Michael Rapaport Explained

Michael Rapaport
Birth Name:Michael David Rapaport
Birth Date:20 March 1970
Birth Place:New York City, U.S.
Years Active:1990–present
Spouse:
    Children:2
    Relatives:Claudia Lonow (half-sister)

    Michael David Rapaport (born March 20, 1970) is an American actor and comedian.[1] Beginning his career in the early 1990s, he has made over 100 appearances in film and television. His film roles include Zebrahead (1992), 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). On television, he headlined the Fox sitcom The War at Home (2005–2007) and was a series regular on the Fox drama Boston Public (2001–2004), the fourth season of the Fox serial drama Prison Break (2008–2009), and the Netflix comedy drama Atypical (2017–2021). Rapaport held recurring roles on the NBC sitcoms Friends (1999) and My Name Is Earl (2007–2008) and the FX Western Justified (2014). Outside of his acting career, Rapaport directed the 2011 documentary about the hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest.[2] [3] Active on several podcasts, he is the host of the I Am Rapaport Stereo Podcast.

    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]

    Rapaport grew up on the Upper East Side of Manhattan, near 70th Street and York Avenue.[7] He is Ashkenazi Jewish; his family is originally from Poland and Russia.[8]

    Rapaport had a hard time in school.[9] He attended Erasmus Hall High School in Brooklyn in the 1980s, but was expelled. He graduated from Martin Luther King High School in Manhattan.[10]

    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.[11]

    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. 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, , 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 a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show on Sirius XM, and participates in the show staff's fantasy football league.[15]

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

    Other podcasts that Rapaport has appeared on include The Monday Morning Podcast with Bill Burr, Mailtime[16] and Pardon My Take by Barstool Sports,[17] 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 sports satire website Barstool Sports where he would 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.[18]

    Rapaport is a reporter for Fox Sports, covering the Big3 basketball league formed by Ice Cube.[19] He is the narrator of the WWE 365 series on WWE Network.

    In 2023, Rapaport competed in season ten of The Masked Singer as the wild card contestant "Pickle". A running gag is that he would bump into Nick Cannon. Rapaport was eliminated on "2000s Night".

    After the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel, Rappaport appeared in many independent activist shorts supporting the release of hostages taken by Hamas and its affiliates.[20]

    Personal life

    On May 18, 1997, Rapaport was arrested for harassing ex-girlfriend Lili Taylor and charged with two counts of aggravated harassment. He 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.[21] [22] [23]

    In 2000, Rapaport married writer and producer Nichole Beattie. They have two sons. They divorced in 2007.[24]

    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.[25]

    In 2016, Rapaport married his long time girlfriend, actress Kebe Dunn.[26]

    In June 2018, Rapaport, while on an American Airlines flight from Houston to Los Angeles, stopped another passenger attempting to open an emergency door mid-flight.[27]

