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‘Only Murders in the Building’: Who is Paul Rudd’s Ben Glenroy based on? Here's what we know

Paul Rudd made a mark with his role as Ben Glenroy in Selena Gomez starrer show 'Only Murders in the Building'

Contains spoilers for 'Only Murders in the Building'

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: 'Only Murders in the Building' has had many celebrity guest appearances but Paul Rudd's character tops them all. If you're a fan of 'Only Murders in the Building', you might remember his brief cameo in Season 2 who becomes the main focus in Season 3.

Rudd played Ben Glenroy, a Hollywood actor working in Oliver Putnam's show 'Death Rattle'. He dropped dead on stage during the premiere, which kicked off a murder mystery for the podcaster trio in Season 3. Fans were amazed to see how Rudd's character continued to steal the spotlight even in death.

Now, let's dive into who Ben Glenroy really is—or at least, who he seems to be based on.

Paul Rudd's character in 'Only Murders in the Building' appears to be a blend of several Hollywood stars

As Paul Rudd brings his versatility to the table, his character in the Hulu show is a mix of charisma, ego, and a dash of vulnerability. If you follow closely, you'll realise that Ben might be a blend of several Hollywood stars we know today.

When you think about Ben's role in the fictional show 'Girl Cop', where he plays a high school student despite being way too old for the part, it’s hard not to think of Channing Tatum in '21 Jump Street'.

Tatum has a knack for playing those roles where he’s a bit too old to be in high school but pulls it off with humor and charm. It’s a wink to those types of roles that Tatum has made famous, making Ben feel like a meta-commentary on the industry itself.

Then there's Bruce Willis. In one scene, Mabel (Selena Gomez) and Charles (Steve Martin) are shown a wall of movie posters celebrating Ben’s career, with one standout being 'Chinook Rising', a war film.

This immediately brings to mind Willis’s career, where he juggled light-hearted roles with serious action flicks. Just like Willis, Ben seems to have dipped his toes into the gritty world of war movies, only to find himself back on the Broadway stage, trying to revive his career—albeit unsuccessfully.

And let’s not forget Tom Cruise. When Ben walks into a table read, obsessing over not eating cookies to stay in shape for his action role in 'CoBro', you can’t help but think of Cruise’s intense dedication to his roles.

Glenroy's strict diet and obsession with his appearance mirror Cruise's well-known, sometimes extreme, commitment to his action-packed roles.

Whether the creators intentionally drew inspiration from these Hollywood stars remains unknown.

Will Paul Rudd return in 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4?

Ben died in Season 2 and the trio spent the entire Season 3 finding his killer. It was eventually revealed that the producers of Death Rattle Dazzles killed Ben because he was ruining their show.

As the murder mystery was solved in Season 3, fans were worried that it would mark the end of Ben's character from the narrative, who had notable presence through flashbacks.

Despite the odds, we may expect him in Season 4 as reported by Deadline in May 2024. However, it will be interesting to see how the creators of the show will fit him into the narrative.

How to stream 'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4?

Starring Steve Martin, Martin Short and Selena Gomez, 'Only Murders in the Building' is a Hulu original show which premiered in 2021. Three seasons of the mystery comedy show are available to stream on Hulu.

Meanwhile, the streaming platform will release Season 4 on August 27, 2024.

'Only Murders in the Building' Season 4 trailer