Michael Rapaport

Michael David Rapaport (born March 20, 1970) is an American actor and comedian.[1] He has appeared in over sixty films since the early 1990s, and starred on the sitcom The War at Home. He also appeared in Boston Public, Friends, Prison Break, Justified, Atypical, and The Big Bang Theory. His notable film roles include True Romance (1993), Higher Learning (1995), Metro (1997), Cop Land (1997), Deep Blue Sea (1999), The 6th Day (2000), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001), Big Fan (2009), and The Heat (2013). He also directed the documentary Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest (2011).[2][3]

Michael Rapaport
Rapaport in 2015
Born (1970-03-20) March 20, 1970
OccupationActor
Director
Podcast host
Comedian
Years active1990–present
Spouse(s)
Nichole Beattie
(m. 2000; div. 2007)

Kebe Dunn
(m. 2016)
Children2

Early life and education

Rapaport was born in New York City, the son of June Brody, a New York radio personality, and David Rapaport, a radio executive who was the general manager of the All-Disco format at New York radio station WKTU Disco 92. He has a brother named Eric Rapaport[4][5] and an older half-sister named Claudia Lonow (née Rapaport) via his father's prior marriage. After his parents divorced, Rapaport's mother married comic Mark Lonow, who owned The Improv with Budd Friedman.[6][7]

Rapaport grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near 70th and York.[8] He is Ashkenazi Jewish; his family is originally from Poland and Russia.[9]

Rapaport had a hard time in school.[10] He attended Erasmus Hall High School in the 1980s but was expelled, although he went back and graduated from Martin Luther King High School in New York City.[11]

Career

In 1989, Rapaport moved to Los Angeles, California when he was 19 years old to try to become a stand-up comic. Rapaport's stepfather, comic Mark Lonow, who owned The Improv with Budd Friedman, helped him get into the stand-up world. He did that for three years.[6]

His big break in acting was on the TV series China Beach.

Rapaport had a recurring role in My Name Is Earl as Frank, a convict Earl reunites with in prison. His character was the reason for many of the things in Earl's life, such as indirectly giving Earl his trailer and El Camino after a botched robbery with his partner, Paco. He played one of the main characters in the season four of Prison Break as Homeland Security Agent Don Self.

In October 2008, Rapaport announced that he was directing a documentary about hip hop act A Tribe Called Quest.[12] The film, Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest, was released in 2011 and received mostly positive reviews.[13][14]

Rapaport guest starred in the fifth season of the FX series Justified as villain Daryl Crowe Jr, kingpin of the Crowe family.

On February 12, 2010, Rapaport participated in the NBA All-Star Weekend's Celebrity Game and was named the MVP because of his defense on football player Terrell Owens, the MVP of the last two Celebrity Games, despite scoring just four points and having only a single rebound.

On April 17, 2014, an ESPN 30 for 30 film he directed premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival. The film was about the 1970s championship-winning New York Knicks led by Earl Monroe, Walt Frazier, and Willis Reed.

Rapaport is an occasional guest on the Howard Stern Show on Sirius Satellite Radio, especially when he participates in the staff's fantasy football pool.

Rapaport hosts the I Am Rapaport Stereo Podcast on the CBS Local radio network with childhood friend Gerald Moody.[4]

Other podcasts that Rapaport has appeared on include The Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr, Mailtime[15] and Pardon My Take by Barstool Sports,[16] The Adam Carolla Show, The Fighter and The Kid, Unqualified, The Bill Simmons Podcast and its predecessor, The BS Report; The Chive Podcast, WTF with Marc Maron, His & Hers Podcast, Cari Champion's Podcast, The Joey Boots Show, The Dirty Sports Podcast and more.

On June 19, 2017, Rapaport announced on Twitter that he would be joining the popular sports satire website Barstool Sports where he will be a correspondent for the podcast Pardon My Take. On February 18, 2018, Rapaport was fired from Barstool Sports after making a rude comment toward their fan base.[17]

Rapaport is currently also a reporter for Fox Sports, covering the BIG3 basketball league formed by Ice Cube.[18] He is also the narrator of the WWE 365 series on WWE Network.

Personal life

In 2000, Rapaport married writer and producer Nichole Beattie. They have two sons. They divorced in 2007.[19][6]

In 2005, Rapaport wrote an article for Jane magazine about having to evict the actress Natasha Lyonne from a property he was renting to her during a period of heavy drug use on her part. The two have since reconciled and remain friends.[20]

In 2016, Rapaport married his long time girlfriend, actress Kebe Dunn.[21]

In June 2018, Rapaport was a passenger on an American Airlines flight from Houston to Los Angeles where a man tried to open an emergency door mid-flight. Rapaport was hailed as a hero for stopping him from doing so. He said of the incident, "I got up out of my seat, half sleeping, with my headphones in my ear, and I put my hand on his shoulder, like 'What the (explicit) are you doing?' He had two hands on the lever," Rapaport said. "I said it three times, loud. The second time I said it, he still had his hand on the (explicit) thing. ... I sort of pinned him against the seat. This is happening all in about 45 seconds."[22]

