Paul Feig Biography

Paul S. Feig (born September 17, 1962) is an American director, actor and author. Feig directed the blockbuster Oscar nominated 2011 film Bridesmaids featuring Kristen Wiig. 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. His mother, Elaine Elizabeth (née Artingstall), was a telephone operator, and his father, Sanford William Feig, owned an army-surplus store. 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.

After a year at Wayne State University, Feig moved to Los Angeles, where he studied at USC, worked as a tour guide at Universal Studios Hollywood, embarked on a stand-up comedy act, and landed minor roles on various television shows. 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 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, and in summer 2008, Entertainment Weekly ranked Freaks and Geeks as the 13th best show of the past 25 years. Feig was nominated for two Emmys for writing the show's pilot and the season finale.

Feig has been married to Laurie Karon since 1994.

Director credits

Television

• The Office (television)
  • "Office Olympics"
  • "Halloween"
  • "Performance Review"
  • "E-mail Surveillance"
  • "Survivor Man"
  • "Dinner Party"
  • "Goodbye, Toby"
  • "Weight Loss"
  • "The Surplus"
  • "Moroccan Christmas"
  • "New Boss"
  • "Dream Team"
  • "Niagara"
  • "Goodbye, Michael"
• 30 Rock (television)
  • "Cleveland"
• Parks and Recreation (television)
  • "Pawnee Zoo"
• Mad Men (television)
  • "Shoot"
• Weeds (television)
  • "Risk"
  • "He Taught Me How to Drive By"
  • "The Punishment Lighter"

• Arrested Development (television)
  • "Whistler's Mother"
  • "Let 'Em Eat Cake"
  • "Switch Hitter"
  • "Burning Love"
  • "Ready, Aim, Marry Me"
  • "The Cabin Show"
  • "The Ocean Walker"
• Freaks and Geeks (television)
  • "Discos and Dragons"
• Bored to Death (television)
  • "Take a Dive"
  • "The Case of the Lonely White Dove"
• Nurse Jackie (television)
  • "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"

Film

• I Am David (2003)
• Unaccompanied Minors (2006)
• Bridesmaids (2011)
• The Heat (2013)
• The Better Woman (in development)

Acting credits

Television

• The Facts of Life (1986)
  • "The Ratings Game"
• Dirty Dancing (1988"1989)
  • "Book of Love"
  • "Turn Me Loose"
  • "Our Day Will Come"
  • "Hit the Road"
  • "Don't Make Me Over"
• thirtysomething (1990)
  • "Pulling Away"
• It's Garry Shandling's Show (1990)
  • "The Proposal"
  • "The Honeymoon Show"
  • "Chester Gets a Show"
• Good Sports (1991)
  • "Pros and Ex-Cons"
  • "Electricity"
  • "The Return of Nick"
  • "A Class Act"

• Get a Life (1991)
  • "Chris the Escort"
• The Edge (1992"1993)
• The Jackie Thomas Show (1992"1993)
• Roseanne (1993)
  • "A Stash from the Past"
• The Good Life (1994)
  • "Paul Dates a Buddhist"
  • "John Takes Out Melissa"
• Hardball (1994)
  • "Whose Strike Is It Anyway?"
• The Louie Show (1996)
• Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (1996"1997)
• Men Behaving Badly (1997)
  • "The Sting"
• Ellen (1997)
  • "G.I. Ellen"
• The Drew Carey Show (1998)
  • "From the Earth to the Moon"
• Freaks and Geeks (1999)
  • "I'm with the Band"
• Arrested Development (2005)
  • "Sword of Destiny"
• Nurse Jackie (2010)
  • "Monkey Bits"

Film

• Zombie High (1987)
• Three O'Clock High (1987)
• Ski Patrol (1990)
• Deep Dish TV (1992)
• Naked Gun 33"?": The Final Insult (1995)
• The TV Wheel (1995)
• Heavyweights (1995)
• That Thing You Do! (1996)
• My Fellow Americans (1996)
• Life Sold Separately (1997)
• Statical Planets (1997)
• Bad Dog (2000)
• Stealing Harvard (2002)
• I Am David (2003)
• Knocked Up (2007)
• Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)
• Bad Teacher (2011)

Bibliography

• Kick Me: Adventures in Adolescence (ISBN 0-609-80943-1, 2002)
• Superstud: Or How I Became a 24-Year-Old Virgin (ISBN 1-4000-5175-4, 2005)
• Ignatius MacFarland: Frequenaut! (ISBN 0-316-16663-4, 2008)
• Ignatius MacFarland: Frequency Freakout! (2010)