Legendary comedian and New York Times bestselling author Judd Apatow is back with another book — and it’s bringing the receipts.
The 40-Year-Old Virgin co-writer and director is releasing his new, highly visual memoir on Oct. 28. Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures offers a rare glimpse into Apatow’s creative life.
Random House
Cover of Judd Apatow’s new memoir, ‘Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures.’
Through hundreds of never-before-seen photos, letters, scripts and drafts, Comedy Nerd tells the story of his decades-long comedy career and the many people whose paths have crossed his along the way. He’s worked with fellow comedians Steve Carell, Adam Sandler, Amy Schumer and many more — Lena Dunham, Apatow’s longtime collaborator and Golden Globe-winning creator of HBO’s Girls, lent her writing talents for the introduction.
“When I was a kid, I was obsessed with this book called The Marx Bros. Scrapbook, which told their story with essays and photos and memorabilia,” Apatow told PEOPLE in a statement. “I thought this approach was a great way to explore my lifelong obsession with comedy and might one day lead me to throw away the hoarding mountains I have collected which my family currently drowns in.”
Courtesy of Judd Apatow
Young Judd Apatow dressed up as Harpo Marx.
He added: “I saved literally everything my entire career and have so much stuff that nobody has ever seen.”
Related: Paul Rudd Says He and Judd Apatow Were Actually ‘Pen Pals’ Before Meeting in Person for the First Time in the Early 2000s
Apatow, who lives in Los Angeles with his wife Leslie Mann, is also using the book to give back to his community. According to publisher Penguin Random House Books, proceeds after expenses are being donated to Fire Aid and 826 National. The organizations benefit those affected by the 2025 L.A. fire and tutoring and literacy programs, respectively.
“Judd Apatow has put together an amazing scrapbook of his life and career. The best part? There’s a lot of pictures. And the stuff that isn’t pictures? You don’t even have to look at! Now if you do read the words, you’ll be delighted. But again, personally, I didn’t. Apatowww! You the best!!!” Adam Sandler wrote in an early blurb for the book.
Courtesy of Judd Apatow
Judd Apatow and Jay Leno
Martin Short said, “I’ve known this boy since he was 16 and even then I wasn’t sure if he’d make it. It only took him 576 pages to prove me wrong.”
Related: Paul McCartney Recounts Spreading His Wings in New Oral History — See the Cover! (Exclusive)
In 2015, Apatow released his first book, Sick in the Head: Conversations About Life and Comedy. The New York Times bestseller features Apatow’s intimate and hilarious conversations with some of the biggest names in comedy, including Mel Brooks, Jerry Seinfeld, Jon Stewart, Sarah Silverman and more. A year later, the book was rereleased in May 2016 to include even more interviews.
Neilson Barnard/Getty for Vanity Fair; Random House
L: Judd Apatow; R: The cover of Apatow’s book ‘Sick in the Head.’
On March 29, 2022, Apatow put out the highly anticipated sequel, Sicker in the Head: More Conversations About Life and Comedy. The author once again interviewed comedy legends like David Letterman, Whoopi Goldberg and Will Ferrell as well as those newer to the comedy scene, including Hannah Gadsby, Bowen Yang, Amber Ruffin and more.
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Comedy Nerd: A Lifelong Obsession in Stories and Pictures comes out on Oct. 28 and is available for preorder now, wherever books are sold.
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