Harassment charges

Rapaport was arrested on May 18, 1997 for harassing ex-girlfriend Lili Taylor and charged with two counts of aggravated harassment. He then pleaded guilty to the charges in court and New York Supreme Court Justice Arlene Goldberg issued a protection order to keep the actor from contacting Taylor, as well as mandating that he undergo counseling sessions.[23][24][25]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1992 Zebrahead Zack
1993 Point of No Return Big Stan
Poetic Justice Dockworker
Money for Nothing Kenny Kozlowski
True Romance Dick Ritchie
1994 The Scout Tommy Lacy
Hand Gun Lenny
The Foot Shooting Party Lizard Short film (also starring Leonardo DiCaprio)
1995 Higher Learning Remy
The Basketball Diaries Skinhead
Kiss of Death Ronnie Gannon
Mighty Aphrodite Kevin
1996 Beautiful Girls Paul Kirkwood
The Pallbearer Brad Schorr
1997 Metro Kevin McCall
Cop Land Murray Babitch
A Brother's Kiss Stingy
Kicked in the Head Stretch
1998 Palmetto Donnelly
Illtown Dante
Some Girl Neal
The Naked Man Dr. Edward Blis, Jr.
1999 Deep Blue Sea Tom Scoggins
Kiss Toledo Goodbye Kevin Gower
2000 Next Friday Mailman with Tax Notice
Small Time Crooks Denny
The 6th Day Hank Morgan
Men of Honor GM1 Snowhill
Bamboozled Thomas Dunwitty
Chain of Fools Hitman
King of the Jungle Francis
Lucky Numbers Dale
2001 Dr. Dolittle 2 Joey the Raccoon (voice)
2002 Paper Soldiers Mike E.
Triggermen Tommy O'Brian
Comic Book Villains Norman Link
29 Palms The Cop
2003 A Good Night to Die August
This Girl's Life Terry the Car Salesman
2004 America Brown Daniel Brown
Scrambled Eggs Drama Teacher
2005 TOM 51
Hitch Ben
2006 It Aint Easy
Live Free or Die Lt. Putney
Special Les Franken
Push Tommy G
Grilled Bobby
2007 Fugly Jack
2008 Assassination of a High School President Coach Z
2009 Tom Cool
Big Fan Philadelphia Phil
A Day in the Life Detective Grant
2011 Inside Out Jack Small
Beats, Rhymes & Life: The Travels of a Tribe Called Quest Himself Documentary; also director and interviewer
2012 Should've Been Romeo Danny
The Baytown Outlaws Lucky
Kiss of the Damned Ben
2013 The Heat Jason Mullins
Once Upon a Time in Queens Bobby DiBianco
2014 My Man Is a Loser Marty
2015 Little Boy James Busbee
2016 A Stand Up Guy Colin
Chuck John Wepner
Sully Pete the Bartender
Middle School: The Worst Years of My Life Animation Voice (voice)

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 China Beach Kravits Episode: "One Small Step"
1992 Murphy Brown Robbie Episode: "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go"
Middle Ages Jimmy 2 episodes
1993 Fresh Prince of Bel Air Mike Episode: "Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 1"
NYPD Blue Jaime Dileo Episode: "Brown Appetit"
1997 Subway Stories Jake Television film; segment: "The Listeners"
1998 E.R. Paul Canterna Episode: "Of Past Regret and Future Fear"
Rude Awakening Johnny Episode: "Naked Again"
Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Families Szarany Television film
1999 Friends Gary 4 episodes
2001–2004 Boston Public Danny Hanson 57 episodes (main cast, seasons 2-4)
2001 Mr. Life Television film
Night Visions Harlow Winton Episode: "Darkness"
2003 Chappelle's Show Popcopy Employee Episode: "#1.1"
2004 The Practice Gigi Coley Episodes: "Comings and Goings", "New Hoods on the Block"
2005–2007 The War at Home Dave Gold 44 episodes (main cast)
2006 MadTV Abraham Lincoln Episode: "#11.10"
Thugaboo: Sneaker Madness DJ (voice) Television film
2007–2008 My Name Is Earl Frank Stump 6 episodes (recurring cast)
2008–2009 Prison Break Agent Donald "Don" Self 22 episodes
2009–2010 Accidentally on Purpose Sully 2 episodes
2010 Royal Pains Stanley Episode: "Big Whoop"
The Line Steve Waxman Television film
2010–2013 Pound Puppies Squirt, Squeak (voice) 65 episodes
2012 40 Television film
Cops Uncuffed Officer Joseph Tata Television film
2012–2013 The Mob Doctor Paul Moretti 7 episodes (recurring cast)
2014 Justified Daryl Crowe Jr. 13 episodes (recurring cast)
Raising Hope Michael Episode: "Man's Best Friend"
2015 Black-ish Jay Simmons Episode: "Switch Hitting"
Louie Lenny Episode: "Cop Story"
Public Morals Charlie Bullman 10 episodes (main cast)
The Big Bang Theory Kenny Fitzgerald Episode: "The Helium Insufficiency"
2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Richie Caskey Episode: "Sheltered Outcasts"
Dice Bobby the Mooch Episode: "Six Grand"
Crisis in Six Scenes Trooper Mike Episode: "Episode 6"
Animals. Erik (voice) Episode: "Rats"
2017 The New Edition Story Gary Evans Miniseries (3 episodes)
The Guest Book Adam 2 episodes
White Famous Teddy Snow 8 episodes (recurring cast)
WWE 365 Narrator Episode: "Kevin Owens"
The Untitled Action Bronson Show Himself Episode: "Michael Rapaport, José Enrique"
2017–present Atypical Doug Gardner Main Cast
2018 WWE 365 Narrator Episode: "AJ Styles"
2019 The Simpsons Mike Wegman Episode: "Go Big or Go Homer"

