Actor Paul Schneider initially made a name for himself as flawed, but relatable characters in several small films before moving into more mainstream fare on television. A friend and classmate of David Gordon Green while attending the North Carolina School for the Arts, it was a natural progression for Schneider to appear in the writer-director's first two feature films, "George Washington" (2000) and "All the Real Girls" (2003). The latter effort, in particular, gave the actor enough exposure to land work in projects like Cameron Crowe's dramedy "Elizabethtown" (2005) and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford" (2007). More prominent performances in the dramas "Lars and the Real Girl" (2007) and "Bright Star" (2009) illustrated just how versatile Schneider was, causing people to take notice. So much so, that his regular cast role on the television comedy "Parks and Recreation" (NBC, 2009-15) was written out after just two seasons when further film offers lured the actor away. Subsequent screen efforts included a supporting turn in the Reese Witherspoon-Robert Pattinson period romance "Water for Elephants" (2011). By embracing the possibilities offered by both network television and independent film, Schneider ensured himself a healthy future in Hollywood. Some of his directorial credits include ''

Baywatch ''Baywatch'' is an American action drama television series about lifeguards who patrol the beaches of Los Angeles County, California, and Hawaii, starring David Hasselhoff. It was created by Michael Berk, Douglas Schwartz, and Gregory J. Bonann, ...

'', ''

Beverly Hills, 90210 ''Beverly Hills, 90210'' (often referred to by its short title, ''90210'') is an American teen drama television series created by Darren Star and produced by Aaron Spelling under his production company Spelling Television. The series ran fo ...

'', ''

L.A. Law ''L.A. Law'' is an American legal drama television series that ran for eight seasons on NBC, from September 15, 1986, to May 19, 1994. Created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher, it centers on the partners, associates and staff of a Los ...

'' and '' JAG''. He has also directed a number of television films, including ''

You Lucky Dog ''You Lucky Dog'' is a 1998 American television fantasy comedy film directed by Paul Schneider and starring Kirk Cameron. It first aired as a Disney Channel Original Movie on June 27, 1998. Plot Jack Morgan is a dog therapist, once famous for be ...

'' and ''

Can of Worms Can of worms is an idiom referring to a slew of subsequent problems and dilemmas arising from a decision or action. The phrase may also refer to: Transportation * Can of Worms (interchange) in Rochester, New York * Can of Worms (Minnesota interc ...

'' for

Disney Channel Disney Channel, sometimes known as simply Disney, is an American pay television channel that serves as the flagship property of Disney Branded Television, a unit of the Disney General Entertainment Content division of The Walt Disney Compan ...

External links

* American film directors American television directors Living people Place of birth missing (living people) Year of birth missing (living people) {{tv-director-stub