Paul Rudd Had An Unusually British Upbringing Growing Up In America
"Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania" star Paul Rudd is as American as apple pie — if that pie was pumped with enough preservatives to make it edible decades into a zombie apocalypse. The ageless entertainer starred in the very American sitcoms "Friends" and "Parks and Recreation," and like many of his fellow Yanks, he's a huge football fan.
Paul, who grew up in Kansas City, participated in the time-honored American tradition of passing his love of a particular NFL team on to his son, Jack Rudd. Unsurprisingly, that team was the Kansas City Chiefs. Paul and his sound-alike teen even attended the 2023 Super Bowl, where an excited Jack spoke to Fox Sports about who the game's MVP was in his eyes. "I just want to thank Patrick Mahomes for existing, for putting in all the work, so we can just all enjoy his greatness every week," he gushed.
While Paul might be a diehard Kansas City fan, during an appearance on "The Howard Stern Show," the Jewish actor revealed that he did have to deal with some antisemitism growing up in the Bible belt. "What I learned kind of early on, is that if I make Jewish jokes about myself, I noticed that all of the kids would laugh really hard," he said. "It wasn't until I got older, I'm like, 'That's kind of messed up.'" And there was something else about the "Wet Hot American Summer" star's lineage that set him apart from his peers: his British roots.
Paul Rudd loves British sweets and tea
Paul Rudd's parents were both born and raised in Great Britain. In an interview with GQ, Rudd explained that they eventually settled in Kansas City, Missouri, because his dad worked for TWA, and that's where the airline's headquarters were located. His parents brought a lot of British culture with them, which Rudd embraced with gusto. "Tea! Tea has always been a big thing in my life," he told The Guardian. "And I'm not talking about Liptons with lemon or iced tea, or any of that nonsense. Has to be hot PG Tips with milk."
Rudd also remained fond of English food when he reached adulthood. "Sunday roasts and Yorkshire pudding and all of that, it's all my favorite stuff," he said when he appeared on "Hot Ones." The "Clueless" actor, who is the co-owner of the Samuel's Sweet Shop candy store located in Rhinebeck, New York, also has quite the sweet tooth. He ranked McVities Chocolate Digestives and Cadbury Fingers as some of his favorite treats from across the pond.
Rudd got to live in his parents' home country when he spent a semester at Oxford, where he studied Jacobean drama. "I associate a lot of happiness with spending time over there and working on scenes or plays that were very English," he told GQ. One of his favorite entertainers growing up was a Brit, and Rudd's musical idol was a fitting choice for the future "Ant-Man" star: Adam Ant.
Paul Rudd's close bond with his parents
Paul Rudd told The Guardian that witnessing his father, Michael Rudd, laugh while watching the zany antics of the British comedy troupe Monty Python is what made him decide to pursue his own comedy career. As a child, he discovered he already possessed the ability to make both his father and his mother, Gloria Rudd, laugh by showing off his silliest dance moves. And when Paul learned that his mom and dad were second cousins, he responded to the revelation with humor. "Which explains why I have six nipples," he joked on "Finding Your Roots," according to NJ.com. "Does this make my son also my uncle?"
Paul told The Irish Sun that his father was always fond of Ireland, which inspired the actor to turn his basement into an Irish pub. Michael had also hoped to build an Irish pub for his grandson, Jack Rudd, to inherit. "My dad started the construction on it himself, but sadly we lost him to throat cancer before it was finished," Paul said. He honored Michael's wishes by spreading his ashes across the Emerald Isle.
Meanwhile, Gloria has helped Paul raise money for the Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City. Speaking to "CBS Sunday" at one of his "Big Slick" fundraising events, she said of her son, "There are many moments when you have a child where you have a proud moment, and when I see him with anybody's children is when I love him the most."