Michael Rapaport facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Michael Rapaport
Rapaport in 2013
Born	Michael David Rapaport (1970-03-20) March 20, 1970 (age 55) New York City, U.S.
Occupation	Actor director podcast host comedian
Years active	1990–present
Spouse(s)	Nichole Beattie ​ ​ (m. 2000; div. 2007)​ Kebe Dunn ​ (m. 2016)​
Children	2
Relatives	Claudia Lonow (half-sister)

Michael David Rapaport (born March 20, 1970) is an American actor, comedian, and podcast host. He started his career in the early 1990s and has been in over 100 movies and TV shows.

Some of his famous movies include Zebrahead (1992), True Romance (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Deep Blue Sea (1999), and The Heat (2013).

On television, he starred in the comedy show The War at Home from 2005 to 2007. He was also a regular actor on the shows Boston Public and Prison Break. More recently, he was in the Netflix show Atypical from 2017 to 2021. He also had memorable roles on popular shows like Friends and Justified.

Besides acting, Rapaport directed a documentary in 2011 called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest. It's about the famous hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. He also hosts his own podcast, the I Am Rapaport Stereo Podcast.

Early Life and School

Michael Rapaport was born in New York City. His mother, June Brody, was a radio personality, and his father, David Rapaport, was a radio executive. He grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan. His family is Ashkenazi Jewish, with roots in Poland and Russia.

Rapaport found school challenging. He was expelled from one high school but later graduated from Martin Luther King High School in Manhattan.

Career Journey

Starting in Comedy and Acting

When he was 19, Rapaport moved to Los Angeles to become a stand-up comedian. His stepfather, Mark Lonow, co-owned a famous comedy club called The Improv and helped him get started. After three years of doing stand-up, Rapaport got his first big acting role in the TV series China Beach.

Famous Roles on TV and in Movies

Rapaport has played many different characters. He was a main character in the fourth season of Prison Break as Agent Don Self. He also had a recurring role in My Name Is Earl as Frank, an old friend of the main character.

In the TV series Justified, he played the villain Daryl Crowe Jr. He has also appeared in many other shows, including Friends, where he played a police officer who dated Phoebe Buffay.

Directing and Sports

In 2011, Rapaport directed a documentary about the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest. The film, called Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of A Tribe Called Quest, was well-received by critics.

Rapaport is a big sports fan. In 2010, he played in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game and was named the MVP (Most Valuable Player). He also directed a film for ESPN's 30 for 30 series about the 1970s New York Knicks basketball team. He is also a reporter for the Big3 basketball league.

Podcasting and Recent Work

Rapaport hosts the popular I Am Rapaport Stereo Podcast. He has been a guest on many other podcasts, sharing his opinions on sports, movies, and pop culture.

In 2023, he competed on the TV show The Masked Singer as a character named "Pickle." He is also the narrator for the WWE 365 series on the WWE Network.

Personal Life

In 2000, Rapaport married writer and producer Nichole Beattie. They have two sons together. The couple divorced in 2007. In 2016, he married actress Kebe Dunn.

In 2018, while on a flight, Rapaport helped stop a passenger from trying to open an emergency door.

Advocacy and Views

After the October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, Rapaport became a strong supporter of Israel. He has spoken out about his views and has encouraged others to be proud of their support for the country.

He has visited Israel several times to show his support and has spoken at rallies. He also appeared on an Israeli comedy show to talk about his experiences. Rapaport has said that his strong opinions have affected his acting career, but he does not regret speaking up for what he believes in.

Selected Film and TV Roles

Michael Rapaport has been in a large number of movies and television shows. Here are some of his most well-known roles.

Film Highlights

• Zebrahead (1992)
• True Romance (1993)
• Higher Learning (1995)
• Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
• Beautiful Girls (1996)
• Cop Land (1997)
• Deep Blue Sea (1999)
• Men of Honor (2000)
• The 6th Day (2000)
• Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) - as the voice of Joey the Raccoon
• Hitch (2005)
• Big Fan (2009)
• The Heat (2013)
• Sully (2016)
• Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life (2016)

Television Highlights

• Friends (1999) - as Gary
• Boston Public (2001–2004) - as Danny Hanson
• The War at Home (2005–2007) - as Dave Gold
• My Name Is Earl (2007–2008) - as Frank Stump
• Prison Break (2008–2009) - as Don Self
• Justified (2014) - as Daryl Crowe Jr.
• The Big Bang Theory (2015) - as Kenny Fitzgerald
• Atypical (2017–2021) - as Doug Gardner
• Only Murders in the Building (2022) - as Detective Kreps
• Fallout (2024) - as Knight Titus

See also

In Spanish: Michael Rapaport para niños