ABOUT THE CAST
PAUL RUDD (Joel)
Paul Rudd most recently starred opposite Will Ferrell, Steve Carell and David Koechner in Adam McKay’s Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues for Paramount. The film follows the original news team as they reprise their roles from Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. Anchorman 2 has grossed over $160 million worldwide so far and recently received a People’s Choice Award nomination for “Favorite Year End Movie.”
Rudd also starred opposite Emile Hirsch in David Gordon Green’s Prince Avalanche released by Magnolia Pictures. The film was adapted from the Icelandic film Either Way and premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. Additionally, David Gordon Green received the Silver Bear for “Best Director” at the Berlin Film Festival.
In 2012, Rudd starred in Judd Apatow’s This Is 40 opposite Leslie Mann for Universal Pictures. The film is an original comedy that expands on the story of Pete (Rudd) and Debbie (Mann) from Knocked Up as we see first-hand how they are dealing with their current state of life. Knocked Up grossed over $300 million worldwide and was recognized by the People’s Choice Award for “Favorite Movie Comedy,” was nominated for a Critics’ Choice Award for “Best Comedy Movie” and was named one of AFI’s Top Ten Films of the Year. Additionally, This Is 40 was nominated for a 2013 Critics’ Choice Award for “Best Comedy Movie” and Rudd was nominated for “Best Actor in a Comedy.”
Rudd’s other film credits include: Admission, Our Idiot Brother, I Love You, Man, Role Models (co-writer), The 40 Year Old Virgin, Wanderlust (producer), Dinner for Schmucks, How Do You Know, Monsters Vs. Aliens, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Ten (producer), Night at the Museum, Diggers, Reno 911, The Cider House Rules, The Object of My Affection, Wet Hot American Summer, The Chateau, Clueless, and William Shakespeare’s Romeo + Juliet, among others.
Rudd returned to the Broadway stage in Craig Wright’s Grace starring opposite Michael Shannon, Kate Arrington, and Edward Asner at the Cort Theatre. Grace was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award for “Outstanding New Broadway Play” and Rudd was nominated for a Drama League Award for “Distinguished Performance Award.” His other stage credits include starring opposite Julia Roberts and Bradley Cooper in Richard Greenberg’s Broadway production of Three Days of Rain, Neil Labute’s Bash in both New York and Los Angeles as well as Labute’s The Shape of Things in London and New York. He made his West End debut in the London production of Robin Phillips’ Long Days Journey Into Night opposite Jessica Lange. Other Broadway credits include Nicholas Hynter’s Twelfth Night at Lincoln Center Theater with a special performance which aired on PBS’ “Great Performances” and in Alfred Uhry’s Tony Award winning play, The Last Night of Ballyhoo.
On television, Rudd was the co-writer and co-creator of the critically acclaimed series Party Down on Starz. Additionally, he garnered wide recognition with a recurring role on the TV sitcom Friends as Mike Hannigan.
Rudd will next star as the title character in Marvel’s Ant-Man directed by Edgar Wright. The film also stars Michael Douglas and will be released on July 17, 2015.
AMY POEHLER (Molly)
Amy Poehler is one of Hollywood’s most versatile and sought after talents. She currently stars on the Emmy-nominated NBC comedy series Parks and Recreation, which recently began its sixth season. Her portrayal of Leslie Knope, a mid-level bureaucrat in the Parks and Recreation Department of Pawnee, Indiana, has earned her four consecutive Emmy nominations, a Golden Globe nomination and a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination. She served as co-host of the extremely well received 70th Golden Globe Awards with Tina Fey, helping earn the program a 2013 Emmy nod for “Outstanding Special Class Program.” Poehler and Fey will return as co-hosts of both the 71st Golden Globe Awards and the 72nd Golden Globe Awards in 2014 and 2015, respectively. Poehler also produces and hosts the award-winning online series “Smart Girls at the Party,” which showcases real girls who are “changing the world by being themselves.” Poehler also is working on her first, as-yet-untitled book to be published by HarperCollins’ It Books in 2014.
