TV & Film Profile

Judah Friedlander

World Champion of the World By John Wilson

A deadpan, absurdist comedian with an eye for the ironic.

Known to fans of his stand-up as the "World Champion of the World," Judah Friedlander is familiar to most others as Frank Rossitano, the slovenly, deadpan writer on 30 Rock. His look is unique—any casual viewer of the show knows him for his big glasses and always-changing trucker-hat slogans—and, despite limited screen time, Friedlander often steals the scenes in which he appears. A longtime New York City stand-up comic, Friedlander got his first TV gig on Al Franken's short-lived Lateline, which led to appearances in successful feature-length comedies Wet Hot American Summer and Zoolander, among others. Though known mainly for his dry, ironic persona, Friedlander showed off his acting range with a surprising and impressively accurate portrayal of Toby Radloff in the 2003 Harvey Pekar biopic, American Splendor. An admitted fan of ping-pong and bad art (for which he's hosted charity auctions), Friedlander is easily spotted in New York, as his costume for 30 Rock is essentially his everyday wardrobe. In 2010, he unveiled his first book, an extension of his still-active stand-up act, entitled How to Beat Up Anybody, in which the "World Champ" demonstrates his personalized version of self-defense.

TAGS: Absurd, Bad Art, Comedian, Comedy, Deadpan, Hats, Irony, New York, Non Sequitur, Stand-up,

FACTS: Born/Formed: March 16, 1969; Location: Gaithersburg, Maryland, United States; Official Site, Official Book Site, Twitter Account

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Interview