Being a teenager is some of the best, and most formative, years of our lives. As we transition from childhood to adulthood, the road of self-discovery is complex, fun, and usually difficult. For a long time, TV shows and sitcoms have endeavored to capture this transition, but none have done so more iconically than The Wonder Years. Everyone knows Fred Savage’s memorable role as Kevin Arnold, but what happened to Josh Saviano, who played Kevin’s best friend, Paul? Keep reading to find out!
Background Info
Josh Saviano was born on March 31, 1976. His father, Ralph is Italian-American and his mother, Jane, is Jewish. His father worked as a financial consultant. Though he was born in White Plains, New York, he was raised in North Caldwell, New Jersey.
The Wonder Years
Josh Saviano’s first role was a single line in an Aim toothpaste commercial.
However, his main acting credit is due to his performance in The Wonder Years. This show centered on Kevin Arnold, a young teen growing up in a suburban middle class family.
The show also featured Kevin’s family: his mother Norma, father Jack, older sister Karen, and older brother Wayne. The show aired for six seasons in the late 80s-early 90s, but was set in the late 60s-early 70s as a coming-of-age comedy drama.
Josh Saviano starred in The Wonder Years as Paul Pfieffer, Kevin’s best friend throughout the entire series. As the teenagers got older, the show transitioned to focus more on Kevin and his friends – including his on-again-off-again girlfriend, Winnie – as they navigated teenage life, love, and everything in between.
The same year The Wonder Years first aired, Saviano played Kid Belz in the movie The Wrong Guys. Outside of the hit show, Saviano had a few other minor roles. He guest starred as Willie in a single episode of The Ray Bradbury Theater.
Saviano also appeared as himself in a single episode of The New Mickey Mouse Club and Reading Rainbow, both in 1989. He played Max Plotkin in the 1990 made-for-TV-movie Camp Cucamonga.
Life After Acting
Saviano also had an uncredited cameo in the movie The Wizard, starring his Wonder Years co-star Fred Savage. After these appearances, Saviano quit acting in 1993.
After his role in The Wonder Years, Saviano quit acting to pursue his education and a legal career.
Saviano went to Yale University for his undergraduate degree, majoring in political science. While there, he joined – and later became president of – Sigma Nu fraternity. After receiving his BA in 1998, Saviano became a paralegal for a New York law firm.
In 2000, he earned a J.D. degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University. Afterwards, he was admitted to the bar in New York.
After graduating from law school and passing the New York bar exam, he joined Morrison Cohen LLP law firm.
Where Is He Now?
He became a Senior Counsel in 2011 and Partner in 2013. However, in March 2015, he left the firm and founded Act 3 Advisors, a brand consultancy for celebrities. At Act 3, Saviano helps individual stars form their own branded identity, much like modern influencers.
Since January 2018, Saviano has been President of Spotlight Advisory Group, Inc., which he co-founded in New York. The corporation serves as an independent advisory and creative management firm for artists, entertainers, athletes, influencers, etc. Saviano now primarily works in this field of entertainment and law.
Saviano briefly reprised his acting career from 2014-2016 to play Don Taft, a lawyer, in three episodes of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Otherwise, he has remained off-screen.
Personal Life
Josh Saviano married Jennifer Saviano (née Romer) in 2002. They share one 15-year-old daughter, Noa Isabel Saviano.
Saviano is active on social media. His Twitter and Instagram pages can be found @joshsaviano. On social media, he mixes his professional interests with his personal life. He shares his passion for creativity, largely due to his company Spotlight, as well as more personal moments, like his daughter’s homemade pie.
He also follows his Wonder Years co-star Danica McKellar, who played Winnie. Saviano even celebrated the 33 year anniversary of the show on Instagram in 2021 with a long, heartfelt post.
He can be found on LinkedIn, where he reminiscently has his role on The Wonder Years listed alongside his professional legal and creative accomplishments. Saviano is passionate about playing fantasy sports.
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