Paul Joshua Pfeiffer is a main character from the original show The Wonder Years. He is the son of Alvin and Ida Pfeiffer, the older brother of Debbie Pfeiffer, and the grandson of Grandpa Pfeiffer. For most of the show, he was best friends with Kevin Arnold since they were infants, and the two used to celebrate their birthdays together for many years until their friendship began to strain once they entered high school. He was also very good friends with Winnie Cooper, and was the former boyfriend of Carla Healy.
He was portrayed in the show by Josh Saviano.
Biography[]
Childhood (before 1968)[]
Paul is Kevin's long time best friend, a bright and excellent student, and an allergy sufferer. He is also Jewish and in one episode celebrates his Bar Mitzvah. Although Kevin and Paul are best friends in the series' early seasons, their relationship becomes somewhat strained later.
Robert F. Kennedy Junior High School[]
7th grade (1968–1969)[]
8th grade (1969–1970)[]
Kevin begins to spend more time with other kids, and Paul in turn found a new friend. Their relation was patched to some degree when Doug Porter, one of the kids Kevin began to spend time with, later got along with both Kevin and Paul, joining in their activities such as touch football.
9th grade (1970–1971)[]
Preparatory School (1971)[]
Paul also attends a private prep school for one season, leaving Kevin alone to start public high school. In another episode, Kevin tattles on Paul after the latter loses his virginity.
William McKinley Senior High School (1972-1974)[]
Adult Years (1974–present)[]
In the final episode, it is revealed that Paul eventually graduated from Harvard and became a lawyer. Interestingly, this would reflect Josh Saviano, who played Paul. In contrast to the long-disproven rumor that he became the heavy metal singer Marylin Manson, in actuality Saviano retired from acting after the conclusion of the show, electing to attend Yale University. Like Paul did, Saviano is now a practicing attorney in New York.