# Paul Rust
**Paul Rust** (birth name Paul Robert Rust) is an American actor, comedian, and writer best known as the co-creator and star of the Netflix romantic comedy series *Love*, in which he played Gus Cruikshank opposite [Gillian Jacobs](https://www.edgepedia.org/gillian-jacobs) from 2016 to 2018. His screen acting credits include the lead role in *I Love You, Beth Cooper* (2009) and an appearance in [Quentin Tarantino](https://www.edgepedia.org/quentin-tarantino)'s *Inglourious Basterds* (2009), and his writing credits include *Pee-wee's Big Holiday* (2016), co-written with [Paul Reubens](https://www.edgepedia.org/paul-reubens).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1981, Le Mars, Iowa; birth name Paul Robert Rust[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/) |
| Breakthrough roles | Lead in *I Love You, Beth Cooper* (2009) and a part in *Inglourious Basterds* (2009)[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust) |
| Signature work | *Love* (Netflix, 2016–2018), co-created with Lesley Arfin and Judd Apatow; 34 episodes as actor, writer, and producer[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1770256) |
| Pee-wee work | Writer on *The Pee-wee Herman Show on Broadway* and co-writer of *Pee-wee's Big Holiday* (2016) with Paul Reubens[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/) |
| Podcast presence | Frequent guest on the *Comedy Bang! Bang!* podcast with 32 appearances and the recurring "New No-Nos" segment; co-host of *With Gourley and Rust*[4](https://comedybangbang.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Rust) • [5](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/paul-rust-james-franco-anne-hathaway-oscars-b2671869.html) |
| Voice work | Ham Tobin in *The Great North* (2021– ) and roles in *Santa Inc.*, *Digman!*, and *Bob's Burgers*[6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/paul-rust/) |
## Early life and start in comedy
Rust grew up in Le Mars, Iowa, and has described the town as a place with little to do, where he occupied himself with movies and television. He has said he came of age as the priced-to-own VHS market began, watching films by [Robert Zemeckis](https://www.edgepedia.org/robert-zemeckis) and [Tim Burton](https://www.edgepedia.org/tim-burton) repeatedly, and that he began writing short stories and plays around third grade.[7](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/love/)
After graduating from the [University of Iowa](https://www.edgepedia.org/university-of-iowa) in 2004, he moved to Los Angeles and performed stand-up and improv regularly at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theater. His first credited roles were in the film *Exquisite Corpse* (2004) and the [Nickelodeon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nickelodeon) series *Drake & Josh* (2004–07). In the same period he wrote for television, including *Moral Orel* ([Adult Swim](https://www.edgepedia.org/adult-swim), 2005–08) and *Rob & Big* (MTV, 2006–08).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust)
## Screen acting
Following a bit part in the [Will Ferrell](https://www.edgepedia.org/will-ferrell) film *Semi-Pro* (2008), Rust's profile rose sharply in 2009: he played the lead, Denis Cooverman, in the Chris Columbus comedy *I Love You, Beth Cooper* opposite [Hayden Panettiere](https://www.edgepedia.org/hayden-panettiere), and appeared in *Inglourious Basterds*. [The Observer](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-observer) described the comedy-writer quality that got him cast as the lovelorn valedictorian in the former film.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust) • [8](https://observer.com/2017/02/paul-rust-netflix-love-tv-show/)
After 2009 he moved more into supporting and voice roles, including appearances in *Parks and Recreation*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, *Drunk History*, *Super Fun Night*, and *Black Monday*, and voice parts in cartoons such as *Aqua Teen Hunger Force* and *Bob's Burgers*.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/paul-rust/) Since 2021 he has voiced Ham Tobin in the animated series *The Great North*.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/paul-rust/)
## Love
Rust co-created *Love* with his wife, the writer Lesley Arfin, and director-producer [Judd Apatow](https://www.edgepedia.org/judd-apatow). The series follows the relationship between Gus Cruikshank, played by Rust, a tutor to child actors, and Mickey Dobs, played by Gillian Jacobs, a radio program manager in Los Angeles, through the period between meeting someone and making the relationship work.[7](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/love/) • [9](https://time.com/4217024/love-funnier-when-the-glow-is-gone/) It ran for 34 episodes on Netflix from 2016 to 2018, with Rust credited as creator, writer, producer, and lead actor.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1770256)
