Biography
In his public appearances, standup comedian Judah Friedlander usually wears big glasses and a trucker hat over his shaggy head of dark hair. He's one of those guys who has the decency to appear untainted by his own mediocre brand of stardom. In other words, he can play in Hollywood movies that show at major theaters, yet still maintain a safe comedic distance from slimy show business. This has mostly been accomplished by doing short scenes in smallish comedies, starting with
Meet the Parents (starring
Ben Stiller). Friedlander then did the walk-on role of no-good husband Ron in the hilarious spoof
Wet Hot American Summer. (He was the guy with sideburns to trying to win back his wife [
Molly Shannon].) Other bit parts came about in the mock documentary Endsville and the MTV movie
Spring Break Lawyer. He worked with Stiller again in
Zoolander and had a small part in the stoner comedy
How High. In 2002, he had a brief speaking role in the terrible action comedy
Showtime, starring
Eddie Murphy and
Robert De Niro. Friedlander is perhaps best known for his unforgettable portrayal of Genuine Nerd Toby Radloff in
American Splendor, the innovative documentary/biography about comic book author
Harvey Pekar. The film was a festival success and earned Friedlander a nomination for Best Supporting Actor at the Independent Spirit Awards. Television audiences may remember him as the guy who gives out hugs in the popular Dave Matthews Band video for "Everyday." He's also made numerous appearances on late-night variety shows and various sitcoms. Projects for 2004 include
Along Came Polly (starring Stiller again) and
Palindromes (directed by
Todd Solondz). ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide