Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky

Birthdate
May 30, 1951 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Dallas, Texas, USA
Known For
Acting

Details

Birthdate
May 30, 1951 (72 years old)
Place of Birth
Dallas, Texas, USA
Known For
Acting

Biography

Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American character actor. He is known for film roles such as insurance agent Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day and amnesiac Sammy Jankis in Memento, as well as such television characters as Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood, Bob Bishop in Heroes, Sandy Ryerson in Glee, Stu Beggs in Californication and White Famous, "Action" Jack Barker in Silicon Valley, Dr. Leslie Berkowitz in One Day at a Time, Principal Earl Ball in The Goldbergs, and Dr. Schulman in The Mindy Project.

Tobolowsky was born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. He studied geology at Southern Methodist University but switched to theater after being cast in a production of "The Crucible." He later attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with a degree in drama.

Tobolowsky began his acting career in the early 1980s, appearing in films such as The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), Nobody's Fool (1986), and Spaceballs (1987). He also had a recurring role on the television series Seinfeld (1989-1998).

Tobolowsky's breakthrough role came in 1993, when he played Ned Ryerson in the comedy Groundhog Day. His performance in the film was critically acclaimed, and he has since become one of the most recognizable character actors in Hollywood.

Tobolowsky has continued to work steadily in film and television over the years. He has appeared in numerous other films, including Memento (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001), and The Informant! (2009). He has also had recurring roles on the television series Deadwood (2004-2006), Heroes (2006-2007), Californication (2007-2014), and Silicon Valley (2014-2019).

In addition to his acting career, Tobolowsky is also a writer and a podcaster. He has written two books, The Dangerous Animals Club (2002) and The Tobolowsky Files (2017). He also hosts the podcast The Tobolowsky Files, in which he tells stories about his life and career.

Stephen Tobolowsky's LGBTQ+ Titles

Thelma & Louise
Thelma & Louise
Max

Acting (234)

