Frat Pack


The "Frat Pack" is a nickname given to a group of comedy actors who have appeared together in many of the highest-grossing comedy movies since the mid-1990s. The group is usually considered to include Ben Stiller, Owen Wilson, Luke Wilson, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Jack Black and Vince Vaughn.

Origins

The term was used by USA Today in a June 2004 story and was soon picked up by other media outlets. Before USA Today dubbed this group the "Frat Pack", Entertainment Weekly had referred to them as the "Slacker Pack", having earlier coined the term "Frat Pack" to describe actors Leonardo DiCaprio, Tobey Maguire, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Edward Norton, who have acted together in dramas. By 2005, Entertainment Weekly had dropped the "Slacker Pack" term and followed suit, referring to the aforementioned crop of actors as the "Frat Pack".

Inspiration

The name is an allusion to the Rat Pack, combined with a reference to the group's popular fraternity-related film, Old School, and the sophomoric style of humor employed in many of their films. Ben Stiller has decried the use of the term, saying, "I think the whole thing about the Frat Pack group is completely fabricated anyway."

Membership

Initially, the core members included Jack Black, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, and brothers Owen Wilson and Luke Wilson, all of whom were recognized by USA Today in an early feature. Later, John C. Reilly, David Koechner, and Steve Carell were also included in the Pack. The previous year, USA Today had listed Carell, Paul Rudd, David Koechner, and Leslie Mann as the Frat Pack's "Junior Varsity". While hosting Saturday Night Live in September 2005, Carell indirectly claimed membership by mentioning Stiller, Vaughn, Ferrell, Owen Wilson, and Black, and saying he was "one of those guys now".
In 2005, Details Magazine called Judd Apatow, Adam McKay, and Todd Phillips "The Frat Packagers". A year later, Paul Rudd was called a Frat Pack member by the New York Post and other publications. Asked by an interviewer with The Advocate whether Knocked Up would usher him into the Frat Pack, Rudd said he was a "pledge" that hasn't "been initiated yet into the brotherhood".
Years later, in a 2011 interview, Rudd acknowledged his association with the group by saying, "As far as the Frat Pack concept goes, I'm happy to be included. I think the elder statesmen in it are really talented, and I'm a fan of all of them." In a 2008 interview with Moviefone's Unscripted, Jack Black jokingly initiated Robert Downey Jr. into the Frat Pack, due to his starring role in Tropic Thunder with Black and Ben Stiller.
The members of the Frat Pack have worked regularly with certain directors. Wes Anderson is a college friend of the Wilsons and directed them in both Bottle Rocket and The Royal Tenenbaums. Todd Phillips directed Old School and Starsky & Hutch. Adam McKay directed ', ', and Step Brothers, which included John C. Reilly in a lead role. Judd Apatow is the writer/producer of several Frat Pack comedies, including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy. He made his directorial debut with The 40-Year-Old Virgin, starring Steve Carell, and followed up with Knocked Up, starring Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd, with a cameo by Carell. Apatow was also a co-creator of The Ben Stiller Show. Wedding Crashers director David Dobkin worked again with Vince Vaughn for the Christmas comedy Fred Claus.
The Farrelly Brothers have directed Frat Pack members Ben Stiller in There's Something About Mary and The Heartbreak Kid, Jack Black in Shallow Hal and Owen Wilson in Hall Pass.
After The 40-Year-Old Virgin, there has been a consensus for branding a Team Apatow or the Apatow Mafia, which takes its name from the director/producer Judd Apatow. This group of actors, consisting of Seth Rogen, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchel, Paul Rudd, Michael Cera, Jason Segel, Jonah Hill, James Franco, Craig Robinson, Joe Lo Truglio, Martin Starr, Bill Hader, Christopher Mintz-Plasse, David Krumholtz, and Evan Goldberg, in addition to appearing frequently in films of the Frat Pack, frequently collaborate with each other. Many fans also consider them as integral members of the Frat Pack.

