Before Paul Rudd became widely known as Marvel’s Ant-Man, he was recognized by many for his role as Josh in the 1995 film Clueless. However, the actor nearly missed out on landing the part due to an unexpected haircut incident shortly after his audition.
During a conversation on TODAY with Jenna and Sheinelle, Rudd shared that he originally auditioned for the film with longer, grunge-style hair. After the audition, he impulsively decided to buzz his hair short, which complicated his chances of securing the role.
I didn’t think about it after I auditioned for it. I was down the street and I walked past a barbershop and said, ‘Just buzz it.’ And they went and cut off all my hair,
Rudd recalled.
Then about a week after that, I went to a restaurant and saw Amy Heckerling, the director,
he added.
She said, ‘What did you do to your hair? You were in the running for this part.’
To continue pursuing the role, Rudd attempted to wear wigs during his screentest, but none quite captured the right look. Despite this hair setback, he eventually won the role and became part of the beloved cult classic.
Paul Rudd’s Low-Profile Fame After ‘Clueless’
Although Clueless introduced many viewers to Paul Rudd, the actor has stated that the film did not catapult him to immediate celebrity status. He described how his life and career progressed more slowly than one might expect from a breakout role.
I didn’t really feel so famous,
Rudd told People in April 2025.
I was a working actor and I still had a regular job when I was doing this [Nintendo] commercial the first time.
And then as it slowly started to, as I started getting more work, occasionally someone would say, ‘Hey, Clueless!’ or whatever,
he said.
But it wasn’t — nothing felt so different really.
And, you know, I think just the very nature of the time when there was no social media, there was no internet — everything just went by just a little bit slower,
Rudd explained, reflecting on how fame unfolded differently during that era.
Reuniting with Alicia Silverstone from ‘Clueless’ Years Later
In March 2019, Paul Rudd reunited with Alicia Silverstone, who portrayed Cher Horowitz in Clueless. Silverstone shared a photo of the two together on Instagram, marking a warm reunion long after the film’s release.
She captioned the post,
Such a sweet reunion last night at dinner with my pal #PaulRudd. I love this guy! I mean he ordered vegan for both of us….. Swoon 🤗
The post delighted fans, with one commenting,
Omg 😍😍😍😍😍 this makes my childhood heart so happy!
Another fan expressed, I’m totally buggin’, while a third wrote, Cher and Josh forever ❤️❤️
This reunion not only celebrated the enduring friendship between the stars but also reminded many viewers of the lasting impact Clueless continues to have on pop culture.
