You know Paul Rust. Maybe you’ve binged his Netflix show Love, or you’ve seen him in those weirdly charming physical comedy bits. He’s got that specific energy—goofy, lanky, and deeply sincere. But did you know he was a literal Nazi-scalping soldier in a Quentin Tarantino movie?
Yeah. Honestly, it’s one of those "wait, what?" film trivia facts that people usually have to double-check on IMDb. Paul Rust played PFC Andy Kagan in the 2009 masterpiece Inglourious Basterds.
He isn't just an extra, either. He’s one of the official Basterds. If you look at the early casting announcements from back in the day, his name was right there alongside Brad Pitt and B.J. Novak.
Who Was Private Andy Kagan?
The "Basterds" were a crew of eight Jewish-American soldiers led by Lieutenant Aldo Raine. We all remember the big hitters: the Bear Jew (Eli Roth), Sgt. Hugo Stiglitz (Til Schweiger), and the talkative Utivich (B.J. Novak).
Paul Rust’s Andy Kagan falls into that secondary tier of Basterds who are mostly there for the vibes and the violence.
Kagan is a "lifer" in the squad. He’s there in the woods when Aldo gives his famous "eight hundred Nazi scalps" speech. He’s there during the interrogation of the German soldiers. He’s essentially a part of the terrifying background noise that makes the Basterds feel like a real unit rather than just a two-man show.
Why You Might Have Missed Him
Hollywood is a weird place. Sometimes you get cast in a massive blockbuster and end up on the cutting room floor. Or, in Rust’s case, you just happen to be in a movie filled with scene-stealers like Christoph Waltz.
Rust has talked about this experience on various podcasts, most notably I Was There Too with Matt Gourley. It turns out, Tarantino actually gave every single Basterd a backstory, even if it never made it into the script. For Rust, it was less about the lines and more about the presence.
He spent months in Germany. He went through "Basterd Boot Camp." He learned how to handle period-accurate weapons and, yes, he even took a "scalping 101" course.
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The Reality of Being a "Background" Star
Being in a Tarantino film is a dream for most actors, but the reality involves a lot of sitting around in wool uniforms.
Rust has shared some pretty hilarious stories about his time on set. One involves a gift from Brad Pitt—apparently, Pitt gave the Basterds high-end sunglasses or something similar as a "thank you" for the grueling shoot.
There's also the "movie nerd" connection. We all know Tarantino is a walking encyclopedia of film. Rust is a massive film geek himself. He’s mentioned that the first time they met, they didn't really talk about the script; they just nerded out over obscure cinema. That’s probably why he got the part. Tarantino loves casting people who "get" his specific brand of movie-obsessed energy.
Where is Andy Kagan during the finale?
This is a common question. If you watch the fiery climax at the cinema, you’ll notice only a few Basterds are actually inside. Aldo, Utivich, Donny, and Omar are the ones executing the final "Operation Kino" plan.
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So, where was Paul Rust?
Basically, Kagan (along with the other "missing" Basterds like PFC Michael Zimmerman) is presumed to be elsewhere or providing exterior support. Since we never see him die, the fan theory is pretty simple: Andy Kagan survived the war. He probably went home, got married, and never told anyone about the time he helped kill Hitler in a French movie theater.
What This Role Did for Paul Rust’s Career
At the time of Inglourious Basterds, Paul Rust was a rising star in the LA comedy scene. 2009 was a huge year for him—he also starred as the lead in I Love You, Beth Cooper.
Being a Basterd gave him a weird kind of industry "street cred." It’s one thing to be a funny guy in a rom-com; it’s another thing to be hand-picked by Tarantino to play a gritty soldier.
It showed he had range. Or at least, it showed he could look sufficiently dirty and menacing in a helmet.
Why It Still Matters Today
People are still discovering Inglourious Basterds on streaming platforms every day. It’s a perennial favorite. And every few months, a fan of the show Love will be watching the scene where Aldo Raine carves a swastika into a Nazi's forehead, look at the guy in the background, and go: "Is that Gus Cruikshank?"
Yes. Yes, it is.
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It’s a reminder that even the biggest movies are built on the backs of character actors and comedians who are just happy to be there.
Your Basterds Re-watch Checklist
If you're going to dive back into the movie to find Paul Rust, keep these tips in mind:
- Look for the woods scenes: Most of his visible screentime is during the outdoor sequences where the Basterds are terrorizing German patrols.
- Check the background of the interrogation: When the "Bear Jew" comes out of the tunnel, Rust is one of the guys standing around watching the carnage.
- Listen to the "I Was There Too" podcast: If you want the real behind-the-scenes dirt, that episode is essential listening. Rust is incredibly humble and funny about the whole experience.
- Don't expect a monologue: He’s a soldier of few words in this one. It’s all about the physical performance.
Next time you’re hosting a trivia night, you’ve got a guaranteed winner. Paul Rust isn't just the king of "awkward-guy" comedy; he’s a certified Nazi hunter in the Tarantino cinematic universe.