Paul Feig

Paul Feig

Feig at a special Chicago Public Radio screening of Unaccompanied Minors, 2006
Born September 17, 1962
Mount Clemens, Michigan, U.S.
Occupation Actor, writer, film director
Years active 1980–present
Spouse(s) Laurie Karon (1994–)

Paul S. Feig (born September 17, 1962) is an American director, actor and author. Feig directed the Oscar nominated 2011 film Bridesmaids featuring Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy. Feig also directed the film The Heat also starring McCarthy, and Sandra Bullock. He created the critically acclaimed show Freaks and Geeks and has directed several episodes of The Office and Arrested Development; plus select episodes of 30 Rock, Parks and Recreation, Mad Men and other television series. Feig has been nominated for two Emmy Awards for writing on Freaks and Geeks and three for directing on The Office. He is also known for playing Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher, on the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, as well as Tim, a camp counselor, in the film Heavyweights.

Life and career

Feig was born in and raised in Mount Clemens, Michigan.[1] His mother, Elaine Elizabeth (née Artingstall), was a telephone operator, and his father, Sanford William Feig, owned Ark Surplus on Gratiot Avenue.[2][3][4] Feig's father was born Jewish and converted to Christianity; Feig's parents met at a church social, and Feig was raised in Christian Science.[2][5][6]

After a year at Wayne State University, Feig moved to Los Angeles, California and transferred to the University of Southern California. He also worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood, embarked on a stand-up comedy act, and landed minor roles on various television shows.[7] Feig also appeared in several films, including a role alongside good friend Ben Stiller in the 1995 film Heavyweights, in which he played camp counselor Tim. On the first season of Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, Feig portrayed Mr. Eugene Pool, Sabrina's science teacher.

With Heavyweights co-scripter Judd Apatow, Feig created the short-lived dramedy series Freaks and Geeks, inspired by his experiences at Chippewa Valley High School in Clinton Township, Michigan. The show aired on NBC during the 1999–2000 television season. Eighteen episodes were completed, but the series was canceled after only twelve had aired. Despite the short run, Freaks and Geeks has since maintained a devoted cult following. The show was named in Time magazine's 100 Greatest Shows of All Time,[8] and in summer 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked Freaks and Geeks as the 13th best show of the past 25 years.[9] Feig was nominated for two Emmys for writing the show's pilot and the season finale.

In June 2013 it was announced that Feig will be developing a female spy comedy movie titled Susan Cooper later retitled Spy for 20th Century Fox, which he'll write and direct.[10]

On March 17, 2014, It was announced that Feig would produce the upcoming animated feature, Peanuts for Blue Sky Studios, based on the Peanuts comic strip and characters created by Charles M. Schulz.

On June 24th, 2014, it was announced that Feig will also be directing a film with Melissa McCarthy called Just Do It. The film is about a wife determined to repair her and her husband's marriage via 100 days of continuous sex. The film will be written by McCarthy and her husband Ben Falcone.[11]

Feig will be directing the third installment of the Ghostbusters franchise.[12]

Feig has been married to Laurie Karon since 1994.

Filmography

Film

Year Film Actor Director Producer Writer Notes
1987 Zombie High Yes Emmerson
1987 Three O'Clock High Yes Hall Monitor
1990 Ski Patrol Yes Stanley
1992 Deep Dish TV Yes
1995 Naked Gun 33⅓: The Final Insult Yes Oscar Audience Member
1995 The TV Wheel Yes Various
1995 Heavyweights Yes Tim The Guidance Counselor
1996 That Thing You Do! Yes KMPC D.J.
1996 My Fellow Americans Yes Reporter #2
1997 Life Sold Separately Yes
1997 Statical Planets Yes
2000 Bad Dog Yes
2002 Stealing Harvard Yes Electrician
2003 I Am David Yes Yes Yes American Man
2006 Unaccompanied Minors Yes
2007 Knocked Up Yes Fantasy Baseball Guy
2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Yes Different DJ (Uncredited)
2011 Bad Teacher Yes Dad at Car Wash
2011 Bridesmaids Yes Yes Guy at wedding (Uncredited)
2013 The Heat Yes Yes Doctor (Uncredited)
2015 Spy Yes Yes Yes
2015 The Peanuts Movie Yes
2016 Ghostbusters reboot Yes Yes

Television

Year Film Actor Director Producer Writer Notes
1986 The Facts of Life Yes *"The Ratings Game"