    Filmography

    Film

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1992ZebraheadZack
    1993Point of No ReturnBig Stan
    Poetic JusticeDockworker
    Money for NothingKenny Kozlowski
    True RomanceDick Ritchie
    1994Hand GunLenny
    The ScoutTommy Lacy
    The Foot Shooting PartyLizardShort
    1995Higher LearningRemy
    The Basketball DiariesSkinhead
    Kiss of DeathRonnie Gannon
    Mighty AphroditeKevin
    1996Beautiful GirlsPaul Kirkwood
    The PallbearerBrad Schorr
    1997MetroKevin McCall
    A Brother's KissStingy
    Kicked in the HeadStretch
    Cop LandMurray Babitch
    1998IlltownDante
    PalmettoDonnelly
    Some GirlNeal
    The Naked ManEdward Bliss Jr.
    1999Deep Blue SeaTom Scoggins
    Kiss Toledo GoodbyeKevin Gower
    2000Next FridayMailman with Tax Notice
    Small Time CrooksDenny
    Men of HonorGM1 Snowhill
    BamboozledThomas Dunwitty
    Chain of FoolsHitman
    King of the JungleFrancis
    Lucky NumbersDale
    The 6th DayHank Morgan
    2001Dr. Dolittle 2Joey the Raccoon (voice)
    2002Paper SoldiersMike E.
    TriggermenTommy O'Brian
    29 PalmsThe Cop
    Comic Book VillainsNorman LinkVideo
    2003A Good Night to DieAugust
    This Girl's LifeTerry the Car Salesman
    2004The N WordHimself
    America BrownDaniel Brown
    Scrambled EggsDrama TeacherShort
    2005HitchBen
    2006SpecialLes Franken
    Live Free or DieLt. Putney
    PushTommy G
    GrilledBobby
    It Aint Easy-Video
    2008Assassination of a High School PresidentCoach Z
    2009Big FanPhiladelphia Phil
    A Day in the LifeDetective Grant
    Tom Cool-
    2011Inside OutJack Small
    2012Should've Been RomeoDanny
    The Baytown OutlawsLucky
    Kiss of the DamnedBen
    2013The HeatJason Mullins
    Once Upon a Time in QueensBobby DiBianco
    2014My Man Is a LoserMarty
    2015Little BoyJames Busbee
    2016A Stand Up GuyColin
    ChuckJohn Wepner
    SullyPete the Bartender
    Middle School: The Worst Years of My LifeAnimation Voice (voice)
    2019100%: Julian EdelmanNarrator
    2020Bill Fitch
    2021ConflictedMike
    2023I'll Be Right ThereTBA
    Glisten and the Merry MissionGrizz (voice)

    Television

    YearTitleRoleNotes
    1990China BeachKravitsEpisode: "One Small Step"
    1992Murphy BrownRobbieEpisode: "He-Ho, He-Ho, It's Off to Lamaze We Go"
    Middle AgesJimmyEpisode: "The Pig in the Python" & "Night Moves"
    1993Fresh Prince of Bel AirMikeEpisode: "Where There's a Will, There's a Way: Part 1"
    NYPD BlueJaime DileoEpisode: "Brown Appetit"
    1997Subway StoriesJakeEpisode: "The Listeners"
    1998E.R.Paul CanternaEpisode: "Of Past Regret and Future Fear"
    Rude AwakeningJohnnyEpisode: "Naked Again"
    Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two FamiliesSzaranyTV movie
