Judd Apatow facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Judd Apatow
|
|
|---|---|
Apatow in 2024
|
|
| Born | December 6, 1967 New York City, U.S.
|
| Alma mater | University of Southern California |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1985–present |
|
Notable work
|
The 40-Year-Old Virgin Knocked Up Funny People This Is 40 Trainwreck The King of Staten Island The Bubble |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children |
|
Judd Apatow (born December 6, 1967) is an American director, producer, writer, and comedian. He is famous for creating many popular comedy movies and TV shows. He founded a company called Apatow Productions, which he used to make his films.
Some of his most famous movies that he directed, wrote, and produced include The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), Knocked Up (2007), Funny People (2009), This Is 40 (2012), and Trainwreck (2015).
Apatow has also produced many other hit movies. These include Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Superbad (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), and Bridesmaids (2011). He also helped create TV shows like Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. For his work, he has won many awards, including three Primetime Emmy Awards.
Contents
Early Life and School
Judd Apatow was born in Queens, a part of New York City. He grew up in Syosset, New York, on Long Island. His family is Jewish but not very religious. He has an older brother, Robert, and a younger sister, Mia.
When Apatow was 12, his parents divorced. He lived mostly with his father. His mother worked at a comedy club for a summer. This was where Judd first saw live stand-up comedy and became very interested in it. His comedy heroes were stars like Steve Martin and the Marx Brothers.
In high school, he started a radio show called Comedy Club. He used the show to interview famous comedians like Jerry Seinfeld and Garry Shandling. This helped him learn a lot about comedy.
Career Beginnings
Stand-Up and Early TV Work
Apatow started performing stand-up comedy when he was 17. After high school, he moved to Los Angeles and studied screenwriting at the University of Southern California. He dropped out after two years to focus on his comedy career. He even shared an apartment with future movie star Adam Sandler.
Apatow began writing for famous comedians like Garry Shandling. In 1992, he co-created the TV show The Ben Stiller Show. Even though the show won an Emmy Award for its writing, it was canceled after one season.
He then worked as a writer and producer on the popular show The Larry Sanders Show. Apatow says Garry Shandling was a great mentor who taught him how to write comedy based on interesting characters.
Creating His Own Shows
In 1999, Apatow was the executive producer for the TV series Freaks and Geeks. He also wrote and directed some episodes. The show was about a group of high school students in the 1980s. Many people loved it, but it was also canceled after one season.
He then created another show called Undeclared, which was about college students. It featured many of the same actors from Freaks and Geeks, like Seth Rogen. Like his previous shows, it was praised by critics but didn't stay on TV for long.
Breakthrough in Movies
From Producer to Director
In 2004, Apatow produced the hit comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, starring Will Ferrell. The movie was a big success. This helped him get the chance to direct his own movie.
In 2005, he directed his first film, The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He co-wrote it with the star of the movie, Steve Carell. The film was a huge hit and made Apatow a famous name in comedy.
His next movie as a director was Knocked Up in 2007. It was about a couple who have a surprise pregnancy after a brief relationship. The movie was loved by both critics and audiences.
Producing More Comedy Hits
Apatow also continued to produce movies for other writers and directors. In 2007, he produced Superbad, which was written by his friends Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg. The movie was a big success and showed that Apatow had a talent for making funny movies for older teens and adults.
He produced many other popular comedies around this time. These included Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Step Brothers, and Pineapple Express. He often worked with the same group of actors, like Seth Rogen, Jonah Hill, and Paul Rudd.
Established Director and Producer
Exploring New Ideas
In 2009, Apatow directed Funny People, starring Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen. This movie was a comedy but also had more serious and dramatic parts than his other films. It was about a famous comedian who learns he has a serious illness.
In 2011, he produced the movie Bridesmaids. The film was a massive success and was nominated for two Academy Awards. It showed that a comedy led by female actors could be a huge box office hit.
Apatow also returned to television. He helped Lena Dunham create the HBO series Girls, which ran from 2012 to 2017. The show was known for its realistic and sometimes controversial look at the lives of young women in New York City.
Recent Work
Apatow's fourth movie as a director was This Is 40 (2012). It was a spin-off from Knocked Up and starred Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann as the same characters from that film.
In 2015, he directed Trainwreck, written by and starring comedian Amy Schumer. The movie was another big hit.
He has also directed documentaries. In 2018, he made The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling, a film about the life of his friend and mentor. He won an Emmy Award for this documentary. His most recent film as a director was The King of Staten Island (2020), starring Pete Davidson.
Personal Life
Apatow met actress Leslie Mann while working on the movie The Cable Guy in 1996. They got married in 1997 and have two daughters, Maude and Iris, who are also actresses.
His family often appears in his movies. Leslie Mann has been in many of his films, including Knocked Up and This Is 40. His daughters played the children of Leslie Mann's characters in Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40.
Helping Others
Apatow does a lot of work for charity. He supports organizations that help children with reading and those that research childhood cancer. He has also been a strong supporter of women in Hollywood and has received awards for his advocacy.
He often performs stand-up comedy at shows to raise money for different charities.
Images for kids
-
Apatow and his family
.jpg)
See also
In Spanish: Judd Apatow para niños