Poehler also has a number of film projects as well. She can most recently be seen opposite Adam Scott in A.C.O.D. and as the voice of “Jenny” in the animated comedy Free Birds. She also stars opposite Owen Wilson, and Zach Galifianakis in You Are Here. Disney also recently announced that she will star as “Joy” in Pixar’s next animated film Inside Out, set for release in 2015. Her other film credits include Baby Mama, Blades of Glory, Mean Girls, Spring Breakdown, Mr. Woodcock, Southland Tales, Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, The Ex, Wet Hot American Summer, and Envy. Her voice has been heard in Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel, Monsters vs. Aliens, Horton Hears a Who!, and box office smash hit Shrek the Third.
Poehler’s work extends beyond her roles in front of the camera. She serves as executive producer of the forthcoming scripted comedy Broad City, a series based on the web show of the same name which follows two friends as they navigate their way through life in New York City. The series will premiere on Comedy Central in 2014. Poehler also has teamed up with her brother, Greg Poehler, to form production company Syskon, which aims to develop and produce international television comedy and programming. Their first series, Welcome to Sweden, will air on NBC and will debut on Sweden’s TV4 network as their first English-language comedy.
After her much buzzed about portrayal of Senator Hillary Clinton during the 2008 Presidential Election, Poehler completed her eighth and final season of Saturday Night Live (and her fifth as the co-anchor of “Weekend Update”). Renowned as “a brilliantly inventive sketch comedian,” (Entertainment Weekly, 11/05), Poehler boasted an impressive arsenal of outrageous characters, from the hyperactive “Caitlin” and one-legged reality show contestant “Amber” to a manic host of “Good Morning Meth.” Poehler also contributed memorable impressions of Kelly Ripa, Avril Lavigne, Sharon Osbourne, Paula Abdul, Sharon Stone and Michael Jackson. That year she received her first Emmy nomination for “Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series” for her work on Saturday Night Live. Due to a change in eligibility, this was an unprecedented nomination, making her the first performer in “SNL” history to land a spot in this category. She went on to receive a second nomination in this category for her work on her final season the following year.
Poehler joined the SNL cast from the Upright Citizens Brigade, a sketch/improv troupe that she co-founded. Poehler and the U.C.B. relocated to New York where they had a sketch show on Comedy Central for three seasons on which she was both a writer and performer. In addition, they opened theaters which are currently regarded as the premiere sketch/improv comedy venues in New York City and Los Angeles. Poehler and the U.C.B. were featured in “A.S.S.S.S.C.A.T.: Improv” an improvised comedy special on Bravo.
BILL HADER (Kyle)
Originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Bill Hader joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in the 2005--2006 season and spent eight years on the show. He plays a lead role in the drama feature The Skeleton Twins, also premiering at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival. His other film credits include Superbad, Knocked Up, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Adventureland, Tropic Thunder, Pineapple Express, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian and Men in Black III.
Hader works as a creative consultant and producer on South Park and was one of the producers to win the 2009 Emmy Award for Best Animated Series. His other TV acting credits include Portlandia, The Mindy Project and Larry David's Clear History.
ELLIE KEMPER (Karen)
Ellie Kemper portrayed ‘Erin Hannon’ on the last 5 seasons of NBC's series THE OFFICE. This coming fall she will star in the new Tina Fey & Robert Carlock half-hour comedy for NBC. She will next be seen in Lynn Shelton’s film LAGGIES alongside Keira Knightley, as well as the Sony Pictures comedy SEX TAPE, directed by Jake Kasdan and starring Cameron Diaz and Jason Segel. Kemper first gained attention with her one-woman show, "Feeling Sad/Mad," at the UCB Theater. She co-starred in BRIDESMAIDS (Universal) and has also appeared in 21 JUMP STREET (Sony), IDENTITY THIEF (Universal) and SOMEWHERE (Focus Features).