    1999FriendsGaryRecurring cast (season 5)
    2001Weakest LinkHimselfEpisode: "Disaster Benefit"
    Celebrity AdventuresHimselfEpisode: "Belize"
    Night VisionsHarlow WintonEpisode: "Darkness"
    Boston PublicDanny HansonMain cast (season 2-4)
    2003Chappelle's ShowPopcopy Employee Episode: "Popcopy & Clayton Bigsby"
    2005–2007The War at HomeDavid "Dave" GoldMain cast
    2006Thugaboo: Sneaker MadnessDJ (voice)TV movie
    2006–2007MadTV2 episodes
    2007–2008My Name Is EarlFrank StumpRecurring cast (season 3)
    2008–2009Prison BreakAgent Donald "Don" SelfMain cast (season 4)
    2009–2010Accidentally on PurposeSullyEpisode: "The Godfather" & "The Rock"
    201030 for 30HimselfEpisode: "Winning Time: Reggie Miller vs. The New York Knicks"
    Celebrity Ghost StoriesHimselfEpisode: "Rebecca DeMornay/Michael Rapaport/Margaret Cho"
    Royal PainsStanleyEpisode: "Big Whoop"
    The LineSteve WaxmanTV movie
    2010–2013Pound PuppiesSquirt (voice)Main cast
    2012–2013The Mob DoctorPaul MorettiRecurring cast
    2013The Haunting of...HimselfEpisode: "Michael Rapaport"
    2014Raising HopeMichaelEpisode: "Man's Best Friend"
    JustifiedDaryl Crowe Jr.Recurring cast (season 5)
    2015Black-ishJay SimmonsEpisode: "Switch Hitting"
    LouieLennyEpisode: "Cop Story"
    Public MoralsOfficer Charlie BullmanMain cast
    The Big Bang TheoryKenny FitzgeraldEpisode: "The Helium Insufficiency"
    2016Richie CaskeyEpisode: "Sheltered Outcasts"
    DiceBobby the MoochEpisode: "Six Grand"
    Crisis in Six ScenesTrooper MikeEpisode #1.6
    2017The $100,000 PyramidHimself
    The New Edition StoryGary EvansEpisode: "Part 1-3"
    Animals.Erik (voice)Episode: "Rats"
    White FamousTeddy SnowRecurring cast
    2017–2018The Guest BookAdamRecurring cast (season 1), guest (season 2)
    2017–2021AtypicalDoug GardnerMain cast
    2018Hip Hop SquaresHimself/PanelistEpisode: "Blac Chyna vs. Jeremy Meeks" & "Yvonne Orji vs. Keith Powers"
    RidiculousnessHimselfEpisode: "Michael Rapaport"
    2019–2023The SimpsonsMike Wegman (voice)Guest cast (season 31 & 33-34)
    2020SneakerheadsHimselfEpisode: "The Match"
    Yo MamaHimselfEpisode: "I PAID Celebs $3,000 for YO MAMA JOKES"
    Cooked with CannabisHimselfEpisode: "High Holidays"
    Tournament of LaughsHimselfEpisode: "The Exceptional 8"
    2021–2022The Wendy Williams ShowHimself/Guest HostRecurring guest host (season 14)
    2022Celebrity Wheel of FortuneHimself/ContestantEpisode: "Jaime Camil, Michael Rapaport and June Diane Raphael"
    Life & BethLeonardRecurring cast
    Only Murders in the BuildingDetective KrepsRecurring cast (season 2)
    2023The Masked SingerHimself/PickleSeason 10 contestant
    Eretz NehederetAlbus Dumbledore
    Himself
    Guest (season 21)[28]
    2024FalloutKnight Titus[29] Episode: "The Target"

