Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban

Birthdate
August 16, 1945 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Known For
Acting

Details

Birthdate
August 16, 1945 (79 years old)
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels.

Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women.

In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood.

In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing.

Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come.

Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars.

Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.

Bob Balaban's LGBTQ+ Titles

Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy
The Young Student
Howl
Howl
Judge Clayton Horn

Acting (128)

2023
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy as Self
2023
Asteroid City as Larkings Executive
2023
80 for Brady as Mark
2022
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
2021
The French Dispatch as Uncle Nick
2021
The Chair as Elliot Rentz (6 episodes)
2021
How Moving as Uncle Aaron
2020
Space Force as Ron (voice) (1 episode)
2019
The Politician as Keaton Hobart (8 episodes)
2019
Carl Laemmle as Himself
2018
An L.A. Minute as Shelley
2018
Summer Camp Island as Gerald (voice) (1 episode)
2018
Condor as Reuel Abbott (20 episodes)
2018
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction as Self (1 episode)
2018
Isle of Dogs as King (voice)
2017
Wormwood as Dr. Harold A. Abramson (3 episodes)
2017
Spielberg as Self
2016
Mascots as Sol Lumpkin
2016
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House as Mr. Waxcap
2016
Eva Hesse as Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
2016
Starring Austin Pendleton as Self
2016
Mike Nichols: An American Master as Self
2015
Everything Is Copy as Self
2015
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' as Self / The Narrator
2015
Hitchcock/Truffaut as Narrator (voice)
2015
Show Me a Hero as Leonard B. Sand (6 episodes)
2014
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver as Self (1 episode)
2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel as M. Martin
2014
The Monuments Men as Pvt. Preston Savitz
2014
Broad City as Arthur Wexler (3 episodes)
2013
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight as Lawyer
2013
Fading Gigolo as Sol
2013
Alpha House as Senator Elliot Robeson (2 episodes)
2012
Girl Most Likely as Maxwell
2012
Do You Like to Read? as The Narrator
2012
Moonrise Kingdom as The Narrator
2012
Girls as Therapist (1 episode)
2012
Thin Ice as Leonard Dahl
2011
A Monster in Paris as Pâté
2011
Web Therapy as Ted Mitchell (1 episode)
2011
The Five Stages of Grief as Voice of Daniel's father
2010
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood as Self (7 episodes)
2010
Howl as Judge Clayton Horn
2010
F--k as Bob
2009
Rage as Mr. White
2009
The Good Wife as Gordon Higgs (2 episodes)
2009
The Windmill Movie as Self
2008
Web Therapy as Ted Mitchell (3 episodes)
2008
Recount as Ben Ginsberg
2007
Dedication as Arthur Planck
2007
License to Wed as Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
2007
No Reservations as Therapist
2007
Prince of the City: The Real Story as Self / Santimassino
2006
For Your Consideration as Philip Koontz
2006
Lady in the Water as Harry Farber
2006
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film as Self
2005
Capote as William Shawn
2005
Trust the Man as Tobey's Therapist
2005
Hopeless Pictures (8 episodes)
2004
Tom Goes to the Mayor as Walt Pickle (voice) (1 episode)
2004
Scene Stealers as Jonathan Crouch Esq.
2004
Marie and Bruce as Roger
2003
A Mighty Wind as Jonathan Steinbloom
2002
The Tuxedo as Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
2002
The Making of 'Gosford Park' as Self
2001
The Majestic as Elvin Glyde
2001
Gosford Park as Morris Weissman
2001
Ghost World as Enid's Dad
2001
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' as Self
2001
The Mexican as Bernie Nayman
2001
Plan B as James Foster
2000
Best in Show as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
2000
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger as Tex
1999
Cradle Will Rock as Harry Hopkins
1999
George Romero's Golden Tales 2
1999
Three to Tango as Decker
1999
Now and Again (1 episode)
1999
The West Wing as Ted Marcus (1 episode)
1999
Jakob the Liar as Kowalsky
1999
Swing Vote as Justice Eli MacCorckle
1999
The Monster Hunter as Dr. William Powell
1998
Giving Up the Ghost as Bob
1997
Deconstructing Harry as Richard
1997
The Definite Maybe as Wolfe Rollins
1997
Clockwatchers as Milton Lasky
1997
Conversation with the Beast as Mr. Webster
1996
Waiting for Guffman as Lloyd Miller
1996
The Late Shift as Warren Littlefield
1996
Pie in the Sky as Paul Entamen
1995
Legend (1 episode)
1994
Friends as Frank Sr. (1 episode)
1994
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
1994
Greedy as Ed
1993
For Love or Money as Ed Drinkwater
1993
Amos & Andrew as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
1992
Bob Roberts as Cutting Edge Producer
1992
Unnatural Pursuits as Lou Finkleberg
1991
Little Man Tate as Quizmaster
1990
Alice as Sid Moscowitz
1990
The Face of Fear as Ira Preduski
1989
The Simpsons as Narrator (voice) (1 episode)
1989
Seinfeld as Russell Dalrymple (6 episodes)
1989
Dead Bang as Elliott Webley
1988
Funny as Self
1987
End of the Line as Warren Gerber
1985
Amazing Stories as Jo-Jo Gillespie (1 episode)
1984
2010 as Dr. R. Chandra
1984
Miami Vice (2 episodes)
1984
Nothing Lasts Forever as Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
1981
Whose Life Is It Anyway? as Carter Hill
1981
Absence of Malice as Elliott Rosen
1981
Prince of the City as Santimassino
1980
Altered States as Arthur Rosenberg
1978
Girlfriends as Martin
1977
Close Encounters of the Third Kind as David Laughlin
1975
Report to the Commissioner as Joey Egan
1974
The Bank Shot as Victor Karp
1972
Maude as Ambrose Riley (1 episode)
1971
Marriage: Year One as Bernie
1971
Making It as Wilkie
1970
The Strawberry Statement as Elliot
1970
Catch-22 as Capt. Orr
1969
Love, American Style as Nick (1 episode)
1969
Room 222 (1 episode)
1969
Me, Natalie as Morris
1969
Midnight Cowboy as The Young Student
1968
The Mod Squad (2 episodes)
1965
Hank (1 episode)