COBIE SMULDERS (Tiffany)
Cobie recently starred in “The Avengers”, which grossed over 1.5 billion worldwide, opposite Robert Downey Jr., Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Mark Ruffalo, Jeremy Renner and Scarlett Johansson. In the film, she played S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Maria Hill, the second-in-command operative, alongside Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson). She will reprise her role for “Captain America Winter Soldier” which will be released by Disney on April 4, 2014 and also for “The Avengers 2.”
She recently starred in “The Delivery Man” opposite Vince Vaughn and will appear in David Wain’s “They Came Together” opposite Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler.
Her other film credits include: “Safe Haven,” “Grassroots,” “The Slammin’ Salmon” and “The Long Weekend.”
Cobie is also well known to audiences for her role as Robin Sherbatzky on CBS’s hit show “How I Met Your Mother.” The show has been nominated for an Emmy® for Outstanding Comedy Series, a People’s Choice Award for Favorite TV Comedy and a Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Show: Comedy.
Her other TV credits include a starring role on the ABC drama “Veritas,” and the critically acclaimed Showtime series "The L Word."
On stage, Cobie performed in Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron’s Off-Broadway hit, “Love, Loss, and What I Wore,” at the Westside Theatre. Directed by Karen Carpenter, the play was based on Ilene Beckerman’s 1995 book about clothes and the memories they trigger. Cobie’s other theatre credits include “Singing in the Rain,” “Grease,” and “Women and Wallace.”
A Canada native, Cobie speaks fluent French.
JASON MANTZOUKAS (Bob)
Jason Mantzoukas currently stars as the lovable psychopath Rafi on the FXX series, THE LEAGUE. He also starred opposite Sacha Baron Cohen in THE DICTATOR and has appeared on television shows such as Enlightened, Modern Family, Parks and Recreation, NTSF:SD:SUV, Bob’s Burgers and Kroll Show. He’s appeared in films such as BABY MAMA, PLEASE GIVE and the upcoming features THEY CAME TOGETHER, NEIGHBORS and SEACH PARTY.
Jason co-hosts the comedy podcast, "How Did This Get Made?” on the Earwolf Network, alongside June Diane Raphael and Paul Scheer, where the trio analyzes bad movies. One of iTunes top comedy podcasts the show was also the winner of the 2012 LA Weekly Web Award for Best Podcast.
Jason has served as a Co-EP and Consulting producer on CHILDREN’S HOSPITAL and PORTLANDIA respectively. Jason has written episodes of Children’s Hospital, The League as well as the upcoming feature RIDE ALONG, starring Ice Cube and Kevin Hart. Currently Jason developing a feature set up at Imagine which he is also attached to direct, as well as a pilot set up at Showtime, in which he will write and star.
MICHAEL IAN BLACK (Trevor)
Comedian Michael Ian Black began his career with The State, a sketch comedy troupe he co-founded at New York University in 1988, which went on to have a successful run on MTV. He recently hosted the hit TBS show, "Trust Me, I'm a Gameshow Host," and is one of three comedians on National Geographic's "Duck Quacks Don't Echo." Recent projects include the Comedy Central special, “Very Famous,” and a popular podcast with Tom Cavanagh called "Mike and Tom Eat Snacks." He's authored several books including the memoir, "You're Not Doing It Right: Tales of Marriage, Sex, Death and Other Humiliations," and "America, You Sexy Bitch" with Meghan McCain. Black co-created, wrote and starred in Comedy Central television series "Viva Variety," "Stella" and "Michael and Michael Have Issues." He's currently starring in two hit web series that have migrated to cable TV: "Burning Love" on E! and "You're Whole" on Adult Swim. Movie roles include "This is 40," cult favorite "Wet Hot American Summer," "Take Me Home Tonight" and "Reno 911!: Miami." Michael co-wrote the 2007 comedy, "Run, Fatboy, Run," directed by David Schwimmer and starring Simon Pegg and Thandie Newton. He wrote and directed the 2006 release, "Wedding Daze," starring Jason Biggs and Isla Fisher.