    Video games

    YearTitleRole
    1996Don't Quit Your Day JobSpecial appearance #2
    2001Grand Theft Auto IIIJoey Leone
    2006Saints RowTroy Bradshaw
    2008Saints Row 2
    2018NBA 2K19Coach Darren Stackhouse

    Music videos

    YearArtistTitle
    1994Frank Zappa"Civilization, Phaze III"
    1998Jay-Z"The City is Mine"
    2002Talib Kweli"Waiting for the DJ"
    2003High & Mighty"I Wanna"
    Jaylib"McNasty Filth"
    2004Masta Ace"A Long Hot Summer"
    2006Ludacris"Runaway Love"
    H2O"What Happened?"
    2017Snoop Dogg"Lavender (Nightfall Remix)"
    Sean Price"Dead or Alive"

    Works and publications

    Further reading

    External links

    Notes and References

    1. News: Branch. Kathryn. Asked and Answered: Michael Rapaport. The New York Times. July 8, 2011.
    2. Gleiberman. Owen. Kiss of Death. Entertainment Weekly. April 21, 1995.
    3. News: Colbert. Stephen. Michael Rapaport Says Jared Kushner Is A Joke. https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/cJxSXASiEbQ . December 13, 2021 . live. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. August 18, 2017. Video.
    4. News: Derdeyn. Stuart. Q&A: Michael Rapaport loves to talk. The Vancouver Sun. May 3, 2017.
    5. Web site: Real time with My Brother Professor Eric Rapaport the REAL DICK RITCHIE #TRUEROMANCE #allrapaporteverything @emily_rapaport. https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/ihlJ5-I7Z0 . December 26, 2021 . registration. michaelrapaport. en. December 29, 2013.
    6. News: Getlen. Larry. 'Parents' trap. New York Post. March 31, 2013.
    7. News: Takano. Hikari. Michael Rapaport Interview. Hikari Takano. en-gb.
    8. News: Hip-Hop Vs. Hebrew?. Jewish Exponent. January 21, 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20170215103105/http://jewishexponent.com/2013/01/21/hip-hop-vs-hebrew/. February 15, 2017.
    9. Cunningham. Kim. Chatter: The Real Skinny. People. February 13, 1995. 43. 6.
    10. News: MacMillan. Alissa. School's Cool for Rapaport Now. New York Daily News. October 29, 2001. en.
    11. News: Maron. Marc. Episode 689 - Michael Rapaport. WTF with Marc Maron. March 14, 2016.
    12. News: Dow. Danica. SOHH Exclusive: Nas & Michael Rapaport Team Up for A Tribe Called Quest Doc. SOHH.com. October 4, 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20081008221814/http://www.sohh.com/2008/10/9599.html. October 8, 2008.
    13. News: Samuel. S.. Michael Rapaport On Beats, Rhymes & Life, 'I Really Didn't Want To F*ck This Up'. SOHH.com. January 25, 2011.
    14. News: Woods. Mecca. Rapaport. Michael. Michael Rapaport Discusses His Film Beats, Rhymes & Life @ Tribeca Film Fest. Society HAE (SHAE). April 29, 2011. Video.
    15. Web site: March 29, 2023 . Samantha Fontana Blames Her Mom for Having the Lowest Uber Rating on Stern Show Staff . December 2, 2023 . Howard Stern . en-US.
    16. Web site: Clancy. Kevin "KFC". Rapaport. Michael.
      1. MAILTIME: Michael Rapaport
      . Mailtime: The Laziest Hour of Your Day by Barstool Sports . https://web.archive.org/web/20160603055653/http://www.podcastone.com/pg/jsp/program/episode.jsp?programID=657&pid=568051 . June 3, 2016. Barstool Sports. Audio podcast. November 23, 2015.
    17. Web site: Katz. Dan. Rapaport. Michael. Pardon My Take 5-18 With Comedian Michael Rapaport . Pardon My Take. Barstool Sports. Audio podcast. May 18, 2016.
    18. Web site: Glasspiegel. Ryan. Why Michael Rapaport Was Fired from Barstool. thebiglead. February 18, 2018 . 18 February 2018.
    19. News: Rapaport . Michael . Iverson . Allen . Michael Rapaport interviews Allen Iverson . https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211213/GWvFx1IerS8 . December 13, 2021 . live . BIG3 on FS1 . . May 25, 2017 . Video interview.
    20. Web site: Greene . Susan . February 28, 2024 . 'We know time is running out': Meet the Israeli filmmakers working to free the hostages . February 29, 2024 . The Forward . en.
    21. News: 'I'm Not Rapaport's,' But Lili's Ex Persists . December 7, 2017. New York Daily News. June 6, 1997.
    22. News: Errico. Marcus. Michael Rapaport Sentenced for Harassment . December 7, 2017. E! News. May 19, 1998.
    23. News: Actor ordered to stay away from girlfriend he harassed. December 7, 2017. . May 19, 1998.
    24. News: Rapaport's wife files for legal separation . Today. Associated Press. May 13, 2004. en.
    25. News: Rosenfeld. Laura. Cohen. Andy. de Lesseps. Luann. Rapaport. Michael. Remember That Time Natasha Lyonne Was Michael Rapaport's Tenant?. Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (After Show). Bravo TV. May 19, 2016. Video.
    26. News: Why Michael Rapaport won't shoot hoops with George Clooney. October 26, 2017. New York Post. November 18, 2017. en-US.
    27. Web site: Michael Rapaport shares heroic story: How he stopped man from opening plane emergency door. Carly. Mallenbaum. USA Today. "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.".
    28. News: Comedian Michael Rapaport stars in Israeli 'Harry Potter' parody of college presidents' antisemitism testimony. December 13, 2023. Lindsay. Kornick. Fox News.
    29. https://m.imdb.com/title/tt12637874/fullcredits/cast?ref_=m_ttfc_3