Judah Friedlander facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Judah Friedlander
Friedlander at The Stand in June 2016.
Born	(1969-03-16) March 16, 1969 (age 56) Gaithersburg, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University
Occupation	Actor, comedian
Years active	1989–present

Judah Friedlander (born March 16, 1969) is an American actor and stand-up comedian. He is famous for playing the role of writer Frank Rossitano on the NBC TV show 30 Rock.

Friedlander is also known for his part as Toby Radloff in the movie American Splendor. This role earned him great reviews and a nomination for best supporting actor in 2004. Earlier in his career, many people recognized him as "the hug guy" from the 2001 Dave Matthews Band music video "Everyday".

Friedlander has a special look. He often wears big glasses, has messy hair, and sports a t-shirt and a trucker hat. These hats often have funny sayings like "world champion" on them. He keeps this look for his comedy shows and most public events. He has even used it in some of his acting roles.

Early Life and Education

Judah Friedlander was born in Gaithersburg, Maryland. His father was of Russian Jewish background, and his mother was Croatian American from Pittsburgh.

When he was a child, Friedlander enjoyed drawing political cartoons. He also made his own animated films. He first tried stand-up comedy in 1989. He was 19 years old and studying at New York University at the time. Friedlander later graduated from the Gallatin School of Individualized Study.

Comedy and Acting Career

Judah Friedlander at the New York Comic Con in 2012.

Stand-Up Comedy Style

Judah Friedlander has performed stand-up comedy throughout his career. Even while working on 30 Rock, he would perform comedy several nights a week in New York City. Friedlander says that stand-up comedy is his favorite thing to do. He feels most relaxed when he is on stage telling jokes. In 2012, he said that stand-up comedy is "still the most important thing I do."

Friedlander's comedy often involves him making wild and funny claims about himself. He says these things with a straight face, which makes them even funnier. Many of these claims are written on the trucker hats he wears. The most common saying is "World Champion," which he has worn in many languages.

One of his funny claims is that he is a karate expert. He even wrote a humor book in 2010 called How to Beat Up Anybody: An Instructional and Inspirational Karate Book by the World Champion. His silly claims are funny because they are so different from his relaxed attitude and everyday appearance.

Television Roles

Judah Friedlander in October 2010.

Friedlander has appeared in many TV shows. In 1999, he played a tech worker on the show LateLine. In the 2000s, he had guest roles on shows like Spin City and Curb Your Enthusiasm. He also lent his voice to characters in animated series such as Wonder Showzen.

Judah Friedlander at the 67th Annual Peabody Awards for 30 Rock.

From 2006 to 2013, Friedlander was a main cast member on the sitcom 30 Rock. He played Frank Rossitano, a sarcastic and funny writer. Frank was known for being lazy and living with his mother. Friedlander's ever-changing, slogan-filled trucker hats became a running joke on the show. He made these hats himself and wore a different one in almost every scene.

Friedlander has also appeared on popular late-night talk shows. These include Late Night with Conan O'Brien and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. In 2010, he was in two episodes of the children's show Sesame Street. In 2014, he narrated a series for ESPN about the World Cup in Brazil. He also talks about soccer on MSNBC.

Film Appearances

In 2001, Friedlander was "the hug guy" in the Dave Matthews Band music video "Everyday". In the video, he hugs many different people. For years after, strangers would recognize him and offer him hugs! That same year, he was in the comedy movie Wet Hot American Summer.

In 2003, Friedlander played Toby Radloff in the movie American Splendor. Critics loved his performance. The New York Times called it "unforgettable." He was even nominated for an award for best supporting actor in 2004.

Friedlander has also been in movies with Ben Stiller. These include Meet the Parents, Zoolander, and Along Came Polly. He had a main role in the 2005 comedy Full Grown Men. He also had a supporting role in the 2008 drama The Wrestler. Other films he has appeared in include Duane Hopwood, Chapter 27, and Feast.

Personal Life and Hobbies

Judah Friedlander has lived in the New York City area for most of his life. He currently lives in Queens and prefers living in New York.

Friedlander loves playing table tennis. He used to play it competitively when he was a kid. He started playing again in 2008. He is also a big fan of professional wrestling. He often uses wrestling as a theme for his famous hats and shirts. He also supports the New York Red Bulls soccer team. He has attended their games and appeared in their commercials.

Awards and Nominations

See also

In Spanish: Judah Friedlander para niños