Rising Star: Andy Samberg

Funnyman Andy Samberg has been making audiences laugh since 2005 on “Saturday Night Live.” Next week though, the 28-year-old shows just how much his star is on the rise as he takes on the lead role in a feature Hollywood film – the comedy “Hot Rod.”

In the movie, Samberg stars as good-hearted daredevil Rod Kimble, who prepares for a giant jump for charity, earning money for his step-father’s much needed heart operation. The twist? Kimble’s step-father is abusive and he plans to fight his daddy-dearest after the old man recovers.

The funny film is poised to capture the attention of young America, looking for laughs and an on-screen love interest, which pairs Samberg opposite Australian beauty, and Sacha Baron Cohen’s soon-to-be missus, Isla Fisher.

Beyond his box office leap, Samberg’s stomping grounds are the halls of 30 Rock, where Saturdays often find him involved in hilarious SNL music skits.

In 2005, Samberg’s “Lazy Sunday” white boy rap — with Chris Parnell, about the twosomes goal to see “The Chronicles of Narnia,” got more than just TV ratings. The clip was an instant hit on the blossoming YouTube, with people sending the rap the world over.

Another of Samberg’s many comedic musical attempts, “D**k In A Box,” co-starring pop singer Justin Timberlake, also set pulses racing and fans scrambling to write their own parodies of the hilarious clip. Recently, Samberg was shocked, when that song was nominated for an Emmy.

Samberg’s penchant for musical routines on the sketch comedy show has had fans calling him the next Adam Sandler. It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise if the curly-coifed actor followed in Sandler’s footsteps, becoming a big, comedic, box office draw. Following “Hot Rod,” Samberg has a host of upcoming movie projects including “Space Chimps” alongside Stanley Tucci and Christian Chenoweth.

His personal life seems to be going pretty well too. Samberg has been linked with, though declined to comment on, a host of leading ladies including Kirsten Dunst and most recently Natalie Portman.