Paul Rudd is on the British leg of his Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania press tour. So he’s been doing all the radio shows and being as charming as ever. While on The Heart breakfast show, host JK confessed to being a huge Friends fan and pressed Paul for details on his time on the show as Mike Hannigan. Paul spoke affectionately of the series and cast but said filming his big wedding to Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay was a bit daunting. Since it was the series finale, Paul said he felt like an interloper, witnessing something he shouldn’t.
Paul Rudd is a leading man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, but he was once a supporting player in another major pop culture franchise. In the final seasons of Friends, a then-33-year-old Rudd played Mike Hannigan, the boyfriend of Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe Buffay. Since Mike would go on to marry Phoebe, Rudd even had a part to play in Friends’ series finale.
“It was really fun, and they were great! The whole thing was a bit surreal, I must say, to be a part of that — because I came on really at the end,” Rudd said.
Rudd continued, “I never knew that I was going to be in as many [episodes] as I was. But it also felt strange. I was in that last episode, and I just thought, ‘I shouldn’t be here. I’m getting a front-row seat to things I’m not supposed to see.’ They were all crying, it was all emotional, and I was just like, ‘woah!'”
Paul’s correct, he shouldn’t have been there. Or Mike shouldn’t have been there because Phoebe should have married/ended up with David. I’ll die on that hill. But I get why everyone loved Mike (because they loved Paul) and I’m never going to get *too* upset about watching Paul in anything. I’ll admit, though, the thing I remember most about Phoebe’s wedding was her dress, which I loved. But I get what Paul’s saying. Even though fans loved him, he was the new kid and the build to their ceremony hadn’t had the ramp up like other shows. So he’s cemented into this moment, 10-years in the making and here’s Paul who’s only been around for 16 of the 234 episodes responsible for getting them there. I like the way he framed this, though.
Speaking of friends, one of Paul’s good friends pranked him on his next talk show. Paul and Olivia Colman have known each other for over 20 years, which is something I just learned and now insist they appear on Graham Norton together. While Paul was speaking with Greg James, Olivia called in using a Welsh accent and asked what he would do if an American friend came to England and didn’t tell you? You can see Paul get nervous when he realizes he’s the friend but still doesn’t know who he’s offended. I don’t care what the genre is, please put Olivia and Paul in something together. Anything.
Photo credit: Warner Bros/Avalon and Cover Images
I read that the plan was for David to come back from Minsk and marry Phoebe but then Paul Rudd happened and that didn’t pan out. Apparently Hank Azaria was kinda bummed about it and I agree they made the better couple.
I wish David had never come back because they just handled it so badly. Same with Richard’s appearance before Monica and chandler’s engagement. So they’re both still in love with phoebe and Monica respectively after years and end up being rejected. Cheery.
@Hecate You’re NOT on that hill alone♥️
No, you’re really not, and Paul and Olivia on Graham Norton together would be awesome. Olivia is hilarious no matter who she is on that stage with, she is such a gem of a woman.
Olivia’s prank call video is so cute, I watched it several times, and was smiling so hard my cheeks hurt, lol.
How are we still talking about this show?
Because Paul Rudd. Friends is just the vehicle.
I quite literally hate this show. A bunch of stupid people acting stupid as a substitute for funny. Seinfeld was 1,000 times better. So was Frasier.
We could talk about when Paul Rudd was on Veronica Mars instead.
I liked Friends and I loved Seinfeld so very much, but I looooooved Frasier. I’ve been watching Frasier reruns here lately. It was so great, Niles and Frasier were so snooty and funny.
Always loved David and thought he was Phoebe’s like lobster, but I liked Mike too. He was cute and funny. Besides, the last three seasons were kind of torture anyway, so it didn’t matter to me whom she chose in the end, just that the show ended!
This is extremely shitty of me, but in analyzing his perfect face for the secret to eternal youth… did Paul Rudd maybe have some type of chin implant? It’s gorgeous. He is gorgeous. I am just trying to wrap my head around his gorgeousness.
@squiddusMaximus. Let’s just say I would. Any opportunity, I would. *sigh*
I don’t think so. If you compare pics of him over the years, depending on the angle, it always looks the same. I always think when people say he doesn’t age that yes, he does age. He’s just aging extremely well and I think it’s a mix of genetics and probably superficial treatments like laser? Or even the odd Botox/filler, I don’t know. It also helps that his hair is still amazing and his hairline never really moved.
I do think there are some actors who are actually aging … not particularly well and it’s often the ones who have had crazy weight fluctuations over the years. Paul Rudd never did that.
One of the eternal mysteries of my generation is how in world Claire Danes didn’t pick Paris in Romeo+Juliet. I will legitimately never understand it.
In interviews, Paul Rudd just comes across as ridiculously likeable. Like, if you looked up ‘affable’ in the dictionary, there’s a picture of this friendly handsome bastard.
I absolutely love this description. Paul to a T!
Weeell…I see your point because… Paul Rudd…but I’ll be honest, I was madly in love with Leonardo as Romeo. My 14-year-old self kept telling Paris to back off. Today…no contest!!! But my God was Leo just gorgeous back then. It’s my favorite (not acting wise, look wise). After Titanic…meh…he was everywhere, that kinda ended it for me. But Paul Rudd, mystical creature that he is, still looks like Paris. Just dress him up as an as an astronaut! We won’t see the difference!
Paul Rudd needs to be studied in a lab for his agelessness. Looking at the wedding photo, I am amazed at how baby faced he looks there. And wasn’t he in his late 30s by then?? Amazing.
No, he was actually 33.
Paul was talking about the series finale which took place a few episodes after the wedding. Mike was pretty superfluous in the finale.
THANK YOU! I was (unnessecary) annoyed by that incorrect statement about the timing of their wedding LOL.
Love Paul Rudd by the way.
I was scanning to see if anyone else posted this. They aren’t the same episode at all.
I loved his character! He was funnier, could get weirder but sounded real at the same time. I did not have faith in David. Phoebe needed someone who could ground her, support her n still be crazy with her.
Paul Rudd is just the best. It’s too bad how bad the new Ant Man movie looks.
That makes me sad….though I don’t put a lot of stock in when they take an absolutely fabulous movie and feel the need to make it over and over. It seems to lose the charm that the original had but Hollywood doesn’t like to bank on potential flops.
Yeahhh rumor has it he’s cheating on his wife. Hard and fast rule, never get hung up on an actor.
Oh I hope not. There are things I’d rather not know!
@H Nooo, say it isn’t true! I literally just said to my husband, “I freaking LOVE Paul Rudd. I hope nothing bad ever comes out about him.” And 10 minutes later I read this.😞 Is this industry buzz or did you read it on a blind gossip site/Deumoix? Please say the latter so I don’t lose all faith in humanity!
I loved Friends and I loved Mike as well. I think Mike and Phoebe were great together, but wish the series writers brought him in earlier. Their relationship felt too rushed. I don’t know why they had to get married at all…
And yet they save the reunion of Ross and Rachel, the flagship couple since episode 1, for the last few minutes.
Well, Olivia is in the MCU now—the upcoming secret invasion on D+—so there’s always the chance she and Paul’s Scott will interact.