Filmography

All members of the Frat Pack have never appeared in a single movie together; they have come closest in Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, which featured all but Owen Wilson. Also, Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, and David Koechner have all been cast members on Saturday Night Live, and, except for Owen Wilson, all members have hosted Saturday Night Live, though Wilson did make a guest appearance in 2016. Will Ferrell, David Koechner, and Jack Black have made guest appearances on The Office with Steve Carell. They have also all presented during the Academy Awards. However, Owen Wilson and Steve Carell are the only members to be nominated for an Academy Award, with Wilson nominated for Best Original Screenplay for co-writing The Royal Tenenbaums and Carell nominated for Best Actor for his performance in Foxcatcher.
MovieJack BlackBen StillerLuke WilsonOwen WilsonVince VaughnWill FerrellPaul RuddSeth RogenDavid KoechnerClose contributors
Bottle Rocket
Lead roleLead role, writerWes Anderson, Andrew Wilson
The Cable Guy
Supporting roleLead role, directorSupporting roleJudd Apatow, Leslie Mann, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo
Bongwater
Supporting roleLead roleKyle Gass, Andy Dick, Janeane Garofalo
Permanent Midnight
Lead roleSupporting roleAndy Dick, Fred Willard
Rushmore
Minor roleCo-writerWes Anderson, Bill Murray, Andrew Wilson
The Suburbans
Supporting roleLead roleJerry Stiller
Freaks and Geeks
Minor roleLead roleMinor roleJason Segel, James Franco, Martin Starr, David Krumholtz
Meet the Parents
Lead roleSupporting roleJudah Friedlander, Teri Polo, Shauna Robertson
The Royal Tenenbaums
Lead roleLead roleLead role, co-writer, Oscar nomineeWes Anderson, Andrew Wilson, Bill Murray
Zoolander
Lead role, director, writer, producerLead roleMinor roleLead roleChristine Taylor, Andrew Wilson, Jerry Stiller, Andy Dick, Judah Friedlander, Stuart Cornfeld, Patton Oswalt
Undeclared
Minor roleMinor roleLead roleDavid Krumholtz, Martin Starr, Jay Baruchel
Orange County
Lead roleMinor roleLeslie Mann
The Third Wheel
Lead roleMinor role
Old School
Lead roleLead roleLead roleTodd Phillips, Matt Walsh, Andy Dick
Starsky & Hutch
Lead role, executive producerLead roleLead roleSupporting roleTodd Phillips, Jason Bateman, Matt Walsh
Envy
Lead roleLead roleAmy Poehler
Around the World in 80 Days
Minor roleMinor roleSteve Coogan
'
Lead roleLead role, producerChristine Taylor, Jason Bateman, Hank Azaria
'
CameoCameoMinor roleSupporting roleLead role, writer, executive producerLead roleMinor roleLead roleSteve Carell, Ian Roberts, Judd Apatow, Fred Willard, Adam McKay
'
Minor roleSupporting roleLead role, writer, executive producerLead roleMinor roleLead roleSteve Carell, Amy Poehler, Judd Apatow, Fred Willard, Adam McKay
Meet the Fockers
Lead roleMinor roleJ. P. Manoux
Wedding Crashers
Lead roleLead roleMinor role Christopher Walken
The 40-Year-Old Virgin
Supporting roleSupporting roleMinor roleSteve Carell, Jonah Hill, Jane Lynch, Leslie Mann
The Wendell Baker Story
Lead role, director, writerLead roleMinor roleAndrew Wilson
'
Lead roleSupporting roleJudd Apatow, John C. Reily, Amy Adams, Molly Shannon, Jane Lynch, Gary Cole, Andy Richter, Rob Riggle, Adam McKay
Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny
Lead role, writer, songsMinor role, producerMinor role Kyle Gass, Amy Poehler, Jason Segel
You, Me and Dupree
Lead roleSupporting roleMatt Dillon
Night at the Museum
Lead roleSupporting roleSupporting roleSteve Coogan, Robin Williams
Blades of Glory
ProducerMinor roleLead roleAmy Poehler, Will Arnett, Jenna Fischer
Knocked Up
Lead roleLead roleJonah Hill, Jason Segel, Leslie Mann, Jay Baruchuel, Martin Starr
Drillbit Taylor
Lead roleCo-writerMinor roleDanny McBride, Leslie Mann, Judd Apatow
Kung Fu Panda
Lead roleSupporting roleDavid Cross
Tropic Thunder
Lead roleLead role, director, writer, producerDropped out Steve Coogan, Christine Taylor, Danny McBride, Jay Baruchuel
Over Her Dead Body
CameoLead role
Monsters vs. Aliens
Minor roleLead roleReese Witherspoon, Rainn Wilson, Stephen Colbert, Will Arnett, Amy Poehler
'
Lead roleSupporting roleSteve Coogan, Jonah Hill, Hank Azaria, Robin Williams
Little Fockers
Lead roleLead role
Megamind
Minor Role, ProducerLead roleTina Fey, Jonah Hill, David Cross
How Do You Know
Lead roleLead roleAndrew Wilson, Kathryn Hahn, Reese Witherspoon
Kung Fu Panda 2
Lead roleSupporting roleDavid Cross, Danny McBride
The Big Year
Lead roleProducerLead role
Fight For Your Right Revisited
Lead roleLead roleLead roleAmy Poehler, Will Arnett
The Watch
Lead roleLead roleCo-writerJonah Hill
The Internship
Lead RoleLead RoleMinor RoleRose Byrne, Rob Riggle
This Is the End
Minor roleLead role, director, writer, producerJames Franco, Jonah Hill, Jay Baruchel, Danny McBride, David Krumholtz, Martin Starr, Jason Segal
'
Minor roleLead role, writerLead roleLead roleSteve Carell, Adam McKay

Lead roleSupporting roleSteve Coogan, Rebel Wilson, Robin Williams
Kung Fu Panda 3
Lead roleSupporting roleDavid Cross, Rebel Wilson
Zoolander 2
Lead roleLead roleSupporting role
Sausage Party
Supporting roleLead role, writer, producerJonah Hill, James Franco, Danny McBride, David Krumholtz
Brad's Status
Lead roleSupporting roleJenna Fischer
Boston Animated: The Vegas Spectacular
Lead roleLead roleLead roleJonah Hill, Steve Carell, Craig Robinson, Danny McBride, David Kaye, Tom Kenny, Carlos Alazraqui, Steve Blum, Charles Martinet, Carey Means, Billy West, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Vin Diesel, Bob Odenkirk
MovieJack BlackBen StillerLuke WilsonOwen WilsonVince VaughnWill FerrellPaul RuddSeth RogenDavid KoechnerClose contributors