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Quick Facts
![Paul Feig](https://pplstatic.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.comhttps://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0e/Paul_Feig_in_London.jpg)
Biography
Paul Samuel Feig (/fiːɡ/; born September 17, 1962) is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for directing films starring frequent collaborator Melissa McCarthy, including Bridesmaids (2011), The Heat (2013), Spy (2015), and Ghostbusters (2016). He also directed the black comedy mystery film A Simple Favor (2018) and the romantic comedy film Last Christmas (2019).
Feig created the comedy series Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000) and Other Space (2015). He has also directed several episodes of the U.S version of The Office, Arrested Development, Weeds and Nurse Jackie, as well as episodes of Mad Men, 30 Rock, and Parks and Recreation. He received nominations for two Primetime Emmy Awards for writing on Freaks and Geeks and three for directing on The Office.
As an actor, Feig is best known for playing Tim the Camp Counselor in the comedy film Heavyweights (1995). He also starred as Bobby Wynn in the sitcom The Jackie Thomas Show (1992–93) and as Mr. Eugene Pool on the sitcom Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996–97).
Early life
Feig was born in and raised in Mount Clemens, Michigan. His mother, Elaine Elizabeth (née Artingstall), was a telephone operator, and his father, Sanford William Feig, owned Ark Surplus on Gratiot Avenue. Feig's father was born Jewish and converted to Christian Science; Feig's parents met at a church social, and Feig was also raised in Christian Science.
Career
1986–2010: Early career, Freaks and Geeks and directorial debut
After a year at Wayne State University, Feig moved to Los Angeles, California and transferred to the University of Southern California. He also worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood, embarked on a stand-up comedy act, and landed minor roles on various television shows. Feig also appeared in a number of films, such as Ski Patrol, and in a role alongside Ben Stiller in the 1995 film Heavyweights, in which he played camp counselor Tim. On the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Feig portrayed Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher.
With Heavyweights co-scripter Judd Apatow, Feig created the short-lived comedy series Freaks and Geeks, inspired by his experiences at Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township, Michigan. The show aired on NBC during 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 Geeks has since maintained a devoted cult following. The show was named in Time magazine's 100 Greatest Shows of All Time, and in summer 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked Freaks and Geeks as the 13th best show of the past 25 years. Feig was nominated for two Emmys for writing the show's pilot and the season finale.
Feig made his directorial debut with the drama film I Am David, which premiered at the 2003 Cannes Film Festival. He later directed the Christmas comedy film Unaccompanied Minors (2006).
2011–2016: Bridesmaids and Melissa McCarthy collaborations
In 2011, Feig was consulted to direct the Apatow-produced comedy film Bridesmaids. Written by Annie Mumolo and Kristen Wiig, the plot centers on Annie (Wiig), who suffers a series of misfortunes after being asked to serve as maid of honor for her best friend, Lillian, played by Maya Rudolph. Budgeted at $32.5 million, Bridesmaids was both critically and commercially successful, eventually grossing over $288 million worldwide, and served as a touchstone for discussion about women in comedy. The film was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and received multiple other accolades, including Academy Award nominations in the Best Supporting Actress for Melissa McCarthy and Best Original Screenplay for Wiig and Mumolo.
In 2013, Feig reunited with McCarthy on buddy cop action comedy film The Heat, also starring Sandra Bullock. Directed by Feig and written by Katie 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, and was a success at the box office, grossing $229 million worldwide against a $43 million budget.
In 2015, Feig wrote, directed, and produced the spy comedy movie Spy for 20th Century Fox, again starring Melissa McCarthy. 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. It was nominated for two Golden Globe Awards: Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy for McCarthy. Also in 2015, Feig produced the animated feature The Peanuts Movie for Blue Sky Studios, based on the Peanuts comic strip and characters created by Charles M. Schulz. That same year, it was announced that Feig will direct a film adaptation of Play-Dohs for Hasbro Studios, 20th Century Fox, and Chernin Entertainment.
