Jon Hamm is a big comedy nerd, says Paul Rudd

Paul Rudd has described Mad Men star Jon Hamm as a "big comedy nerd".

The Our Idiot Brother actor praised Hamm - with whom he has a longstanding friendship - in a new interview with Grantland.com.

"I've known that guy half my life, and people, at first, never realise how funny he is. At heart he's a big comedy nerd who has an encyclopaedic mind for anything," Rudd explained.

"He is genuinely a very bright guy! And he's athletic! I mean, we do have a very competitive relationship. When I say competitive, I mean we play chess a lot. And Scrabble. So when I say he's a comedy nerd at heart, what I mean is that he's just a giant nerd at heart."

Hamm has taken part in multiple comedy projects, recently appearing in Bridesmaids alongside Kristen Wiig and hosting multiple episodes of Saturday Night Live.

In June, Hamm was linked to an upcoming Judd Apatow romantic comedy opposite Bridesmaids actress Melissa McCarthy.