( CNN ) -- Judd Apatow is the man behind many of the most successful comic movies of recent years . Apatow 's latest comedy `` Funny People '' pairs Adam Sandler ( left ) with Seth Rogen ( right ) . As a producer Apatow 's resume reads like an encyclopedia of comedy hits : `` Anchorman , '' `` Talladega Nights , '' `` Superbad , '' `` Forgetting Sarah Marshall , '' `` Step Brothers '' -- the list goes on . As a writer and director he is less prodigious , though his two efforts so far -- `` The 40-Year-Old Virgin '' and `` Knocked Up '' -- have garnered commercial and critical success . His brand is about as hot as it gets in U.S. comedy these days with his latest offering as director , `` Funny People '' grabbing the highest share of the American box office with $ 23.4 million on its first weekend . The 41-year-old American has an innate understanding of what makes people laugh . A former stand-up comic and writer for television sitcoms like `` The Larry Sandler Show , '' Apatow has taken to heart that old maxim that the best comedy is born out of tragedy . `` The 40-Year-Old Virgin , '' for example , follows the painful attempts of a socially awkward nerd to lose his virginity , while `` Knocked Up '' is about a pregnancy resulting from a one-night stand . Contrary to what its upbeat title might suggest , `` Funny People '' delves into even darker territory . The movie stars Apatow 's former flatmate Adam Sandler as a famous comedian who is struck down with leukemia . `` I see all the movies as dealing with my personal problems , whether it 's about virginity , bad sex , marital issues , unplanned pregnancy or , in the case of this one , death , '' Apatow told CNN . Part of the reason the Apatow brand has grown so strong is his habit of collaborating with the same group of writers and performers . Via his production company he has helped to foster the acting careers of Steve Carell , Paul Rudd and Seth Rogen . `` When someone is really good I do n't want to let go of them , '' he said . `` Every time we meet someone new and they 're great we think ' I want to use that person on the next one ' because it 's so hard to find someone that 's hysterical , interesting and fun to be around . '' Surprisingly , considering their longtime association , `` Funny People '' is the first time Apatow has helmed a feature with Sandler in it . In the movie , which also stars the director 's wife Leslie Mann , Sandler 's character is prompted by illness to re-evaluate his life . This leads on a journey of self discovery that takes him back to his roots as a stand-up comic . To gather material for the movie Apatow , Sandler and co-star Seth Rogen followed a similar trajectory , going to comedy clubs together and , according to Apatow `` doing stand-up and bombing . '' It was a nostalgic experience for Apatow and Sandler in particular , who shared an apartment in Los Angeles when they were in their twenties and both struggling comedians trying to catch a break . `` A little bit of the movie has some aspect of our repartee , '' the director told CNN . `` But that was a different time . We were really young and hungry and trying to figure out how we were going to be accepted in the world of comics and movies . `` It was very fun and exciting and we slept till noon everyday and had red lobster for lunch . So we always reminisce about that time because we had nothing going on other than our comedy sets at night . ''
Judd Apatow has had a hand in a huge number of recent comedy hits . Comment: A former stand-up comic , Apatow cut his teeth writing for U.S. TV shows .