Where do we know Paul Rudd from?

From Friends to Ant-Man, here's where Team Popverse knows Paul Rudd from

Image credit: Marvel Studios

Feature by Tiffany Babb Deputy Editor

Published on March 21, 2024

Celebrities are celebrities because we know who they are, but how we know who they are varies from person to person. For some, for example, Leonardo DiCaprio will always be Jack from Titanic, but younger moviegoers might know him better as that dude from Inception with the top.

Where do we know That Dude from? is a new Popverse column that will be appearing weekly, as Team Popverse shares where they know the particular That Guy (gender neutral) in each installment from.

Our topic for this week: Paul Rudd

Chris Arrant - Late Night talk shows

Paul Rudd and Conan O'Briend on Conan show — Image credit: Conaco

I actually know Paul Rudd best not from his movies or his TV shows, but his late night talk show appearances such as on Late Night with Conan O’Brien and then The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. While I’m sure he’s a good actor, its his gregarious and hip-uncle vibes that proved to be the most endearing and memorable for me.

Tiffany Babb - Friends

Still image of Paul Rudd in Friends — Image credit: Warner Bros

I am shocked that I am the only person on this list to mention Friends. Sure, Paul Rudd wasn't in the classic comedy for that long, but with such an iconic show, it's hard to not remember him at least a bit for this role.

Trent Cannon - I Love You, Man

Paul Rudd in I Love You Man — Image credit: Dreamworks

To me, Paul Rudd will always be the awkwardly shy real estate agent in 2009's I Love You, Man. He has cringeworthy chemistry with everyone in that movie, from Jason Segel and Rashida Jones to Lou Ferrigno's extended cameo.

Grant DeArmitt - Anchorman

Paul Rudd in Anchorman — Image credit: Dreamworks

60% of the time, I think about this all the time.

Graeme McMillan - Knocked Up

Paul Rudd in Knocked Up — Image credit: Univeral Pictures

While I’d seen and enjoyed Clueless, Friends, Reno 911, and Veronica Mars – he’s Desmond Fellows! – I’m pretty sure Paul Rudd somehow flew under my radar as anything other than “that likeable jerk” until 2007’s Knocked Up, where he plays… a likeable jerk. Is likeable the wrong word for Pete in that movie? Probably, but for some reason, that was the one where I feel like I first started actually recognizing him. Call it the Judd Apatow effect.