A string of teen romp flicks had Paulo Costanzo well-positioned being typecast as “Annoying Friend” when he was tapped for the role as Matt LeBlanc's brainy but naive nephew-turned-roommate Michael Tribbiani on the “Friends” spin-off “Joey” (NBC, 2004 - ).
The Canadian-born actor brought a long list of film credentials to “Must See TV.” His first break was playing a deviant college student always trying to up the ante with Tom Green, Brekin Meyer and Amy Smart in “Road Trip” (2000). Costanzo then appeared with Tara Reid, Rachel Leigh Cook and Rosario Dawson in the widely-panned “Josie and the Pussycats” (2001). He then appeared in “Gypsy 83” (2001) before snagging the role as Josh Hartnett's zany, but detail-oriented roommate in “40 Days and 40 Nights” (2002).
The mischievous actor then appeared with Woody Harrelson and Alicia Silverstone in “Scorched” (2003). He later starred as the fearful Laurie in the Canadian “The Problem With Fear” (2003) and as a former ping-pong prodigy in “The Tao of Pong” (2004). Costanzo's first TV role was as the loyal, scientific-minded prince on “Animorphs” (Nickelodeon, 1998-99), based on the sci-fi book series by K.A. Applegate. The Toronto native got his start as in telepics as Young Vito in “The Don's Analyst” (1997). He also appeared with Dana Delaney in “Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples” (1998), with Dabney Coleman in “My Date with the President's Daughter” (1998).