Michael Rapaport(I)
- Actor
- Director
- Producer
New Yorker through and through, Michael Rapaport was born on March 20, 1970, in
Manhattan, to June Brody, a radio personality, and David Rapaport, a
radio program manager. He is of Polish Jewish and Russian Jewish
descent.
Rapaport moved to Los Angeles to try stand-up comedy following high school graduation (which came after a series of expulsions), but he never lost, forgot or deserted his New York roots. It's embedded in his work and is a major part of his low-keyed charm and ongoing appeal. His early idols were also New Yorkers (Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken,etc.).
Within a short amount of time Michael moved from the live comedy stage to working in front of a camera. The two developed an immediate rapport. A guest spot on the TV series China Beach (1988)led to a starring role in the quirky interracial indie Zebrahead (1992),which clinched it for him. This, in turn, led to a string of standout parts in films, such as Christian Slater's pal in True Romance (1993),an edgy collegiate-turned-skinhead in Higher Learning (1995)and a sympathetic none-too-bright boxer in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995),all enabling him to build up a higher profile.
In later years, Michael managed to show his ease at offbeat comedy, demonstrating a kid-like, goofy charm asLisa Kudrow's cop boyfriend for a few episodes onFriends (1994)and as teacher Danny Hanson on Boston Public (2000).
He later formed his own production company, Release Entertainment, in search of that one big breakout role that could nab top stardom for him. In later years, his offbeat character leads included an inducted mafioso inKiss Toledo Goodbye (1999);a hit man in the action comedyA Good Night to Die (2003);a comic book fanatic in the sci-fi comedySpecial (2006);a trouble-making buddy in crime dramaInside Out (2011);a man helping out his former gangster neighbor in the dramedyLast I Heard (2013);and a married guy trying to get his mojo back in the comedyMy Man Is a Loser (2014).For the most part, however, he served extremely well in support of other prominent stars with weird-to-bizarre featured roles forWoody Allenin his crime comedySmall Time Crooks (2000);forArnold Schwarzeneggerin the futuristic actioneerThe 6th Day (2000);forWill Smithin the romantic /comedyHitch (2005);forRay RomanoandKevin Jamesin the comedy crimerGrilled (2006);forBilly Bob Thorntonin the action comedyThe Baytown Outlaws (2012);forSandra BullockandMelissa McCarthyin the crime comedyThe Heat (2013);and forTom Hanksin the biopicSully (2016).
Rapaport married writerNicole Beattyin 2000 and divorced seven years later after having two children. In 2016, he married actressKebe Dunn.
Rapaport moved to Los Angeles to try stand-up comedy following high school graduation (which came after a series of expulsions), but he never lost, forgot or deserted his New York roots. It's embedded in his work and is a major part of his low-keyed charm and ongoing appeal. His early idols were also New Yorkers (Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken,etc.).
Within a short amount of time Michael moved from the live comedy stage to working in front of a camera. The two developed an immediate rapport. A guest spot on the TV series China Beach (1988)led to a starring role in the quirky interracial indie Zebrahead (1992),which clinched it for him. This, in turn, led to a string of standout parts in films, such as Christian Slater's pal in True Romance (1993),an edgy collegiate-turned-skinhead in Higher Learning (1995)and a sympathetic none-too-bright boxer in Woody Allen's Mighty Aphrodite (1995),all enabling him to build up a higher profile.
In later years, Michael managed to show his ease at offbeat comedy, demonstrating a kid-like, goofy charm asLisa Kudrow's cop boyfriend for a few episodes onFriends (1994)and as teacher Danny Hanson on Boston Public (2000).
He later formed his own production company, Release Entertainment, in search of that one big breakout role that could nab top stardom for him. In later years, his offbeat character leads included an inducted mafioso inKiss Toledo Goodbye (1999);a hit man in the action comedyA Good Night to Die (2003);a comic book fanatic in the sci-fi comedySpecial (2006);a trouble-making buddy in crime dramaInside Out (2011);a man helping out his former gangster neighbor in the dramedyLast I Heard (2013);and a married guy trying to get his mojo back in the comedyMy Man Is a Loser (2014).For the most part, however, he served extremely well in support of other prominent stars with weird-to-bizarre featured roles forWoody Allenin his crime comedySmall Time Crooks (2000);forArnold Schwarzeneggerin the futuristic actioneerThe 6th Day (2000);forWill Smithin the romantic /comedyHitch (2005);forRay RomanoandKevin Jamesin the comedy crimerGrilled (2006);forBilly Bob Thorntonin the action comedyThe Baytown Outlaws (2012);forSandra BullockandMelissa McCarthyin the crime comedyThe Heat (2013);and forTom Hanksin the biopicSully (2016).
Rapaport married writerNicole Beattyin 2000 and divorced seven years later after having two children. In 2016, he married actressKebe Dunn.
