Seth Rogen

Unlike many of Hollywood's GQ-esque, A-list types, comedy actor-writer Seth Rogen was instantly embraced by audiences for his common-man appeal. While paying his initial dues working on a variety of TV sitcoms, he fell under the tutelage of producer-writer-director Judd Apatow. Under Apatow's brilliant guidance, Rogen's wise-beyond-his-years wit and improv skills on "Freaks and Geeks" (NBC, 1999-2000) and his dual role as actor-writer on "Undeclared" (Fox, 2001-02) ultimately led him to shine in two Apatow hit films: first, as hilarious blue-collar sidekick to Steve Carell in "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" (2005), followed by the unlikely leading man in "Knocked Up" (2007). Using his considerable clout from these projects, he would co-write and executive produce hit comedies "Superbad" (2007) and "Pineapple Express" (2007) as well as directing and co-writing apocalyptic comedy "This Is The End" (2013) and controversial political comedy "The Interview" (2014) with his longtime creative partner Evan Goldberg. Throughout, Rogen maintained a parallel career as a charming leading man in films like the generation gap comedy "The Guilt Trip" (2012), "Neighbors" (2014), and "The Night Before" (2015). Besides attaining the enviable multi-hyphenate accomplishment of writer-actor-producer, Rogen's brand of "everydude" heralded a new breed of leading men - one which broke away from the chest-thumping, Alpha-male stereotypes popular throughout cinema history.