Nev Schulman
He turned a personal deception into a global cultural phenomenon, teaching a generation to question the reality of online relationships.
Born 1984 (age 42)·American television host and producer·Birthday: September 26·Millennials
Biography
Nev Schulman began his career in New York's creative scene as a photographer and filmmaker, but his life pivoted dramatically in 2010. That year, a documentary he and his brother made about Nev's own experience of being romantically deceived by someone he met online became the film 'Catfish'. Its raw, personal exploration of digital identity struck a nerve, leading to a massively popular MTV series where he helps others unravel similar mysteries. Schulman, once the subject of the story, became a patient and empathetic guide for thousands, transforming a niche term into a universal cautionary label for online fakery. His work has fundamentally shaped the conversation about love, trust, and authenticity in the internet age, making him an unlikely but essential chronicler of modern connection.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Nev was born in 1984, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Nev Was Born
The biggest hits of 1984
#1 Movie
Beverly Hills Cop
Best Picture
Amadeus
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Nev's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1984Born
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1989Started school
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1997Became a teenager
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Could drive
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2002Could vote
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2005Turned 21
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2014Turned 30
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 40
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 42 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Produced and starred in the 2010 documentary 'Catfish', which popularized the term for online deception.
- Hosted and executive produced the long-running MTV reality series 'Catfish: The TV Show'.
- Authored the book 'In Real Life: Love, Lies & Identity in the Digital Age'.
- Served as a producer on the MTV series 'Are You the One?' and 'The Substitute'.
Did You Know?
He is a trained dancer and performed with the Fielfd's NYC modern dance company.
His wife, Laura Perlongo, was the first person he interviewed on the 'Catfish' TV show.
He is an advocate for the arts and co-founded the photography collective 'Heavy Metal'.
He voiced a character in the animated film 'The Emoji Movie'.
“We have to remember that behind every screen is a real person.”
