Paulo Costanzo

After spending several years playing goofballs and zany sidekicks in teen romp films, Paulo Costanzo proved he had more to offer as a character actor. He launched his career in his native Canada prior to landing supporting roles in hormonally-charged comedies such as "Road Trip" (2000) and "40 Days and 40 Nights" (2002). Costanzo positioned himself as one of Hollywood's brightest talents after he was tapped to play Matt LeBlanc's brainy but naïve nephew on the short-lived "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004) spin-off "Joey" (NBC, 2004-06). Costanzo graduated to more adult characters in independent films, yet it was a featured role on the medical drama series "Royal Pains" (USA, 2009-16), which showcased his versatile acting skills and leading man potential.

Paulo Costanzo was born on Sept. 21, 1978 in Brampton, Ontario, Canada to an artist father and a singer-songwriter mother. Raised by such artistic parents, it did not take long for the future star to develop an interest in the performing arts. While attending Mayfield Secondary School in Brampton, Costanzo starred as Tony in a production of "West Side Story" (1961). He made his first television appearance with a guest role on "Ready or Not" (CanWest Global Communications, 1993-97), a Canadian drama series about two best friends (Laura Bertram and Lani Billard) faced with normal teenage issues - from boys, to body image, to bullying. More television work followed for the aspiring actor, including acting opposite Dabney Coleman in the made-for-television film "My Date with the President's Daughter" (ABC, 1998) and a recurring role on the science fiction series "Animorphs" (Nickelodeon, 1998-99).

Costanzo made his feature film debut in the buddy comedy "Road Trip," which followed the misadventures of four friends driving from New York to Texas. The Todd Phillips-directed film also starred Breckin Meyer, Seann William Scott and Tom Green. The following year, Costanzo played the snobby and flamboyant manager of the titular band in "Josie and the Pussycats" (2001), a live action adaptation of the beloved animated series of the same name (1963-1982). The film did less-than-stellar business, both commercially and critically. Costanzo showed his edgier acting range in the independent drama "Gypsy 83" (2001) as a college frat-boy who shares an onscreen kiss with a young, Midwestern Goth (Kett Turton). He further padded his résumé with mainstream features, from the sexually charged comedy "40 Days and 40 Nights" as Josh Hartnett's zany and detail-oriented roommate, to the crime caper "Scorched" with Alicia Silverstone, Woody Harrelson and John Cleese.

A high-profile television role on the "Friends" spin-off series "Joey" propelled Costanzo's career in 2004. He played Michael, the nephew of the beloved "Friends" character Joey Tribbiani (Matt LeBlanc) and a geeky bachelor who idolized his uncle's ability to charm many women. The cast included Drea de Matteo as Michael's loudmouthed and domineering mother and Jennifer Coolidge as an oversexed Hollywood agent. Even though the series picked up where "Friends" left off, it failed to live up to viewers' expectations and was axed after only two seasons. Following the cancellation of "Joey," Costanzo spent several years acting in independent films produced in Canada, including a starring role in the slacker comedy "Everything's Gone Green" (2006). In 2009, Costanzo was cast on the USA Network medical drama "Royal Pains." The series starred Mark Feuerstein as Hank Lawson, a successful New York E.R. doctor who accepts a job as a concierge doctor in a wealthy resort community located in The Hamptons. Costanzo played Hank's younger brother Evan, an accountant who often finds himself in embarrassing situations while trying to promote his brother's medical business.