Michael Rapaport: A New Yorker Through and Through
Born on March 20, 1970, in Manhattan, Michael Rapaport is a true New Yorker. His parents, June Brody, a radio personality, and David Rapaport, a radio program manager, instilled in him a strong sense of his Polish Jewish and Russian Jewish heritage.
After a series of expulsions, Rapaport moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career in stand-up comedy. However, he never forgot his New York roots, which are deeply embedded in his work and charm. His early idols, such as Robert De Niro and Christopher Walken, were also New Yorkers.
Rapaport's early success in stand-up comedy led him to transition to television and film. His breakthrough role came in the quirky indie film Zebrahead (1992),which was followed by standout performances in films like True Romance (1993),Higher Learning (1995),and Mighty Aphrodite (1995).
In later years, Rapaport demonstrated his ease at offbeat comedy, appearing in TV shows like Friends (1994) and Boston Public (2000). He also formed his own production company, Release Entertainment, in search of that one big breakout role.
Rapaport has continued to appear in a wide range of films and TV shows, often playing offbeat characters. Some of his notable roles include an inducted mafioso in Kiss Toledo Goodbye (1999),a hit man in A Good Night to Die (2003),and a comic book fanatic in Special (2006).
In addition to his film and television work, Rapaport has also been married twice. His first marriage was to writer Nicole Beatty in 2000, with whom he had two children. The couple divorced seven years later. In 2016, Rapaport married actress Kebe Dunn.
