | No | No | Episodes: |
2005–2007 | Weeds | Yes | No | No | Episodes:
|
2005–2011 | The Office | Yes | Yes (exec.) | No | Episodes directed: |
2007 | 30 Rock | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Cleveland" |
Mad Men | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Shoot" | |
2009 | Parks and Recreation | Yes | No | No | Episode: "Pawnee Zoo" |
Bored to Death | Yes | No | No | Episodes:
| |
2009–2010 | Nurse Jackie | Yes | No | No | Episodes:
|
2012 | Ronna and Beverly | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 6 episodes |
2015 | Other Space | No | Yes (exec.) | Yes | Creator; 8 episodes Episode written: "Into the Great Beyond...Beyond" |
2018 | The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 19 episodes |
2020–2021 | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 12 episodes |
Love Life | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 10 episodes | |
2022 | Welcome to Flatch | Yes | Yes (exec.) | Yes | Episodes directed:
|
2022 | Minx | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 10 episodes |
TBA | East of La Brea | No | Yes (exec.) | No | 6 episodes |
Acting roles[edit]
Year | Title | ||
---|---|---|---|
Role | Note | ||
1986 | The Facts of Life | Ron | Episode: "The Ratings Game" |
1988–1989 | Dirty Dancing | Norman Bryant | 11 episodes |
1990 | thirtysomething | Focus Group Member | Episode: "Pulling Away" |
It's Garry Shandling's Show | Chester Bass | Episodes: "The Proposal", "The Honeymoon Show" and "Chester Gets a Show" | |
1991 | Good Sports | Leash | Episodes: "Pros and Ex-Cons", "Electricity", "The Return of Nick" and "A Class Act" |
Get a Life | Mark | Episode: "Chris Becomes a Male Escort" | |
1992 | Deep Dish TV | Unknown | Television film |
1992–1993 | The Edge | Various | 7 episodes |
The Jackie Thomas Show | Bobby Wynn | 18 episodes | |
1993 | Roseanne | Pete | Episode: "A Stash from the Past" |
1994 | The Good Life | Video Clerk | Episodes: "Paul Dates a Buddhist" and "John Takes Out Melissa" |
Hardball | Agent #1 | Episode: "Whose Strike Is It Anyway?" | |
1996 | The Louie Show | Dr. Jake Anderson | 6 episodes |
1996–1997 | Sabrina, the Teenage Witch | Mr. Eugene Pool | 26 episodes |
1997 | Men Behaving Badly | Nelson | Episode: "The Sting" |
Ellen | Peterson | Episode: "G.I. Ellen" | |
1998 | The Drew Carey Show | Worker #1 | Episode: "From the Earth to the Moon" |
1999 | Freaks and Geeks | Alexander the Guitarist | Uncredited; Episode: "I'm with the Band" |
2005 | Arrested Development | Magician | Episode: "Sword of Destiny" |
Early Bird | Unknown | Television film | |
2009 | Nurse Jackie | Mr. Spagnolo | Episode: "Monkey Bits" |
2013 | The Office | Animal Trainer | Episode: "Stairmageddon" |
2014 | Maron | Warren | Episode: "Therapy" |
Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Episode: "18 Chefs Compete" | |
2017 | 9JKL | Episode: "Pilot" | |
2018 | The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale | 14 episodes | |
2020 | Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist | Dale | Episode: "Zoey's Extraordinary Mother" |
Bibliography[edit]
- Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence(ISBN0-609-80943-1,2002)
- Superstud: Or How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin(ISBN1-4000-5175-4,2005)
- Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut!(ISBN0-316-16663-4,2008)
- Ignatius MacFarland: Frequency Freakout!(2010)
Awards and nominations[edit]
Year | Association | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2000 | 53rd Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Writing for a Comedy Series | Freaks and Geeks | Nominated | [43] |
2001 | 54th Primetime Emmy Awards | Nominated | |||
2008 | 60th Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Directing for a Comedy Series | The Office | Nominated | |
2009 | 61st Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Comedy Series | Nominated | ||
61st Directors Guild of America Awards | Outstanding Directing – Comedy Series | Won | |||
2010 | 21st Producers Guild of America Awards | Best Episodic Comedy | Nominated | ||
2014 | 16th American Comedy Awards | Best Comedy Director – Film | The Heat | Nominated | |
2017 | 59th Hugo Awards | Best Dramatic Presentation – Long Form | Ghostbusters | Nominated |
References[edit]
- ^Smith, Krista (January 5, 2012)."Paul Feig on the BridesmaidsSequel, Female Comedy, and His S.N.L. Dreams".Vanity Fair.RetrievedJanuary 28,2016.
- ^"Celebrity birthdays for the week of Sept. 12-18".AP News.The Associated Press.September 7, 2021.RetrievedAugust 21,2023.
Sept. 17:...Actor-director Paul Feig is 59.
- ^ab"The Trouble With Paul Feig".The New York Times.September 28, 2008.
- ^"Director Paul Feig is a genius at portraying awkwardness".
- ^"The Windsor Star - Google News Archive Search".
- ^Lawson, Terry (December 7, 2006). "Paul Feig Again Puts Teens in the Spotlight".The Detroit Free Press.p. 1C.
...Paul Feig, the film's Royal Oak-born, Mt. Clemens-raised director...
- ^"Michigan's Paul Feig to direct female-led 'Ghostbusters'".Detroit Free Press.Associated Press. October 9, 2014.RetrievedJanuary 23,2015.
- ^Robert, Daniel (May 4, 2006)."Interviews > Paul Feig Director Of Unaccompanied Minors".Suicidegirls.com.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
- ^Schilling, Mary Kaye (June 28, 2013)."The King of the Lady Gross-out".
