Sometimes, the greatest gift an actor can receive isn’t a role or an award, it’s feeling like you belong where you are and where you’re headed. ForThe Santa ClausestarDavid Krumholtz, who famously played Bernard the Elf, that was the gift he bestowed when he became an unexpected mentor to a teenageSeth Rogen. In a recent interview with Collider’sPerri Nemiroff, Rogen reflected on the impact Krumholtz had on his early career, crediting him as one of the first people in the industry to believe in him during the early days of his career.
Rogen was speaking alongsideBilly Eichnerto promote their upcoming Disney filmMufasa: The Lion Kingwhen Nemiroff asked the duo to reflect on people who helped them feel like they belonged in the entertainment industry during their early years. Rogen didn’t hesitate to name Krumholtz, whose iconic role as Bernard made him a familiar face to millions of ’90s kids. It remains to be seen if Krumholtz called Rogen “sport,” like Bernard calls Charlie Calvin in the movie, though.
How Did Seth Rogen and David Krumholtz Become Friends?
Rogen and Krumholtz met during the brief but beloved run ofFreaks and Geeks, which is routinely named as one of the best and underrated cult television series of all time, and helped launch the careers of Rogen,James Franco, Linda Cardellini,Martin Starr, Jason Segel,John Francis Daley,and others. Rogen told Collider:
“For me, it was actually David Krumholtz because he was someone that I grew up watching, and I met him when I was 16.He was onFreaks and Geeks, and we became very good friends. He was very successful, by all means, and I remember being like, ‘Oh, he seems to be embracing me and thinks I’m talented and seems to like me.’ And he was someone that made me think like, ‘He seems to think I have it, and he’s seen a lot of people come and go at his young age.’”
Eichner, who shared his own story of finding community withfriends and collaborators in New York after college, couldn’t help but chime in with a personal connection to Krumholtz:“That’s so nice.David Krumholtz and I went to junior high school togetherand Jewish day camp right before he got whisked away to Hollywood. So, that’s so cute.Now we’re friends again all these years later.”
The Santa Clauseis currently streaming on Disney+.Mufasa: The Lion Kingopens in theaters on December 20. Don’t miss the rest of Nemiroff’s conversation with the cast here at Collider.
The Santa Clause
When a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.
Watch on Disney+
