Entertainment Movies These Throwback Photos of Paul Rudd Prove He'll Always Be Our Crush for Life We've always had a crush on Paul Rudd — who turns 55 on April 6, 2024 — and these throwbacks are proof By Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger Andrea Wurzburger is a former features writer at PEOPLE. She left PEOPLE in 2022. People Editorial Guidelines Updated on April 4, 2024 04:58PM EDT Close Paul Rudd may have won the title of PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive in 2021, but for anyone who's been aware of him since his breakout role in 1995's Clueless, the designation was a long time coming. Perpetually boyishly handsome, willing to be a goofball on screen (as Anchorman fans can attest), a dedicated husband and father and a member of the Marvel crew, Rudd has really got it all — including this gallery of throwbacks dedicated to proving he is our once and forever crush. 01 of 21 '90s Baby Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty In 1995, Paul Rudd had only just begun to make us all swoon with his good looks and great hair. 02 of 21 I Love Josh! CBS via Getty Though he had some small roles in the early '90s, Rudd's big breakout role came when he swept us all off our feet as Josh in 1995's Clueless, alongside Alicia Silverstone. 03 of 21 Friendship Goals Reese Witherspoon/Instagram In 1996, Rudd joined fellow ageless wonder, Reese Witherspoon, for a selfie that might just prove they both found the Fountain of Youth. 04 of 21 Have Your Cake and Eat It Too Walt Disney Television via Getty Though he played Josh in the movie version, in 1996, Rudd played Sonny for one episode in the Clueless TV series, this time opposite Rachel Blanchard as Cher. He also fed her this cheesecake, and we have never been more jealous. 05 of 21 Smile for the Camera Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty In 1997, Rudd rocked up to the Men In Black premiere in a classic white T-shirt. 06 of 21 Taking a Dip 20th Century-Fox/Getty And then he swept Jennifer Aniston off her feet (literally) in The Object of My Affection in 1998. 07 of 21 Sick Burns Frank Trapper/Corbis via Getty There are few people who can pull off a statement sideburn, but we'd argue that Rudd is one of them. 08 of 21 Dashing Dude Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty Something about this photo of Rudd in a tuxedo at the 1998 Met Gala just screams, "I made a deal with a vampire that I would always look this classically handsome." 09 of 21 Star Struck Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic Rudd's long hair and graphic tee are a dead giveaway that this photo was taken in 1999. 10 of 21 I See You The LIFE Picture Collection via Getty Even glasses wouldn't make it easier to tell when this photo was taken (it was 2000). 11 of 21 Blond Hair, Don't Care Garrige Ho/South China Morning Post via Getty In 2000, Rudd changed up his look with some blond locks for Gen-Y Cops. 12 of 21 He's Got Soul Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection via Getty In 2000, Rudd attended a premiere donning a pretty spectacular soul patch. 13 of 21 Q & A Evan Agostini/Getty In 2003, Rudd got oh-so-meta when he spoke at the Actors On Acting: Theater and Film panel discussion at the Tribeca Film Festival. 14 of 21 Hair He Is Sylvain Gaboury/FilmMagic Those boyishly tousled locks (at the premiere of Elf in 2003) just add to the sexy. 15 of 21 Wedding Belles NBCU Photo Bank Rudd had a glow when he filmed Friends in 2004 alongside Lisa Kudrow. 16 of 21 Premiere Crasher In 2005, Rudd attended the premiere of Wedding Crashers sporting a beard. 17 of 21 Bundled Up J. Vespa/WireImage Who needs a parka when we've got Paul Rudd's love to keep us warm! 18 of 21 Hello? Is It Paul You're Looking For? J. Vespa/WireImage A cell phone fit for someone who would soon become Ant-Man. 19 of 21 'Stached Away CBS via Getty Rudd played Brian Fantana in 2004's Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy alongside comedy heavy-hitters like Will Ferrell, David Koechner and Steve Carell and we still wish we could have been there to hear them all serenade us with their rendition of "Afternoon Delight." 20 of 21 Glow for It J. Merritt/FilmMagic We'd say "never change," but it seems Rudd is already taking that advice. 21 of 21 'Majorly, Totally, Butt Crazy in Love with Josh' CBS via Getty Images Okay, because you asked for it: One more photo from his Clueless days.