After a brief-role in the Christian-themed direct-to-video feature Mary and Joe (2002) -- a kind of contemporary update about the immaculate conception set in modern-day New York City -- actor Josh Gad distinguished himself with a colorful supporting role on the Kelsey Grammer/Patricia Heaton-headlined sitcom Back to You (2007). The Fox series told of the hilarious and often biting rivalry between two newscasters, professionally reunited after more than a decade apart. Gad played 26-year-old Ryan Church, the diminutive, overweight, and wet-behind-the-ears news director with a mile-long geek streak. He was in the gambling drama 21, and the Rainn Wilson comedy The Rocker. He had a major supporting turn in Love and Other Drugs, and lent his voice to the 2012 animated film Ice Age: Continental Drift. Gad has also enjoyed great success acting on the Broadway stage in both The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee and The Book Of Mormon.
Josh Gad
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- Won the National Forensics League National Tournament Championship in Humorous Interpretation and Original Oratory while in high school.
- Went to high school with actor Seth Gabel, and is godfather to Gabel's son with Bryce Dallas Howard.
- Was one of the founding members of the Lost Nomads comedy troupe.
- Appeared in the 2002 Christian-themed direct-to-video feature Mary and Joe.
- Played William Barfee, owner of the magic foot, in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee.
- Followed a friend around a news station in Miami to prepare for his role as a news director on Back to You.
- Gained fame as Elder Cunningham in the hit Broadway show The Book of Mormon, although his first instinct had been to turn it down.