Michael Rapaport

A true New Yorker through and through, 'Michael Rapaport' (qv) was born on March 20, 1970, in Manhattan, to June Brody, a radio personality, and David Rapaport, a radio program manager. He is of Polish Jewish and Russian Jewish descent.Rapaport moved to Los Angeles to try stand-up comedy following high school graduation (which came after a series of expulsions), but he never lost, forgot or deserted his New York roots. It's embedded in his work and is a major part of his low-keyed charm and ongoing appeal. His early idols were also New Yorkers ('Robert De Niro' (qv), 'Christopher Walken' (qv), etc.).Within a short amount of time Michael moved from the live comedy stage to working in front of a camera. The two developed an immediate rapport. A guest spot on the TV series _China Beach (1988)_ (qv) led to a starring role in the quirky interracial indie _Zebrahead (1992)_ (qv), which clinched it for him. This, in turn, led to a string of standout parts in films, such as 'Christian Slater' (qv)'s pal in _True Romance (1993)_ (qv), an edgy collegiate-turned-skinhead in _Higher Learning (1995)_ (qv) and a sympathetic none-too-bright boxer in 'Woody Allen' (qv)'s _Mighty Aphrodite (1995)_ (qv), all enabling him to build up a higher profile.In later years, Michael managed to show his ease at offbeat comedy, demonstrating a kid-like, goofy charm as 'Lisa Kudrow' (qv)'s cop boyfriend for a few episodes on _Friends (1994)_ (qv) and as teacher Danny Hanson on _Boston Public (2000)_ (qv).He later formed his own production company, Release Entertainment, in search of that one big breakout role that could nab top stardom for him. In later years, his offbeat character leads included an inducted mafioso in _Kiss Toledo Goodbye (1999)_ (qv); a hit man in the action comedy _A Good Night to Die (2003)_ (qv); a comic book fanatic in the sci-fi comedy _Special (2006)_ (qv); a trouble-making buddy in crime drama _Inside Out (2011)_ (qv); a man helping out his former gangster neighbor in the dramedy _Once Upon a Time in Queens (2013)_ (qv); and a married guy trying to get his mojo back in the comedy _My Man Is a Loser (2014)_ (qv). For the most part, however, he served extremely well in support of other prominent stars with weird-to-bizarre featured roles for 'Woody Allen' (qv) in his crime comedy _Small Time Crooks (2000)_ (qv); for 'Arnold Schwarzenegger' (qv) in the futuristic actioneer _The 6th Day (2000)_ (qv); for 'Will Smith' (qv) in the romantic /comedy _Hitch (2005)_ (qv); for 'Ray Romano' (qv) and 'Kevin James' (qv) in the comedy crimer _Grilled (2006)_ (qv); for 'Billy Bob Thornton' (qv) in the action comedy _The Baytown Outlaws (2012)_ (qv); for 'Sandra Bullock' (qv) and 'Melissa McCarthy' (qv) in the crime comedy _The Heat (2013)_ (qv); and for 'Tom Hanks' (qv) in the biopic _Sully (2016)_ (qv).Rapaport married writer 'Nicole Beatty' (qv) in 2000 and divorced seven years later after having two children. In 2016, he married actress 'Kebe Dunn' (qv).::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]