Christopher Mintz-Plasse was an actual high school student when he auditioned for the role of Fogell, better know as McLovin, in the 2007 teen comedy Superbad. The young actor was reportedly so convinced he wouldn’t get the part that he had producer Judd Apatow and co-writer Seth Rogen sign his script on his way out. And, if one of the movie's stars had his way, he would have been right. Jonah Hill, who plays Seth opposite Michael Cera's Evan, read with Mintz-Plasse during his audition, and the other actor apparently rubbed him the wrong way. "Jonah said, ‘I don’t like that guy. I don’t want him doing it,'" Apatow told Vanity Fair this year. "And I said, ‘That’s exactly why we’re hiring him. It couldn’t be more perfect. The fact that it bothers you is exactly what we want.'"
Considering that Fogell—along with his ridiculous fake ID and its poorly considered name—became the most frequently quoted character in the movie, it seems Apatow was right. His first big screen role was a huge breakthrough for Mintz-Plasse, who's still starring in funny films today. Read on to find out more about his life and career now at 33.
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He'd like people to call him by his actual name.
Vince Bucci/Getty ImagesMintz-Plasse was a regular teen before Superbad hit theaters. But he wouldn't retain his anonymity for long. “The day after [Superbad] came out, I was a nobody; 18 years old," he told Vanity Fair. I had never done anything in my life. And then the next day I go to a Habit restaurant, and then someone across the way goes ‘MCLOVIN!’ in front of, like, 40 people. Then I was like, ‘Oh, something is changing in the atmosphere here.’”
And, though he's appeared in dozens more movies and TV shows, his first role is still the one Mintz-Plasse is recognized for most often. In fact, he's been called by his character's name so often that he's pretty sick of it. “Superbad released 15 years ago TODAY," he tweeted in August, along with a link to Vanity Fair's oral history. "My life has never been the same can u stop screaming mclovin at me."
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He's still a busy actor.
Lester Cohen/Contributor/Getty ImagesHis role in Superbad kicked off a career in comedy. The year after it came out, he appeared in Role Models with Paul Rudd, while 2009's Year One reunited him with Cera. In the 2010s, he played roles in films including Fright Night, Pitch Perfect, This Is The End, Neighbors and its sequel, and The Disaster Artist. His most recent live-action roles are in 2020's Promising Young Woman, playing against type as a predatory date, and 2022's Honor Society. On TV, in addition to making guest appearances, Mintz-Plasse starred on the Joel McHale sitcom The Great Indoors from 2016 to 2017.
He's also done a lot of voice work, including playing Fishlegs Ingerman in the How to Train Your Dragon franchise and King Gristle Jr. in the Trolls movies.
He's a musician.
Harmony Gerber/Getty ImagesLiving the life of his Superbad character's dreams, Mintz-Plasse is also a rock musician. He was formerly in a band called The Young Rapscallions, who split in 2015. Now, he plays bass in another band called Colorvision, and you can watch their music videos and jam sessions on TikTok and Instagram. In a recent interview with We Talk About Music, Mintz-Plasse said that the band plans on releasing new music throughout the rest of the year and will also be touring soon.
On the star's personal Instagram, he mostly also posts about goings-on with his band, in addition to the occasional dog photo.
He’s in a relationship.
Tommaso Boddi/Getty ImagesOn Instagram, Mintz-Plasse also shares shots of his girlfriend, Brittany Bowman, including a birthday tribute captioned, "HBD2MGFIAHQ (Happy birthday to my girlfriend I am her queen)." Bowman is currently on tour with the band Volbeat as their official photographer, but when she's not working, she's accompanied Mintz-Plasse to some Hollywood events, including the premiere of Honor Society this past summer (pictured above).
