Paul Reiser Bio - Paul Reiser Biography

Paul Reiser: Biography

Paul Reiser stars as the charming (though not without his faults) and always-loving husband Paul Buchman, a first-time father and multi-talented documentary maker, in the comedy series "Mad About You". The role has brought Reiser several nominations for Emmy Awards, Golden Globe Awards and American Comedy Awards. Reiser also co-created the award-winning series and serves as an executive producer. "Mad About You" airs Tuesdays at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on NBC-TV. Born and raised in New York City, Reiser earned a bachelor of arts degree in music, concentrating on piano and composition, from the State University of New York at Binghamton. During his summers, he performed at the local New York comedy clubs Catch a Rising Star, The Comic Strip and The Improv. Reiser made his feature film debut in Barry Levinson's acclaimed "Diner," and soon was cast in a small part in "Beverly Hills Cop" and as the double-crossing company man in "Aliens." Reiser's other feature film credits include "Beverly Hills Cop II," "The Marrying Man," "Crazy People," "Cross My Heart," "Family Prayers," "Mr. Write" and "Bye Bye, Love." From 1987-1990, Reiser starred in the NBC sitcom "My Two Dads." He has also starred in the telefilm "The Tower," and in two comedy specials, HBO's "Paul Reiser: Out on a Whim" and Showtime's "3 1/2 Blocks from Home," both of which he wrote and produced. Reiser, who co-wrote "Mad About You"'s theme song, includes his latest musical accomplishment on the series' recently released CD "Mad About You" -- The Final Frontier." He wrote the lyrics for the CD's "Lullabye For You," with music by Billy Joel and sung by BeBe Winans. His writing talents have extended into the literary world. In his first book, 1994's "Couplehood," he shared his thoughts about married life and love, reaching the #1 spot on the New York Times bestseller list. Reiser's follow-up "Babyhood," exploring the joys and woes of parenting, was released in August. Resier was most recently seen in the feature film "One Night At McCool's", alongside Michael Douglas, John Goodman and Liv Tyler. He lives in Los Angeles with his wife Paula, a psychotherapist and their son Ezra Samuel.

Jeff Franklin, who created the family sitcom Full House, originally wanted Paul to possibly play the lead role of Danny Tanner. Unfortunately, Paul was eliminated quickly because he was working on the TV show My Two Dads. The role went to Bob Saget, who was Franklin's other top choice.(edit)
While starring on Mad About You, Paul Reiser appeared in 2 public service announcements for NBC's The More You Know. His topics were a teacher tribute and violence prevention.(edit)
Paul received the following awards or nominations for his role on Mad About You.
- He was nominated six times (1994-1998) for an Emmy.
- In 1996, he was nominated for a American Comedy Award.
- He was nominated for three BMI TV Music Awards.
- He was nominated for a Golden Satellite Award in 1999.
- He was nominated 4 times for a Screen Actors Guild Award.
- He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award in 1995, 1996, 1997, and 1998.
- In 1994/1998, Paul was nominated for a Q Award.(edit)
Paul was in a TV commercial for TV Land's Family Table.(edit)
In 1994 and 1995, Paul was in a few TV commercials for IBM computers.(edit)
Paul worked on a music video for The Muppets titled She Drives Me Crazy.(edit)
In 1996, Paul was in a TV commercials for AT&T One Rate calling plan.(edit)
As of 2006, Paul lives in Los Angeles with his family.(edit)
Paul's first original screenplay was The Thing About My Folks, a movie released in 2004.(edit)
Paul co-wrote the "Mad About You" theme song "The Final Frontier" with Don Was.(edit)
He attended State University of New York at Binghamton, where he majored in Music: Piano and Composition.(edit)
Paul made his theatrical debut in Woody Allen's play Writer's Block.(edit)
Paul wrote two books, Couplehood and Babyhood. Both books sold over two million copies and became a bestsellers. They reached the #1 spot in the New York Times.(edit)
Besides starring in "Mad About You," Paul also created the show, wrote 17 episodes and was the executive producer of the show.(edit)
He majored in music at college (piano & composition).(edit)
Paul graduated from Stuyvesant H.S. in NYC and SUNY Binghamton.(edit)
Paul named his production company, Nuance, after a speech his character gives in the movie Diner.(edit)

Paul (about My Two Dads): I had hoped, when we started, it was going to be something else. This unstoppable force moved it in the other direction. It became much more about the kid, much more saccharine and more child-oriented. What I came to terms with was that I was manufacturing a very nice product that I myself didn't use in the home.(edit)
Paul: I was visiting my parents, and I walked into a room where my father was watching a Peter Falk movie on TV... I think it was 'The Cheap Detective.' Anyway, my father was belly-laughing, and he never really did that. I thought, 'If Peter Falk can make my dad laugh, then I'm going to come up with a movie in which Peter Falk plays my father.'(edit)
Paul: People come up to us and ask how we knew so much about their own family... I'm talking about people from faraway places, too. I get people from Turkey and Chile coming up to me and saying I wrote about their family.(edit)
Paul: I'm not smart enough to write about something that didn't actually happen to me... It's not a plan. But I couldn't write a space movie if you put a gun to my head.(edit)
Paul: Over the years, there certainly have been plenty of ideas that I've had and given up on, but for this one, the only thing that was standing in its way was me doing it - I just had to write it... And then if it didn't happen, it didn't happen. But I didn't want it to be for lack of effort on my part, so I had hunch that it would be a good story and that we would work well together. And it certainly worked out that way.(edit)
Paul: You know, the fact that every morning you get a script in your mailbox, that's going to stop. All these little pedestrian, mundane things. And the cash.(edit)
Paul: If the powers that be see there is a bigger market out there, it will make it easier for the next time around.(edit)
Paul: I'm feeling very vindicated that, when I see the audiences laughing and being moved, we were right.(edit)
Paul: Younger kids, they understand that things aren't so perfect with their father or with their mother.(edit)
Paul: As you get older... you realize your parents don't look so dumb - and that you're not as smart as you thought you were(edit)
Paul: Peter Falk and my father are very much the same.(edit)
Paul: It is not important to know what facts are true... The relationships portrayed are real. My mother did have a job interview with my father. She worked alongside him for awhile; they dated, were married and had a family. She never did get to the World's Fair.(edit)
Paul: It felt like such a right idea that it didn't bother me to put it away, because I knew it would be ready when it's ready, ... When I had kids, I realized I understood my parents better. I had more compassion for them and I look at my kids and realize, 'Oh, man. This is just the same cycle all over again.'(edit)
Paul: Once in a while you get a moment of clarity -- an inspiration -- and they don't come that frequently.(edit)
Paul: I always loved comedy, but I never knew it was something you could learn to do. I always thought that some people are born comedians... just like some people are born dentists.(edit)