CHRISTOPHER MELONI (Roland)
CHRISTOPHER MELONI was last seen co-starring as Col. Nathan Hardy in the summer blockbuster, ‘Man of Steel’. He also portrayed Leo Durocher in the hit drama “42.”
Meloni next stars in “Small Time,” with Dean Norris and Bridget Moynahan due in theaters April 2014. In August, he co-stars with Josh Brolin, Bruce Willis, Jessica Alba, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Eva Green, and Mickey Rourke in “Sin City: A Dame to Kill For,” the sequel to 2005’s screen adaptation of Frank Miller's highly regarded graphic novel. He also has two additional films premiering at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival: “They Came Together,” directed by David Wain and also starring Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler, and Ed Helms; and “White Bird in a Blizzard,” based on the book of the same name by Laura Kasischke, with Shailene Woodley and Eva Green.
The Washington, D.C. native studied acting at the University of Colorado - Boulder before graduating with a degree in History. He worked in construction and as a bouncer before breaking into acting, studying his craft in New York with legendary teacher Sanford Meisner. His television breakout role was on “NYPD Blue,” opposite Kim Delaney. That led to being cast on HBO’s gritty landmark series “Oz,” playing the psychotic, bisexual serial killer, Chris Keller.
In 1999, he landed his starring role on the popular and long-running NBC series “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” with Meloni working in both series simultaneously until “Oz” ended its 6 year run in 2003. He continued on “Law & Order: SVU” for twelve seasons, earning an Emmy nomination for his performance as Detective Elliot Stabler. Meloni then returned to HBO in a pivotal arc as the head of the Vampire Authority in Alan Ball’s wildly popular drama, “True Blood.”
Meloni’s other big screen credits include the Terry Gilliam films “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas” and “Twelve Monkeys”; the Wachowskis’ first film “Bound”; the romantic comedy blockbuster “Runaway Bride,” with Richard Gere and Julia Roberts; “Nights in Rodanthe,” with Gere and Diane Lane; and such cult favorites as “Wet Hot American Summer,” “Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle,” and its first sequel, “Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay.”
Come March 2014, Meloni returns to network television starring in the comedy, ‘Surviving Jack’ on Fox.
ED HELMS (Eggbert)
Ed Helms is best known for his scene-stealing roles on both the big and small screen.
Recently to premiere at this year's Sundance Film Festival, Helms will be seen in David Wain's They Came Together co-starring Paul Rudd and Amy Poehler. The film centers around a small business owner is about to lose her shop to a major corporate development
Also upcoming, Helms will be seen in the Joe Carnahan directed Stretch opposite Chris Pine and Jessica Alba. This comedy thriller follows a working chauffeur who takes a job for a billionaire who makes his life hell. Universal is set release the film March 21, 2014.
Helms will soon start production on the classic slap stick comedy reboot Naked Gun as the staring role of "Frank Drebin." The Paramount production will follow the continuing misadventures of Detective Frank Drebin.
In 2013 Helms launched his production company, Pacific Electric Picture, Co. with Universal TV. In addition to Helms involvement, Mike Falbo is on board as Executive Vice President of Production and Development. Under the Pacific Electric Picture Co. umbrella, Helms will serve as executive produce on the hit online series Jake & Amir for TBS. The comedy is based on College Humor’s most popular and longest-running series by comedy duo Amir Blumenfeld and Jake Hurwitz.
Last fall Helms was seen in the YAHOO! web series Tiny Commando which he created, produced and stars in. Others in the series include Zachary Levi and Gillian Jacobs. Helms also reprised his role of "Stu" in the third installment of The Hangover, where he starred opposite Bradley Cooper and Zach Galifianakis. The first two Hangover films have grossed over $1 billion worldwide and won the 2010 Golden Globe for Best Motion Picture Comedy or Musical.
On television, Helms starred in the scene-stealing role of Andy Bernard in NBC's hit comedy The Office. His other television credits include a four-year stint as a Senior Correspondent and writer on the Emmy Award®-winning The Daily Show With Jon Stewart, Comedy Central's Premium Blend and Fox's Arrested Development.
Additional film credits include We're The Millers, The Lorax based on the famous Dr. Seuss children's book, the Duplass brothers' Jeff, Who Lives At Home, Miguel Arteta's Cedar Rapids, Shawn Levy's Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, The Goods, Semi-Pro, Knocked Up, Meet Dave, Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, Walk Hard, and Evan Almighty.
Born and raised in Atlanta, GA, Helms headed to New York City to pursue comedy shortly after attending Oberlin College in Ohio. He now resides in Los Angeles and plays a mean banjo.
JACK MCBRAYER (Oliver)
Jack McBrayer is an Emmy® nominee for portraying Kenneth Parcell on the multi-award winning and critically acclaimed series “30 Rock” for NBC. He starred in “Forgetting Sarah Marshall” opposite Jason Segel, directed by Nicholas Stoller and produced by Judd Apatow for Universal. He also appeared opposite Will Ferrell in “Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby,” directed and written by Adam McKay and produced by Judd Apatow for Columbia Pictures. He also played opposite Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis in “The Campaign” directed by Jay Roach for Warner Bros as well as opposite Bill Hader in “The To Do List,” for CBS Films and “They Came Together” opposite Paul Rudd, directed by David Wain for Lionsgate .
Jack can most recently be heard voicing the lead role of Fix-It Felix in “Wreck-It Ralph,” the Rich Moore directed and John Lasseter produced animated film for Disney. His other animated film voice credits include “Despicable Me,” for Universal, The Simpsons on Fox and Archer on FX.
KENAN THOMPSON (Teddy)
Kenan Thompson returns for his eleventh season on “Saturday Night Live.”
Thompson has made numerous contributions to the show with his catalog of hilarious impressions that include Bill Cosby, Rev. Al Sharpton, Charles Barkley, CeeLo Green and Whoopi Goldberg, and by playing memorable characters such as "DJ Dynasty Handbag," the scathingly fierce co-host of "Deep House Dish," boisterous second wife "Virginiaca Hastings," and Weekend Update correspondent "Jean K. Jean." Thompson has most recently garnered praise from audiences for playing characters "Lorenzo McIntosh," a convict who uses "scare tactics" with delinquents, and "D’Andre Cole," the disruptive singing talk show host on the wildly popular sketch, "What Up With That."
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Thompson made his television debut as a member of Nickelodeon’s all-kid sketch comedy series "All That." He and his partner Kel Mitchell debuted in a spin-off show "Kenan and Kel" in 1996. Thompson also had a recurring role on the WB’s "Felicity."
Thompson recently showcased his voice talents as "Greedy Smurf" in the animated films "The Smurfs" and “The Smurfs 2” and appeared in Rob Reiner’s film "The Magic of Belle Island" with Morgan Freeman. He co-stars alongside Paul Rudd, Amy Poehler and Ed Helms in the upcoming Lionsgate feature film “They Came Together.” His past projects include starring opposite Samuel L. Jackson in "Snakes on a Plane" and the comedy "Wieners." Thompson has also lent his voice to the animated "Space Chimps," the television series "Sit Down, Shut Up," as well as the Kobe/LeBron Nike puppet campaign during the 2009 NBA Playoffs. Other feature film credits include "Fat Albert," "D2: The Mighty Ducks," "Good Burger" "Rocky & Bullwinkle," "Heavyweights" with Ben Stiller, "The Boss’ Daughter" with Ashton Kutcher and "Barbershop 2."
Thompson can also be heard as the Impresario in the HULU original animated series “The Awesomes,” created by fellow “SNL” cast member Seth Meyers.
Thompson lives in Florida and New York City. His birthday is May 10.