Directing (26)

George Romero's Golden Tales 3 • Director
• Director
2016
Graves • Director (2 episodes)
• Director (2 episodes)
2014
We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss • Director
• Director
2013
Alpha House • Director (2 episodes)
• Director (2 episodes)
2009
Georgia O'Keeffe • Director
• Director
2008
Swingtown • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
2006
Bernard and Doris • Director
• Director
2006
The Exonerated • Director
• Director
2002
The Twilight Zone • Director (2 episodes)
• Director (2 episodes)
1999
Now and Again • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1999
The Wedding Toast • Director
• Director
1999
Strangers with Candy • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1998
LateLine • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1997
Subway Stories • Director
• Director
1997
Oz • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1995
Legend • Director (2 episodes)
• Director (2 episodes)
1994
The Last Good Time • Director
• Director
1993
My Boyfriend's Back • Director
• Director
1991
Eerie, Indiana • Director (3 episodes)
• Director (3 episodes)
1990
Tales from the Darkside • Director
• Director
1989
Parents • Director
• Director
1987
Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread • Director
• Director
1985
Amazing Stories • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1984
Tales from the Darkside • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)
1983
The Brass Ring • Director
• Director
1972
Maude • Director (1 episode)
• Director (1 episode)

Production (8)

2024
Brooklyn, Minnesota • Producer
• Producer
2018
Can You Ever Forgive Me? • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2006
Bernard and Doris • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2006
The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman • Producer (16 episodes)
• Producer (16 episodes)
2006
The Exonerated • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer
2001
Gosford Park • Producer
• Producer
1999
The Wedding Toast • Producer
• Producer
1994
The Last Good Time • Producer
• Producer

Writing (5)

2001
Gosford Park • Idea
• Idea
1999
George Romero's Golden Tales 2 • Writer
• Writer
1994
The Last Good Time • Screenplay
• Screenplay
1985
Stephen King's Golden Tales • Writer
• Writer
1984
Tales from the Darkside • Writer (1 episode)
• Writer (1 episode)