Although the show was initially promoted as loosely inspired by Rust and Arfin's own relationship, Rust said in a 2017 interview that the writers decided not to make it about their marriage but about relationships of friends and family, drawing on a large writing staff. He described the writers' room as steeped in self-analysis, saying it "can feel like therapy."[10](https://www.awardsdaily.com/2017/06/21/paul-rust-interview/) • [11](https://www.slashfilm.com/543323/pee-wees-big-holiday-paul-rust-interview/) He framed the three seasons as a progression: season one asked whether the other person was worth it, season two whether to be in a relationship at all, and season three how to make a chosen relationship work.[10](https://www.awardsdaily.com/2017/06/21/paul-rust-interview/)
## Writing for Pee-wee and other projects
Rust worked with Paul Reubens on the Pee-wee Herman Broadway revival show as a credited writer, then co-wrote the Netflix film *Pee-wee's Big Holiday* (2016) with Reubens; Judd Apatow produced. Rust has said he was a lifelong Pee-wee fan, and that Reubens, as the character's creator, "was the captain of the ship" during writing, with the pair learning that Pee-wee's dialogue often consists of sounds and exclamations rather than one-liners.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/) • [12](https://time.com/4263336/pee-wees-big-holiday-paul-reubens/) • [11](https://www.slashfilm.com/543323/pee-wees-big-holiday-paul-rust-interview/)
His other television writing includes story editor duties on the fourth season of *Arrested Development*, writing for *Comedy Bang! Bang!* (IFC, 2012–15), and the 2021 holiday special *Santa Inc.*[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/person/paul-rust/)
## Podcasts and improv
Rust is a frequent guest on the *Comedy Bang! Bang!* podcast, with 32 listed appearances, a recurring segment called "New No-Nos," and a roster of characters including Cal Shipsby and the Bachelor Brothers. He sometimes appears with his band Don't Stop or We'll Die, in which he is lead singer and bassist.[4](https://comedybangbang.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Rust) With Matt Gourley he co-hosts the podcast *With Gourley and Rust*; on a 2024 episode he recounted filming a [CollegeHumor](https://www.edgepedia.org/collegehumor) promotion with [James Franco](https://www.edgepedia.org/james-franco) two days after the panned 2011 Oscars ceremony.[5](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/paul-rust-james-franco-anne-hathaway-oscars-b2671869.html)
## Personal life
Rust has been married to Lesley Arfin since 2015; they have one child.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1770256)
## References
1. [Paul Rust – Actor, Comedian, Writer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/paul-rust/)
2. [Paul Rust Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/paul-rust)
3. [Paul Rust – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1770256)
4. [Paul Rust – Comedy Bang! Bang! Wiki](https://comedybangbang.fandom.com/wiki/Paul_Rust)
5. [Paul Rust says he saw James Franco 'flip out' after panned 2011 Oscars hosting gig, The Independent](https://www.the-independent.com/arts-entertainment/films/news/paul-rust-james-franco-anne-hathaway-oscars-b2671869.html)
6. [Paul Rust – Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/paul-rust/)
7. [Let characters be at the top of their intelligence: Paul Rust on Love, Creative Screenwriting](https://www.creativescreenwriting.com/cswcms/love/)
8. [Paul Rust's Real-Life, Celebrity-Filled 'Love' Story, Observer](https://observer.com/2017/02/paul-rust-netflix-love-tv-show/)
9. [Review: Netflix's Love Is Funnier When the Glow Is Gone, Time](https://time.com/4217024/love-funnier-when-the-glow-is-gone/)
10. [Paul Rust On the Evolution of 'Love', Awards Daily](https://www.awardsdaily.com/2017/06/21/paul-rust-interview/)
11. ['Pee-Wee's Big Holiday' Writer Paul Rust On How You Write A Pee-Wee Herman Movie, /Film](https://www.slashfilm.com/543323/pee-wees-big-holiday-paul-rust-interview/)
12. [Pee-wee Herman Is Back and He Hasn't Aged a Day, Time](https://time.com/4263336/pee-wees-big-holiday-paul-reubens/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Ro to R*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license