Rugg has worked extensively in the field of animation. His list of credits include writing for, co-producing, and playing the voices of several cartoon characters, first being credited as "Mr. Director" (a Jerry Lewis-esque character when he screams) from Animaniacs. Afterwards, he voiced the title character in Freakazoid! and the Histeria! portrayal of Nostradamus but it was replaced by Tom Kenny, as well as the main recurring villain, the Dark Lord Chuckles The Silly Piggy in the Disney series Dave The Barbarian. Rugg also appeared live as the eccentric character "Manny" in the ABC Kids short Manny the Uncanny.

Rugg created and directed The Sam Plenty Cavalcade of Action Show Plus Singing! with Mitch Schauer, on behalf of The Jim Henson Company. He also played the voice of Principal Rotwood in the Disney Channel Original series American Dragon Jake Long.

Rugg was once...along with Adam Carolla and John P. McCann (his co-producer on Freakazoid!)...an improvisational actor at the Acme Comedy Theatre in Los Angeles, where he created the character Manny the Uncanny.

Rugg was recruited to the Warner Brothers Television Animation team headed up by Jean MacCurdy and Tom Ruegger and was a key contributor to their various series in the 1990s. Rugg recently moderated a panel about some of the classic series produced during this time at Comic-Con in 2008. (Participants included Paul Dini, Jean MacCurdy, John P. McCann, and Andrea Romano)

Rugg has been nominated for several Emmys, and has received three. He lives up the coast from Los Angeles with his wife and daughter.