Ron

1988 - 1989 Dirty Dancing Yes As Norman Bryant

11 Episodes

1990 thirtysomething Yes As Focus Group Member
  • "Pulling Away"
1990 It's Garry Shandling's Show Yes As Chester Bass
  • "The Proposal"
  • "The Honeymoon Show"
  • "Chester Gets a Show"
1991 Good Sports Yes As Leash
  • "Pros and Ex-Cons"
  • "Electricity"
  • "The Return of Nick"
  • "A Class Act"
1991 Get a Life Yes As Mark
  • "Chris Becomes a Male Escort"
1992 - 1993 The Edge Yes As Various Characters

7 Episodes

1992 - 1993 The Jackie Thomas Show Yes As Bobby Wynn

18 Episodes

1993 Roseanne Yes As Pete
  • "A Stash from the Past"
1994 The Good Life Yes As Video Clerk
  • "Paul Dates a Buddhist"
  • "John Takes Out Melissa"
1994 Hardball Yes As Agent #1
  • "Whose Strike Is It Anyway?"
1996 The Louie Show Yes As Dr. Jake Anderson

6 Episodes

1996 - 1997 Sabrina, the Teenage Witch Yes As Mr. Eugene Pool

26 Episodes

1997 Men Behaving Badly Yes As Nelson
  • "The Sting"
1997 Ellen Yes As Peterson
  • "G.I. Ellen"
1998 The Drew Carey Show Yes Worker #1
  • "From the Earth to the Moon"
1999 Freaks and Geeks Yes Yes Yes Yes As Alexander The Guitarist(Uncredited)
  • "I'm With The Band"
2005 The Office Yes Yes Directed Episodes:
2004 & 2005 Arrested Development Yes Yes As Magician in "Sword of Destiny"

Directed Episodes:

  • "Whistler's Mother"
  • "Let 'Em Eat Cake"
  • "Switch Hitter"
  • "Burning Love"
  • "Ready, Aim, Marry Me"
  • "The Cabin Show"
  • "The Ocean Walker"
2007 Mad Men Yes Directed Episodes:
2005 & 2007 Weeds Yes Episodes Directed:
  • "Risk"
  • "He Taught Me How to Drive By"
  • "The Punishment Lighter"
2007 30 Rock Yes Episodes Directed:
2009 Parks and Recreation Yes Episodes Directed:
2009 Bored to Death Yes Episodes Directed:
  • "Take a Dive"
  • "The Case of the Lonely White Dove"
2009 Nurse Jackie Yes Yes As Mr. Spagnolo in *"Monkey Bits"

Episodes Directed:

  • "Nose Bleed"
  • "Ring Finger"
  • "Comfort Food"
  • "Twitter"
  • "Candyland"
  • "Apple Bong"
  • "Caregiver"
  • "Bleeding"
  • "Silly String"
  • "Monkey Bits"
  • "P.O. Box"
  • "Sleeping Dogs"
  • "What the Day Brings"
  • "Years of Service"
  • "The Case of the Lonely White Dove"
2014 Maron Yes As Warren in *"Therapy"
2015 Other Space Yes Yes

Episodes Written:

  • "Into the Great Beyond...Beyond"

Bibliography

References

  1. ↑ Associated Press (October 9, 2014). "Michigan's Paul Feig to direct female-led 'Ghostbusters'". Detroit Free Press. Retrieved January 23, 2015.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 The New York Times
  3. ↑ Daily Tribune
  4. ↑ The Windsor Star
  5. ↑ Robert, Daniel (2006-05-04). "Interviews > Paul Feig Director Of Unaccompanied Minors". Suicidegirls.com. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  6. ↑ Grantland
  7. ↑ Bowe, John (September 26, 2008). "The Trouble With Paul Feig". The New York Times Magazine.
  8. ↑ Poniewozik, James (2007-09-06). "The Abbott and Costello Show | All-TIME 100 TV Shows | Entertainment". TIME.com. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  9. ↑ "The New Classics: TV | TV". EW.com. 2012-03-20. Retrieved 2012-03-28.
  10. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (18 June 2013). "Paul Feig Developing Female James Bond Comedy 'Susan Cooper'". thewrap.com. Retrieved 21 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Evans, Bradford (24 June 2014). "Melissa McCarthy Shares Details on Her Upcoming Movies 'Michelle Darnell' and 'Just Do It'". Retrieved 1 August 2014.
  12. ↑ Zuckerman, Esther (10/8/14). "'Paul Feig explains his vision for a female-led 'Ghostbusters'". http://www.ew.com/. Retrieved 2/17/15. Check date values in: |date=, |accessdate= (help)

External links