Paul Reiser

His name is Paul Reiser, A New York Native. He was born on March 30, 1957.

"Rich" is the word. As co-creator, co-writer and co-executive producer of "Mad About You," Reiser has an annual paycheck north of $10 million. With more than 100 episodes already in syndication, he stands to earn well over $100 million and perhaps eventually rival the estimated $300 million that Cosby has gleaned over the years from "The Cosby Show."

It pays to be funny. Both comics started in standup, and both have written best-selling books. Reiser's newest, "Babyhood" (Morrow, $22),

has just hit bookstores, trailing a $5.6 million advance (remember Cosby's similarly titled "Fatherhood"?). And Reiser sees no end. His son, Ezra Samuel, who will be 2 this month, has at least another 16 years before he leaves home.

In fact, he and his wife, Paula, a psychotherapist, are talking about more children, although the yuppie philosopher/angst king murmurs, "I'm not quite ready for a second one. I'm going to put it off. Someone said, 'If you have another kid, are you going to write about them?' I just %&!!#% doubt it." Whose Life Is It Anyway Don't bet on it. Reiser, 40, has based his act on his life. "The material comes from my life," he agrees, "but it's not autobiographical. I try to focus on things that are universal. In 'Babyhood,' some of it is literal and some of it is exaggerated, but nothing is specific from my household." For instance, the baby on the cover of "Babyhood" isn't Ezra. "I wanted to keep him out of the hot lights," Reiser says. "I didn't want to hear, 'What's the matter with that kid?' Bring some other baby." As for introducing Ezra to "Mad About You" fans, he says, "I don't think I'll bring him on the show. I haven't brought my wife on the show. Do people ask, 'Where's Dick Van Dyke's real wife? Where's Mary Tyler Moore's real husband?' Paula's not under wraps. She's been out in public with me." The couple met in 1983 in a Pittsburgh comedy club where she was waitressing and he was performing. "Paula's a great listener, and I'm a great talker," he says. They married in 1988. Their courtship formed the basis of Reiser's 1994 book, "Couplehood." It also inspired "Mad About You" and now its baby plotline.



"Having a baby was very synchronicitous for the show," Reiser admits, "but I didn't say to my wife, 'I know you're against it, but it would help the show.' We were on the fence, and we said, 'We know we're going to do it, so let's just do it.' " "I felt badly, because a lot of people have written to us over the years saying, 'Please don't have a kid. We love your show. We are not parents, by choice. We're thrilled to see ourselves reflected.' Obviously you can't mirror everybody. But having babies is popular."



In short, this well known actor is the perfect guy. (too bad he's already taken). Good looks, charm, lot's of cash and that sweet personality, he would melt anyones heart. He writes books and songs, produces, acts, is a loving husband and is a responsible father. What more could you ask for?


BAck to Mad Main