Judd Apatow’s Career in Comedy and Filmmaking

Judd Apatow is a filmmaker, screenwriter, and executive producer who’s made some of the most enduring and entertaining comedies of the twenty-first century. He directed The 40-Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up, Funny People, and This Is 40. He also produced box office hits like Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, The Big Sick, Bridesmaids, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Step Brothers, and Superbad. He earned a Grammy nomination for cowriting the title song for Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, a musical parody film starring John C. Reilly. Judd also wrote, directed, and produced The Bubble, a satire of film production during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Judd married actor Leslie Mann in 1997 and has two daughters, Maude and Iris, both of whom are also actors.

Judd Apatow has made people laugh for nearly his entire life. Here are some fast facts to know about him:

• He began performing stand-up as a teenager. Born in Syosset, New York, Judd began performing stand-up in his home state while still in high school. After getting accepted at the University of Southern California, he moved to Los Angeles, where he performed at prominent venues like the Hollywood Improv. In 2017, he recorded and released his first stand-up special, Judd Apatow: The Return for HBO.
• He interviewed comedians as a high schooler. While still in high school, Judd had success in reaching out to both up-and-coming and established comedians. He interviewed people like Jerry Seinfeld, Roseanne Barr, and Garry Shandling while still a teenager. He eventually went on to work with Garry on both The Larry Sanders Show and The Zen Diaries of Garry Shandling. He also worked with another of his comedy heroes, George Carlin, on the special George Carlin’s American Dream.
• He lived with Adam Sandler. In his early days seeking comedy success, Judd and Adam Sandler were roommates. As Adam became famous on SNL, Judd started to see success in the world of film and television as well. The two cowrote You Don’t Mess with the Zohan with Robert Smigel, a film Judd produced and in which Adam starred. Judd also provided uncredited rewrites for some of Adam’s classic films, like Happy Gilmore and The Wedding Singer.
• He started out in television. Before making it big in the motion picture business, Judd started out working on TV shows. He wrote for the HBO series The Larry Sanders Show as well as the short-lived but critically acclaimed Fox-aired The Ben Stiller Show (for which Judd received an Emmy). He went on to create the shows Freaks and Geeks, Undeclared, and Sick in the Head. He’s also written for The Simpsons and produced Lena Dunham’s smash hit Girls.
• He’s worked with numerous A-list actors. Judd has worked with some of the biggest stars in Hollywood, including Amy Schumer (Trainwreck), Ben Stiller (Heavyweights), Emily Blunt (The Five-Year Engagement), Jim Carrey (The Cable Guy), Katherine Heigl (Knocked Up), Owen Wilson (Drillbit Taylor), Paul Rudd (Wanderlust), Pete Davidson (The King of Staten Island), Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek), and Will Ferrell (Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby).

Judd Apatow has had a long and storied career in the world of comedy, and that’s given him a huge amount of insight. Here are just five key highlights of his class:

1. 1. Building characters: Judd believes the key to creating memorable characters is giving them as many strengths as weaknesses. “You watch [a character] being fascinated by the human condition,” he says, “and how someone can be both wonderful and funny and sweet and also have another side which can't get enough, can't be successful enough.” In this class, you’ll learn how to build characters as funny as they are complicated.
2. 2. Crafting storylines: To create a good comedy, Judd thinks it’s important for your story to work with or without jokes. “I always think that people should look at comedies as dramas when they're writing,” he says. “It really doesn't help to think of these stories as comedy stories. They should be stories that would work just as well without any jokes.” Throughout his class, he’ll give you an inside look into how he crafts compelling stories.
3. 3. Directing comedy: Judd believes comedy is easy to direct, so long as you come at it from the right perspective. “There are many things I wish people told me when I first started out,” he says. “One was: It's not hard to direct. For years, I thought it's so hard to direct. I'm so scared. And I waited a very long time to direct because I thought, ‘What if it doesn't work?’”
4. 4. Succeeding in show business: Judd believes success in show business hinges on hard work as much as talent. “It is very important to find what you're interested in and pursue it energetically because it is a competition,” he says. “And I always say to people, ‘You know, the hardest-working person usually wins. The lazy people don't get in the door at all.’” In this class, Judd provides helpful tips to further set you up to succeed as a writer, director, or producer.
5. 5. Writing dialogue: Comedy grows out of character. “A lot of times jokes don't work because you can tell that joke is just there because it's a joke,” Judd says. “And it didn't come from the character or the situation. Someone's just hammering a funny line in. You know, the jokes always work much better when, in your gut, you know that character would say that.” Learn more about how to write witty and realistic dialogue as you glean insight from his class.

To learn more about writing, directing, producing, and performing comedy, consider the following classes:

1. 1. David Sedaris on storytelling and humor: The New York Times bestselling author teaches you how to turn everyday moments into seriously funny stories that connect with audiences. Watch David’s class to learn how to channel observations and experiences into humorous narratives.
2. 2. Issa Rae on creating outside the lines: Creator of the web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl and the TV show Insecure, writer, actor, and producer Issa Rae teaches you how to bring your creative vision to life. Watch Issa’s class to discover the ingredients every story needs and how to get your work out there.
3. 3. Steve Martin on comedy: The acclaimed writer, actor, and musician teaches you everything from finding your comedic voice to nailing your act. Watch Steve’s class to learn how to gather material and develop a comedic persona.

Writing a funny script takes more than a sense of humor—just ask filmmaker Judd Apatow. Learn his secrets for writing a screenplay, character development, and developing comedic storylines when you sign up for the MasterClass Annual Membership.