In 2016, Feig directed and co-wrote the female driven reboot of the Ghostbusters franchise, starring McCarthy,Kristen Wiig,Kate McKinnon, and Leslie Jones as four women who begin a ghost-catching business in New York City.The announcement of the female-led cast in 2015 drew a polarized response from the public and Internet backlash, leading to the film's IMDb page and associated YouTube videos receiving low ratings prior to the film's release. The film grossed $229 million worldwide against a production budget of $144 million, becoming the highest-grossing live-action comedy domestically of 2016. Due to its high production and marketing budget, it is considered a box office bomb.
2017–present: Snatched and A Simple Favor
In 2017, Feig produced Jonathan Levine's comedy film Snatched, starring Amy Schumer and Goldie Hawn as a mother-daughter couple who are abducted while on vacation in South America. The same year, he began production on the comedy thriller A Simple Favor. Based on the 2017 novel of the same name by Darcey Bell, it stars Anna Kendrick and Blake Lively, 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.
In 2018 Feig directed an advertisement for Diet Coke starring Hayley Magnus which was shown during the Superbowl.
In March 2019, following 20th Century Fox's acquisition by The Walt Disney Company, Feig announced he would be moving his Feigco production studio to Universal Pictures.
Personal life
Feig has been married to Laurie Karon since September 23, 1994.
Filmography
Film
Year | Film | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Director | Producer | Writer | Notes | ||
2003 | I Am David | Yes | Yes | Directorial debut | |
2006 | Unaccompanied Minors | Yes | |||
2011 | Bridesmaids | Yes | |||
2013 | The Heat | Yes | |||
2015 | Spy | Yes | Yes | Yes | |
2016 | Ghostbusters | Yes | executive | Yes | Co-written with Katie Dippold |
2018 | A Simple Favor | Yes | Yes | ||
2019 | Last Christmas | Yes | Yes | ||
TBA | Dark Army | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Producer only
- The Peanuts Movie (2015)
- Snatched (2017)
- Ferdinand (2017) (Uncredited)
- Someone Great (2019)
Acting roles
Year | Title | ||
---|---|---|---|
Role | Note | ||
1987 | Zombie High | Emmerson | |
Three O'Clock High | Hall Monitor | ||
1990 | Ski Patrol | Stanley | |
Zoo Radio | Chester Drawer | ||
1994 | Naked Gun 33⅓: 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 | Uncredited |
2015 | Spy | Drunken Guest at Paris Hotel | Uncredited |
2017 | Ferdinand | Picador | Voice role |
2018 | Song of Back and Neck | Dr. Street |
Television
Year | Film | Director | Producer | Writer | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1999 | Freaks and Geeks | Yes | Yes | Yes | Creator; Episode directed:
|
2005 | The Office | Yes | executive | Episodes directed:
| |
2004–2005 | Arrested Development | Yes | Episodes directed:
| ||
2007 | Mad Men | Yes | Episode directed:
| ||
2005–2007 | Weeds | Yes | Episodes directed:
| ||
2007 | 30 Rock | Yes | Episode directed:
| ||
2009 | Parks and Recreation | Yes | Episode directed:
| ||
Bored to Death | Yes | Episodes directed:
| |||
Nurse Jackie | Yes | Episodes directed:
| |||
2015 | Other Space | executive | Yes | Creator;
| |
2018 | The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale | executive |
Acting roles
Year | Title | ||
---|---|---|---|
Role | Note | ||
1986 | The Facts of Life | Ron | Episodes:
|
1988–1989 | Dirty Dancing | Norman Bryant | 11 episodes |
1990 | thirtysomething | Focus Group Member | Episodes:
|
It's Garry Shandling's Show | Chester Bass | Episodes:
| |
1991 | Good Sports | Leash | Episodes:
|
Get a Life | Mark | Episodes:
| |
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 | Episodes:
|
1994 | The Good Life | Video Clerk | Episodes:
|
Hardball | Agent #1 | Episodes:
| |
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:
|
Ellen | Peterson | Episode:
| |
1998 | The Drew Carey Show | Worker #1 | Episode:
|
1999 | Freaks and Geeks | Alexander the Guitarist | Uncredited; Episode:
|
2005 | Arrested Development | Magician | Episode:
|
Early Bird | Unknown | Television film | |
2009 | Nurse Jackie | Mr. Spagnolo | Episode:
|
2014 | Maron | Warren | Episode:
|
Hell's Kitchen | Himself | Episode:
| |
2018 | The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale | Himself | 14 episodes |