Jay Baruchel was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada, and spent his childhood in Montreal, Quebec, where he was raised by his parents, Robyne (Ropell),a freelance writer, and Serge Victor Baruchel, an antiques dealer. He has a younger sister who also pursued a career in acting. Baruchel's early start in the entertainment industry began in 1995 with three appearances on the popular television show "Are You Afraid of the Dark?" He later landed roles in more localized shows, such as "My Hometown" and "Popular Mechanics for Kids," in 1996 and 1997, respectively.
After taking some time to focus on other aspects of his life, Baruchel landed a role in the 2000 film "Almost Famous," where he played the character "Vic," a devout fan of Led Zeppelin. This was followed by a stint on the television show "Undeclared," where he played the character "Steven Karp" from 2001 to 2003. Baruchel's big-screen career continued to gain momentum with roles in films such as "The Rules of Attraction" (2002),"Million Dollar Baby" (2004),"Fetching Cody" (2005),"Just Buried" (2007),and "Real Time" (2008).
In the 2010s, Baruchel appeared in a number of successful American comedy films, including "She's Out of My League" and "Knocked Up." He also lent his voice to the character "Hiccup" in the animated film "How to Train Your Dragon" and played the title role in "The Sorcerer's Apprentice" alongside Nicolas Cage. Baruchel's passion for comedy led him to star in the hockey-themed comedy "Goon" in 2011, and he has since continued to work on various films and projects that align with his values and interests.