Happy Birthday, Seth Rogen!

Today, we're celebrating the 30th birthday of actor Seth Rogen. He got his acting start on the short-lived TV show "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999, but it wasn't until 2001 that he made his feature film debut in Donnie Darko. In 2004, Rogen made his first real impact on the big screen in a bit performance in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, which he then followed with a supporting role in 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, cementing himself as one of the go-to comedy men in Hollywood. Seth nabbed his first leading man role in 2007's Knocked Up and also appeared in Superbad that same year. In 2008, Rogen made appearances in The Spiderwick Chronicles, Kung Fu Panda, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express, and he has yet to slow down. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2011's 50/50, and they'll next see Rogen in 2012's The Guilt Trip. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Seth Rogen's performances, and I've found a clip for each. Once again, happy birthday, Seth!

5. Ben Stone
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

4. Dale Denton
Pineapple Express (2008)


*****

3. Cal
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

2. Admiral Seaholtz / Roach
Fanboys (2009)


*****

1. Officer Michaels
Superbad (2007)

Happy Birthday, Paul Rudd!

Today, we're celebrating the 43rd birthday of actor Paul Rudd. He nabbed his first acting role in 1992's A Question of Ethics, but he didn't make a real audience splash until his performance in 1995's Clueless. Throughout the late 1990s, Rudd appeared in such films as 1996's Romeo + Juliet and 1999's The Cider House Rules as supporting characters. It wasn't until the mid-2000s, however, with appearances in films like 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, that Rudd truly burst onto the Hollywood scene. He has since made a name for himself as a top supporting character in a number of comedies, including 2007's Knocked Up and 2008's Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Rudd's fame grew enough to earn him a few leading man credits as well, including in 2008's Role Models and 2009's I Love You, Man. Most recently, audiences have seen Rudd in 2012's Wanderlust opposite Jennifer Aniston, and we'll next be able to see him in the 2012 film The Perks of Being a Wallflower. And so, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Rudd's performances. Once again, happy birthday, Paul!

5. Brian Fantana
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)


*****

4. David
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

3. Chuck
Forgetting Sarah Marshall (2008)


*****

2. Pete
Knocked Up (2007)


*****

1. John Lennon
Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007)

Happy Birthday, Catherine Keener!

Today, we're celebrating the 53rd birthday of Academy Award-nominated actress, Catherine Keener. She got her acting start in 1986 with her performance in The Education of Allison Tate, but it wasn't until she earned her first Oscar nomination for her supporting role in the 1999 film Being John Malkovich that she truly started to make a name for herself. From there, Keener found steady work in the film industry, appearing in movies opposite the likes of Robin Williams, Edward Norton, Daniel Day-Lewis, Steve Carell and Philip Seymour Hoffman through the early 2000s. Most recently, audiences have seen Keener in the 2011 film Peace, Love & Misunderstanding, and we'll next see her on the big screen in the 2012 film Maladies. So, to celebrate her birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Catherine Keener's performances, and I've supplied some clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Catherine!

5. Trish
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


*****

4. Nelle Harper Lee
Capote (2005)


*****

3. Jan Burres
Into the Wild (2007)


*****

2. Gertrude Baniszewski
An American Crime (2008)


*****

1. Maxine Lund
Being John Malkovich (1999)

Happy Birthday, Steve Carell!

Today we're celebrating the 49th birthday of big-time funnyman, Steve Carell. Although in the past few years, he's garnered much of his success and acclaim through his starring role on television's "The Office," it's not that difficult to remember his theatrical endeavors. Carell got his first big break in feature films with 2003's Bruce Almighty, and from there, he managed to skyrocket to become of one Hollywood's leading comedic actors. He nabbed his first headlining role in 2005's The 40 Year Old Virgin, and although I think he does a decent job as the leading man, he's still at his best when he finds himself in a supporting, scene-stealing position. So as I always do with celebrity birthdays, I've counted down my five favorite of Carell's roles and have attached clips for your viewing pleasure. Once again, happy birthday, Steve!

5. Phil Foster
Date Night (2010)


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4. Frank Ginsberg
Little Miss Sunshine (2006)


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3. Andy Stitzer
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


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2. Barry
Dinner for Schmucks (2010)


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1. Brick Tamland
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004)


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Awards
2003: Nominee - Best Cameo or Brief Appearance
2004: Nominee - Best Supporting Actor, Comedy
2010: Nominee - Best Actor, Comedy; Best Supporting Actor, Comedy; Best Voice Acting; Best Couple (with Tina Fey)

Happy Birthday, Leslie Mann!

I've always had a little bit of a soft spot for Leslie Mann. She played a leading role in one of my favorite childhood films - there's a video below, and I'm sure you'll be able to tell which one it is - and ever since then, I've enjoyed seeing her show up in films here and there. She got her first big cinematic break with 1996's The Cable Guy (which also starred Jim Carrey and Matthew Broderick), but what made it all the more endearing was that she met her eventual husband, big-time producer Judd Apatow, during the course of filming. In contrast with traditional Hollywood marriages, the two have stayed together for the past fourteen years and have two daughters who occasionally appear in Apatow fare. But back to Leslie: there's really no denying her comedic presence on-screen. She's predominantly specialized in comedic films - I couldn't find a non-comedy anywhere on her filmography. She's funny enough to generate laughter from her supporting roles, so she's definitely someone to watch as time goes by. Below are my five favorite Leslie Mann roles from over the years. I apologize for a couple of them - one barely features her, and another is clearly filmed from a handheld camera - but you'll still get a sense of her comic acting. Enjoy!

5. Robin Harris
The Cable Guy (1996)


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4. Laura
Funny People (2009)


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3. Nicky
The 40 Year Old Virgin (2005)


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2. Debbie
Knocked Up (2007)


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1. Ursula Stanhope
George of the Jungle (1997)