KEN MARINO (Tommy)
Ken Marino recently starred in the independent feature BAD MILO for the Duplass Brothers as well as Lake Bell’s IN A WORLD, and recently appeared in a recurring role on the final season of HBO’s EASTBOUND AND DOWN opposite Danny McBride. He also appeared in the fifth season of Adult Swim's CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, in which he stars opposite Rob Corddry and Rob Huebel, and will next be seen on CBS’ BAD TEACHER and ABC’s TROPHY WIFE. He starred opposite Lizzy Caplan, Adam Scott, Martin Starr, and Ryan Hansen on Starz's PARTY DOWN. He recurred on ABC’s IN THE MOTHERHOOD, CW’s REAPER, and VERONICA MARS. Other television credits include: CBS’ upcoming BAD TEACHER, the ABC pilot AMERICAN JUDY, HAPPY ENDINGS, THE EXES, WHITNEY, CBS pilot HOME GAME, CSI: MIAMI, RENO 911!, GREY’S ANATOMY, and MONK. On the feature side, he is can be seen in Universal’s WANDERLUST which he wrote, and starred opposite Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd. Ken appeared in Universal’s ROLE MODELS playing opposite Paul Rudd and Seann William Scott.
MAX GREENFIELD
Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actor, Max Greenfield , stars as scene-stealing “Schmidt,” the womanizer with a heart of gold, on FOX’s Golden Globe® nominated and critically acclaimed new series New Girl. TV GUIDE hails, “Greenfield has proven to be a stealth scene-stealer… It's thanks to Greenfield's lovable (but not cutesy) performance that keeps Schmidt endearing." Greenfield earned a 2012 Emmy nomination as well as a 2013 Golden Globe nomination for his role. Additionally, Greenfield received a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination in the “Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series” category as well as a Teen Choice Awards nomination for “Choice TV Male Scene Stealer” for his work on the show. In addition New Girl received a Critics’ Choice nomination for “Best Comedy Series,” a Television Critics Association Award nomination for “Outstanding New Program,” and a Teen Choice Award nomination for “Choice TV Breakout Show.” The show is currently in production on its third season.
Greenfield will next be seen in the romantic comedy parody, They Came Together, directed and written by David Wain. Lionsgate produced the film co-written by Wain and Michael Showalter, which is premiering at Sundance 2014. Co-starring with Amy Poehler and Paul Rudd, Greenfield plays the wayward couch surfing younger brother of Rudd’s character. He will also be seen in the indie film, About Alex, written and directed by Jesse Zwick and executive produced by Edward Zwick, which is premiering at Tribeca Film Festival 2014. Featuring a stellar ensemble cast that includes Jason Ritter, Maggie Grace, Aubrey Plaza, Max Minghella, Jane Levy and others, Greenfield plays the role of “Josh,” the darkly comic, hyper-articulate bachelor, who is too smart for his own good and operates as the group provocateur.
Prior to his breakout role on New Girl, Greenfield had several recurring roles in television. Greenfield starred as “Nick Pepper” in ABC’s award-winning comedy series Ugly Betty opposite America Ferrera and was also seen in The CW’s critically acclaimed mystery series Veronica Mars as “Leo D’Amato” opposite Kristen Bell. Greenfield also appeared in the ABC Family series Greek, where he played a professor’s aide who sparks a relationship with a college student resulting in the first gay kiss ever seen on the family network. In addition, Greenfield was seen in the lead role of the WB comedy series Modern Men. Throughout his recurring roles on prominent series, Greenfield has also appeared in guest-starring roles on shows such as, Happy Endings, Hot in Cleveland, Lie to Me, Castle, Raising the Bar, Melrose Place, The OC, Sleeper Cell, Gilmore Girls, and Boston Public.
Greenfield’s film credits include the indie coming-of-age film Cross Bronx which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and won the Audience Award at both the Cinevegas and Urban World festivals; and When Do We Eat, in which he played a young dotcom tycoon who loses everything and becomes a Hasidic Jew.
Greenfield brought his passion for producing to the small screen in 2011 with The Gentlemen’s League. The series followed Greenfield and friend Jerry Ferrara in their real life fantasy football league. Greenfield created and starred in the Direct TV Channel 101 series.
Greenfield was born and raised in New York and he currently resides in Los Angeles.