Video games

Year Title Role
1996 Don't Quit Your Day Job Special Appearance #2
2001 Grand Theft Auto III Joey Leone
2006 Saints Row Troy Bradshaw
Scarface: The World Is Yours Drug Dealer / Henchman
2008 Saints Row 2 Troy Bradshaw
2018 NBA 2K19 Coach Darren Stackhouse

Music videos

Works and publications

  • Rapaport, Michael (2017). This Book Has Balls. New York: Touchstone. ISBN 978-1-501-16031-8. OCLC 975365440.

References

  1. Branch, Kathryn (July 8, 2011). "Asked and Answered: Michael Rapaport". The New York Times.
  2. Gleiberman, Owen (April 21, 1995). "Kiss of Death". Entertainment Weekly.
  3. Colbert, Stephen (August 18, 2017). "Michael Rapaport Says Jared Kushner Is A Joke" (Video). The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
  4. Derdeyn, Stuart (May 3, 2017). "Q&A: Michael Rapaport loves to talk". The Vancouver Sun.
  5. "Real time with My Brother Professor Eric Rapaport the REAL DICK RITCHIE #TRUEROMANCE #allrapaporteverything @emily_rapaport". michaelrapaport. December 29, 2013.
  6. Maron, Marc (March 14, 2016). "Episode 689 - Michael Rapaport". WTF with Marc Maron.
  7. Getlen, Larry (March 31, 2013). "'Parents' trap". New York Post.
  8. Takano, Hikari. "Michael Rapaport Interview". Hikari Takano.
  9. "Hip-Hop Vs. Hebrew?". Jewish Exponent. January 21, 2013. Archived from the original on February 15, 2017.
  10. Cunningham, Kim (February 13, 1995). "Chatter: The Real Skinny". People. 43 (6).
  11. MacMillan, Alissa (October 29, 2001). "School's Cool for Rapaport Now". New York Daily News.
  12. Dow, Danica (October 4, 2008). "SOHH Exclusive: Nas & Michael Rapaport Team Up for A Tribe Called Quest Doc". SOHH.com. Archived from the original on October 8, 2008.
  13. Samuel, S. (January 25, 2011). "Michael Rapaport On Beats, Rhymes & Life, 'I Really Didn't Want To F*ck This Up'". SOHH.com.
  14. Woods, Mecca; Rapaport, Michael (April 29, 2011). "Michael Rapaport Discusses His Film Beats, Rhymes & Life @ Tribeca Film Fest" (Video). Society HAE (SHAE).
  15. Clancy, Kevin "KFC"; Rapaport, Michael (November 23, 2015). "#MAILTIME: Michael Rapaport". Mailtime: The Laziest Hour of Your Day by Barstool Sports. Barstool Sports. Archived from the original (Audio podcast) on June 3, 2016.
  16. Katz, Dan; Rapaport, Michael (May 18, 2016). "Pardon My Take 5-18 With Comedian Michael Rapaport" (Audio podcast). Pardon My Take. Barstool Sports.
  17. Glasspiegel, Ryan. "Why Michael Rapaport Was Fired from Barstool". thebiglead. Retrieved February 18, 2018.
  18. Rapaport, Michael; Iverson, Allen (May 25, 2017). "Michael Rapaport interviews Allen Iverson" (Video interview). BIG3 on FS1. Fox Sports.
  19. "Rapaport's wife files for legal separation". Today. Associated Press. May 13, 2004.
  20. Rosenfeld, Laura; Cohen, Andy; de Lesseps, Luann; Rapaport, Michael (May 19, 2016). "Remember That Time Natasha Lyonne Was Michael Rapaport's Tenant?" (Video). Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (After Show). Bravo TV.
  21. "Why Michael Rapaport won't shoot hoops with George Clooney". New York Post. October 26, 2017. Retrieved November 18, 2017.
  22. Mallenbaum, Carly. "Michael Rapaport shares heroic story: How he stopped man from opening plane emergency door". USA Today.
  23. "'I'm Not Rapaport's,' But Lili's Ex Persists". New York Daily News. June 6, 1997. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  24. Errico, Marcus (May 19, 1998). "Michael Rapaport Sentenced for Harassment". E! News. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
  25. "Actor ordered to stay away from girlfriend he harassed". Deseret News. May 19, 1998. Retrieved December 7, 2017.

Further reading

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