Judd Apatow got his start in show business while still in his Syosset, New York high school, when he used his radio show to interview comedians including Steve Allen, Howard Stern and John Candy and then unknowns Jerry Seinfeld and Garry Shandling.
The screenwriter/producer/director's television career has been plagued by a cycle of critical praise, cult followings and quick cancellations. Past ventures include The Larry Sanders Show (for which he earned an Emmy nomination), The Ben Stiller Show, Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared.
Most of his films have proved somewhat less successful, with Heavy Weights and Celtic Pride barely making a dent at the box office. He was only billed as a producer for The Cable Guy after the Writers Guild of America denied him a screenwriting credit.
He has recently begun working with actor Will Ferrell, coproducing the 2004 comedy as well as upcoming productions Kicking & Screaming and Talladega Nights.
A heated e-mail exchange between Apatow and Mark Brazill , creator of That '70s Show, gained infamy after being featured in Harper's Magazine. In a series of at least nine messages, Brazill: accuses Apatow of ripping off sketch ideas from him, tells him to "die in a fiery accident and taste [his] own blood" and signs off one e-mail: "Get cancer."
Apatow's retorts include: "If you think cancellation hurts me at this point, you haven't been following my career as closely as I thought," "After you said 'get cancer' did you really think I was looking to heal our relationship? Usually the cancer insult is a closer. I'm sure everyone who has suffered with that appreciates your sharp wit," and "I should have told everyone on the [Ben Stiller] show, no rock band sketches, that's Brazill's area. So hold on to your hate and rage, even though it makes no sense. I'll go back to my life of thievery and leeching. As for the cancer, I'll wait till you get it and then steal it from you."
Married to actress Leslie Mann, whom he met on the set of The Cable Guy.
