PAUL REISER
Date of Birth: March 30, 1957
Born in New York, Paul Reiser's life and success came relatively stress-free. The son of a
successful health-food wholesaler, his family lived in Manhattan where Reiser attended the
prestigious Stuyvesant High School. After graduation, he majored in music at the State
University of New York at Binghamton.
Having dreamed about being a comedian since childhood, Reiser dabbled in New York's
stand-upcomedy scene for a while like most great comedians start their career. But he
was not yet sure that comedy was what he wanted to do, so he began to take over
his father's wholesale health food business when it came down to making a living. Realizing
that he would regret it he didn't give comedy a shot, he decided to do just that.
He began to travel the comedy circuit and in 1980, in one of those tales that take on
apocryphal portions, he went with a friend dropping off a photo at a casting office. A
secretary thought Reiser perfect for a role the company was trying to fill, and arranged
an interview with Barry Levinson, who cast him as Modell in the film Diner.
More film roles followed in Aliens and Beverly Hills Cop II, among others, and, in 1987,
he was cast as Michael Taylor in the My Two Dads television series, which ran for three
years. When that ended, he began to develop Mad About You, which he described as
thirtysomething "only shorter and funnier." NBC approved the concept, subject to
casting. Reiser wanted Helen Hunt for his TV wife from the get-go.
The semi-autobiographical show was a success that made him famous in Hollywood and
won several Emmys. Involved with the show as creator, co-producer, until it ended in
1999, Reiser branched out with headlining roles in movies (Bye Bye Love and Mr. Write),
supporting roles (The Story of Us) and the fluffy best-sellers, Couplehood and Babyhood.
And he still gets together for lunch with old pals Seinfeld, Larry Miller, and Mark
Schiff every New Year's Day at New York's River Café.
He is married to Paula Reiser, who is a psychotherapist, with whom he shares a son, Ezra Samuel.
Filmography:
One Night at McCool's (2000)
The Story of Us (1999)
Get Bruce (1999)
Bye Bye, Love (1995)
Mr. Write (1994)
Family Prayers (1993)
3 1/2 Blocks from Home (1992)
The Marrying Man (1991)
Crazy People (1990)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
Cross My Heart (1987)
Aliens (1986)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
Odd Jobs (1984)
Diner (1982)