He first met her while performing in a small comedy club in Pittsburgh. Years later, one of their children would face a medical diagnosis that changed their family’s daily life. Around the same time, his name began disappearing from casting announcements and red carpets.
At a time when his face was a regular fixture on network television and his name carried weight in comedy and film, he made a choice that redirected the course of his life. Offers were still coming in, but he began turning his attention toward responsibilities at home, especially as one of his children required constant care.
His absence from Hollywood wasn’t abrupt, but over time, the spotlight faded as he prioritized work that allowed him to stay close to his family. What followed was a career defined less by visibility and more by intention, revealing the lesser-known side of a public figure who, for a while, chose to step out of the limelight.
Stand-Up Roots and Early Film Work
Long before his name appeared in the opening credits, he was trying to build a name for himself in New York’s stand-up comedy scene. His early ambition was modest — he hoped to land a spot on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”
However, his dry, self-aware, and conversational style caught on quickly, and the exposure he gained on stage led to film work. By the early 1980s, he had transitioned into acting with roles that would set the tone for his career.
He made his film debut in 1982’s “Diner,” followed by standout performances in box office hits like “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Aliens,” and “Beverly Hills Cop II.” Each role showcased his timing and range, balancing humor with sincerity, introducing him to a wider audience.
More film credits followed in the ’90s to the 2000s, including “The Marrying Man,” “Bye Bye Love,” and “One Night at McCool’s, adding to his reputation for low-key delivery and timing. These appearances helped him build a steady film career, but television brought him the most recognition.
Rise to TV Stardom with ‘Mad About You’
In 1992, he co-created and starred in the NBC sitcom “Mad About You.” The series would become one of the defining shows of the decade. Paired with Helen Hunt, he played Paul Buchman, a documentary filmmaker navigating married life in New York City.
The show ran for seven seasons, ending in 1999, and received multiple awards and nominations. For his role, he was nominated for ten Emmy Awards, four Golden Globes, several Screen Actors Guild Awards, and American Comedy Awards.
The show won several Emmys and Golden Globes, earning critical acclaim for its writing, timing, and grounded portrayal of marriage. During the same period, he became a bestselling author.
His first book, “Couplehood,” written in his familiar comedic voice, sold over two million copies and reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Sellers list. He followed it with “Babyhood” and later “Familyhood,” centered around personal reflections on parenting and daily life.
The success of these books expanded his reach beyond television and stand-up. As a performer and writer, he became one of the most recognizable figures of the 1990s entertainment industry.
Raising a Son with Cerebral Palsy
In 1982, while performing stand-up at a comedy club in Pittsburgh, he met Paula Ravets, a waitress. They married in 1988 and had two sons, Ezra and Leon. Ezra, their eldest, was diagnosed with cerebral palsy — a condition that would come to shape many of their day-to-day decisions.
The actor didn’t speak publicly about Ezra’s condition until years later. In 2016, during The Center’s 15th annual luncheon in Houston, he addressed the audience with sincerity and humor, sharing details about Ezra’s life and their family’s experience.
The tone was consistent with how he had often written about parenting — honest, observant, and never self-pitying. His later remarks clarified that the demands at home played a role in how he structured his professional life.
While he never stepped away completely, his on-screen appearances became less frequent as his family responsibilities took precedence.
Shift to Writing, Producing, and Theater
As his priorities shifted at home, his work in the entertainment industry moved largely behind the scenes. In the early 2000s, he focused on writing and producing through his company, Nuance Productions.
Among the projects developed were original films and series for NBC and Showtime, including “Strange Relations” (2001), starring Julie Walters, and Women vs. Men (2002), featuring Joe Mantegna and Christine Lahti.
In 2003, he made his stage debut in “Writer’s Block,” a two-part play directed by Woody Allen. Two years later, he wrote and starred in the film “The Thing About My Folks” (2005), acting opposite Peter Falk, Olympia Dukakis, and Elizabeth Perkins.
The story, which he also scripted, centered on a father-son relationship and further reflected his shift toward more personal, character-driven projects.
Though he no longer appeared regularly on television or in studio films, he remained active in creative roles that gave him more flexibility. This allowed him to continue working without compromising time with his family.
Return to Television and Streaming Roles
In the years that followed, he gradually returned to acting. He joined the cast of FX’s “Married,” appeared in Amazon’s “Red Oaks,” and later took a recurring role in Netflix’s “The Kominsky Method,” working alongside Michael Douglas and Alan Arkin.
His reappearance in the popular series introduced him to a new generation of viewers. In 2017, he was cast as Dr. Sam Owens in “Stranger Things,” a government official involved in the show’s central mystery. The role continued into later seasons and brought him back into mainstream visibility.
Then, in 2022, he made a guest appearance in “The Boys,” taking on the role of The Legend — a former Vought executive known for managing superheroes. Speaking to Variety, he admitted that he hadn’t been familiar with the show before being cast.
“I knew precious little about the show. I had not seen the show. I don’t think I’d heard of the show,” he said. “But the fun part is to get invited and jump in.” The roles were selective but notable — each one a reminder of Paul Reiser’s range and his comfort with stepping back in when the timing was right.
Rebooting ‘Mad About You’ and Collaboration with Helen Hunt
In 2019, two decades after “Mad About You” ended its original run, Paul and Helen returned to the series for a reboot. Premiering on Spectrum Originals, the revival revisited their characters — Paul and Jamie Buchman — now adjusting to life as their daughter leaves for college.