- ^Bowe, John (September 26, 2008)."The Trouble With Paul Feig".The New York Times Magazine.
- ^James, Caryn(January 13, 1990)."Ski Patrol (1989) Review/Film; Meanwhile, Pops Is Back At the Lodge".The New York Times.
- ^Poniewozik, James (September 6, 2007)."The Abbott and Costello Show | All-TIME 100 TV Shows | Entertainment".TIME.com. Archived fromthe originalon September 11, 2007.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
- ^Connolly, Kelly (March 20, 2012)."The New Classics: TV | TV".Entertainment Weekly.RetrievedMarch 28,2012.
- ^Fox, Margalit (November 5, 2010)."Jill Clayburgh Dies at 66; Starred in Feminist Roles".The New York Times.
- ^"Bridesmaids (2011)".Rotten Tomatoes.May 13, 2011.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
- ^"'Bridesmaids' Effect: Why Female Comedies Are Making Comeback ".The Hollywood Reporter.June 19, 2011.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
- ^"'Bridesmaids' Breathes Life into Women's Comedy ".Third Age.Archived fromthe originalon May 19, 2011.RetrievedMay 16,2012.
- ^Ryan, Tim (June 28, 2013)."Critics Consensus: White House Down Is Predictable Action Fluff".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedAugust 27,2017.
- ^"The Heat (2013) - Box Office Mojo".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedJune 27,2013.
- ^Sneider, Jeff (June 18, 2013)."Paul Feig Developing Female James Bond Comedy 'Susan Cooper'".thewrap.com.RetrievedFebruary 21,2014.
- ^ab"'Spy' - Movie Review ".RetrievedJune 19,2015.
- ^Travers, Peter."Spy Review".Rolling Stone.RetrievedFebruary 9,2016.
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 2, 2015)."Fox Molding 'Play-Doh' Film With Paul Feig Circling; Another Hasbro Toy Brand Making Movie Transfer".Deadline.
- ^"Other Space: Season 1".Rotten Tomatoes.RetrievedApril 20,2015.
- ^"Other Space: Season 1".Metacritic.RetrievedApril 20,2015.
- ^Whitbrook, James (January 31, 2017)."It's Finally Easy to Watch Other Space, the Best Scifi Comedy You've Never Seen".io9.com.RetrievedJune 21,2019.
- ^Oller, Jacob (July 7, 2020)."WIRE Buzz: Adam Sandler's Hubie Halloween; Tenet teases Easter egg; 'Other Space' to Dust".SyFy Wire.RetrievedJuly 9,2020.
- ^Zuckerman, Esther (October 8, 2014)."Paul Feig explains his vision for a female-led 'Ghostbusters'".Entertainment Weekly.
- ^Zack Sharf (July 8, 2016)."'Ghostbusters' Reboot Added New Scene As Reaction To Internet Backlash ".IndieWire.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^Hayes, Britt (July 11, 2016)."'Ghostbusters' Haters Spam IMDb With Low Ratings ".ScreenCrush.RetrievedNovember 19,2017.
- ^Hickey, Walt (July 14, 2016)."'Ghostbusters' Is A Perfect Example Of How Internet Movie Ratings Are Broken ".FiveThirtyEight.RetrievedFebruary 8,2017.
- ^"Box Office Performance for Comedy Movies in 2016".RetrievedDecember 22,2017.
- ^Fritz, Ben (August 14, 2016)."Rising Box Office Masks Glut of Big-Budget Film Flops".The Wall Street Journal.RetrievedSeptember 1,2016.(subscription required)
- ^Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 18, 2015)."Director Jonathan Levine Circles Amy Schumer Mother-Daughter Comedy At Fox".Deadline Hollywood.RetrievedAugust 19,2015.
- ^"A Simple Favor (2018)".Box Office Mojo.RetrievedSeptember 21,2018.
- ^Steinberg, Brian (February 5, 2018)."Inside Diet Coke's Return to Super Bowl Advertising".Variety.
- ^"Last Christmas (2019)".Box Office Mojo.IMDb.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
- ^"Fox Film Team Faces Rocky Disney Future; Paul Feig Moves Label To Universal".Deadline Hollywood.March 31, 2019.
- ^Donnelly, Matt (March 21, 2019)."Paul Feig's Feigco Entertainment Jumps From Fox to First-Look Deal at Universal".Variety.RetrievedMarch 22,2019.
- ^Legaspi, Althea (August 20, 2023)."Paul Feig, Bridget Everett Pay Tribute to Lauri Carleton Who Was Killed After Hanging Pride Flag".Rolling Stone.Archived fromthe originalon August 20, 2023.RetrievedAugust 21,2023.
- ^"Why Paul Feig Won't Direct Any More Remakes".August 9, 2016.RetrievedAugust 17,2017.
- ^Anthony D'Alessandro (February 9, 2017)."Blue Sky's Bull Toon 'Ferdinand' To Lock Horns With 'Star Wars: The Last Jedi'".Variety.RetrievedAugust 17,2017.
- ^"Paul Feig – Awards – IMDb".IMDb.RetrievedJune 14,2020.
External links[edit]
- 21st-century American comedians
- 21st-century American male writers
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- American male film actors
- American male screenwriters
- American male television actors
- American male television writers
- American people of Jewish descent
- American stand-up comedians
- American television directors
- American television writers
- Comedians from Michigan
- Comedy film directors
- Directors Guild of America Award winners
- English-language film directors
- Film directors from Michigan
- Living people
- Male actors from Michigan
- People from Mount Clemens, Michigan
- People from Royal Oak, Michigan
- Screenwriters from Michigan
- Shorty Award winners
- Television producers from Michigan
- University of Southern California alumni
- Wayne State University alumni
- 1962 births