Judd Apatow is a bit of an all rounder a screenwriter, director and producer whose comedy films, labelled as geek chic, have dominated the box office in the last twelve months. He is also the only non actor to make this series of breakthrough stars.Apatow began his career as a stand up comic before taking up screenwriting classes at the University of Southern California.After dropping out of USC after two years he found little success as a performer so began writing jokes for other comedians.During the early to mid nineties he worked on The Ben Stiller Show and The Larry Sanders Show, winning an Emmy, before he was hired to pen The Cable Guy.The movie was released in 1996 and was a big hit. But Apatow went back to his television roots producing Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared which, despite being axed because of low ratings, earnt a cult following.He didn't return to movies until 2004 when he produced comedy Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy the first in a long line of box office hits.

He followed up Anchorman with The 40 Year Old Virgin, which he directed and co-wrote, which went on to be one of the surprise hits of 2005 grossing over $170 million and bagging a Best Original Screenplay nomination at the Writer's Guild of America Awards.

But 2007 has been the most successful year for the with the release of Knocked Up. Written, produced and directed by Apatow Knocked Up follows career minded Alison Scott who discovers she is pregnant after a one night stand with lazy Ben.

Alison decides to keep the baby and the seemingly mismatched couple decide to give their relationship a chance.

The film was a late summer hit grossing over $200 million at the worldwide box office as well as launching the movie career of television actress Katherine Heigl as well as making a household name of Seth Rogan.

Apatow followed this up quickly with Superbad, a script penned by Rogan, where he was the producer.

And 2008 looks like it's going to be a very busy year for Judd Apatow with five movies in the pipeline. Producer on Drillbit Taylor, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Pineapple Express these movies are all completed

A fourth movie Step Brothers is currently in post production plus he has also found time to write the script for Don't Mess with the Zohan.

FemaleFirst Helen Earnshaw