If you had to call comedy another name, you could call it “Judd Apatow.” The multi-talented writer/director/producer has dominated the face of funny over the  past decade, and he’s responsible for some of the best laugh-out-loud films ever made. From his early features like (our childhood must-see) Heavyweights to small screen gems like Freaks and Geeks, and all the way through to box office busters like Superbad and Anchorman: The Legend Of Ron Burgundy, his movies have defined comedy to a generation of people, and we’re thankful for all that laughs he’s given us over the years.

But we’re not the only people who should be thankful. Some of the biggest comedy stars in the world today got their big breaks by featuring in Judd’s movies. From James Franco to Seth Rogen and Jason Segel, Mr. Apatow can spot a career-making hit a mile off. What is the deal with his insane success rate? How is he able to produce such memorable characters that propel the actors into the mega-successful stratosphere?

The answer is simple: The Man-Child. Judd Apatow is the king of the emotionally stunted, delightfully immature, hilariously inept and maladjusted male who just can’t be a functional adult no matter how hard he tries. It’s a hallmark of all of his work. Whether it’s Steve Carell’s wax agony in The 40 Year Old Virgin, Seth Rogen staring down the  barrel of fatherhood in Knocked Up, or Jason Segel’s nude and heartbroken misery in Forgetting Sarah Marshall, we laugh so hard at these folks because we see our own faults in their complete and utter dysfunction. So in honor of Judd’s big day, we counted down our 15 favorite man children that he brought to the screen. We hope you enjoy it!

[Photo: Columbia Pictures/Universal Pictures]