Butterfly in the Typewriter as The Abbot
2024
Poolman
2023
Candy Cane Lane as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
2023
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up as Ned
2023
Love Virtually as Dr. Divine
2023
Frog and Toad as Dragonfly (voice) (2 episodes)
2023
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues as Self
2022
Haul Out the Holly as Ned
2022
The Really Loud House as Walter Phillipini (2 episodes)
2022
Hollywood Signs as Self
2022
Minx as Conrad Ross (1 episode)
2020
Dicktown as John’s Dad (2 episodes)
2020
Stars in the House as Self (1 episode)
2019
Green Eggs and Ham as Chad (voice) (1 episode)
2019
Fantastic Mr. Murray as Self - Interviewee
2019
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
2019
Fractured as Dr. Berthram
2019
Loners as Mr. Tessman
2019
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" as Mr. Bentley
2019
Schooled as Earl Ball (4 episodes)
2018
The Cool Kids as Leonard (1 episode)
2018
Strange Nature as Mayor Paulson
2018
Monsters at Large as Mr. Phillips
2017
No Activity as (voice) (1 episode)
2017
White Famous as Stu Beggs (1 episode)
2017
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown as Andy Gunderson (voice)
2017
One Day at a Time as Dr. Berkowitz (46 episodes)
2016
Justice League Action as Professor Stein (voice) (8 episodes)
2016
Mamaboy as Reverend Weld
2016
Six L.A. Love Stories as Professor John Dobler
2016
Welcome to the Men's Group
2016
Bad Internet as James (1 episode)
2016
Where is Rocky II? as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
2016
The Confirmation as Father Lyons
2016
Fuller House as Mr. Gerald (1 episode)
2015
Dr. Ken as Joe (1 episode)
2015
We Bare Bears as Stephen ( voice) (1 episode)
2015
Another Period as Thomas Edison (1 episode)
2015
The Primary Instinct as Himself
2015
The Barber as Chief Hardaway
2015
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl as Alan Dolfe (10 episodes)
2014
Hello Ladies: The Movie as Alan
2014
Christian Mingle as Douglas McCarver
2014
Atlas Shrugged: Part III: Who Is John Galt? as Dr. Hugh Akston
2014
The Hotwives of Orlando as Phil (7 episodes)
2014
Silicon Valley as Jack Barker (17 episodes)
2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman as Principal Purdy (voice)
2014
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends as Andy
2013
Toy Story of Terror! as Ron (voice)
2013
The Goldbergs as Principal Ball (44 episodes)
2012
Pearblossom Hwy as Rick Lawler
2012
The Mindy Project as Marc Shulman (4 episodes)
2012
The Last Ride as Ray
2012
Say It Ain't Solo as Himself
2012
The Lorax as Uncle Ubb (voice)
2011
Magnificat as Neighbor
2011
Hard Breakers as Max
2011
You May Not Kiss the Bride as Plumber
2010
Pound Puppies as Mr. Geekman (voice) (1 episode)
2010
Buried as Alan Davenport (voice)
2010
Peep World as Ephraim
2010
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
2010
Justified as Jerry Barkley (3 episodes)
2009
Archer as Robert (voice) (11 episodes)
2009
Community as Professor Peter Sheffield (1 episode)
2009
The Time Traveler's Wife as Dr. Kendrick
2009
The Face Is Familiar
2009
Glee as Sandy Ryerson (8 episodes)
2008
Beethoven's Big Break as Sal
2008
True Jackson, VP as Lars Balthazar (1 episode)
2008
The Rainbow Tribe as Principal Sands
2008
Waiting for Yvette as Alan
2007
Californication as Stu Beggs (30 episodes)
2007
John from Cincinnati (3 episodes)
2007
Boxboarders! as dr.james
2007
Raines (1 episode)
2007
Wild Hogs as Charley
2007
The Valley of Light as Littlefield
2006
Big Day (5 episodes)
2006
Heroes as Bob Bishop (14 episodes)
2006
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (1 episode)
2006
Blind Dating as Dr. Perkins
2006
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party as Self
2006
The New Adventures of Old Christine as Principal James Merrow (2 episodes)
2006
Failure to Launch as Bud
2006
The Sasquatch Gang as Dalrymple
2006
Pope Dreams as Carl Venable
2005
Living 'til the End as Dr. Shaw
2005
Night Stalker (1 episode)
2005
Ghost Whisperer as Dr. Peltier (1 episode)
2005
The Closer as James Bloom (1 episode)
2005
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out as Harry Evers
2005
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous as Tom Abernathy
2005
Robots as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
2004
Desperate Housewives (4 episodes)
2004
Boston Legal as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft (1 episode)
2004
Complete Savages as Mr. Frehley (1 episode)
2004
Debating Robert Lee as Debate Judge
2004
Little Black Book as Carl
2004
Garfield as Happy Chapman
2004
Deadwood as Hugo Jarry (9 episodes)
2004
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! as George Ruddy
2003
Frankie and Johnny Are Married as Murray Mintz
2003
Married to the Kellys (1 episode)
2003
Las Vegas (1 episode)
2003
Freaky Friday as Mr. Bates
2003
View from the Top as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
2003
Oliver Beene (1 episode)
2003
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey as Self
2003
Kingpin (1 episode)
2003
National Security as Billy Narthax
2002
Love Liza as Tom Bailey
2002
CSI: Miami as Don Haffman (5 episodes)
2002
Do Over (1 episode)
2002
Ritual as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
2002
The Country Bears as Norbert Barrington
2002
Par 6 as T.T. Riley
2002
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time as Self
2001
The Day the World Ended as Ed Turner
2001
Off Centre (1 episode)
2001
Reba (1 episode)
2001
According to Jim as Dr. Ted (1 episode)
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Jim Halliwell (1 episode)
2001
Black River as Mayor Tom Thompson
2001
On The Edge as Tom (wraparound segments)
2001
The Prime Gig as Mick
2001
Freddy Got Fingered as Uncle Neil
2001
The Lone Gunmen (1 episode)
2000
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes as Dewey Wise
2000
Curb Your Enthusiasm as Len Dunkel (1 episode)
2000
Memento as Sammy Jankis
2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Spencer Freiberg (1 episode)
2000
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command as Gil (voice) (1 episode)
2000
Manhattan, AZ (13 episodes)
2000
Stanley's Gig as Abe Cohen
2000
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion as B.J. McQueen
2000
The Operator as Doc
2000
Bossa Nova as Trevor
2000
Malcolm in the Middle as Mr. Fisher (1 episode)
1999
The Insider as Eric Kluster
1999
Don't Look Under the Bed as Michael McCausland
1999
Roswell as Julius Walters (1 episode)
1999
The West Wing as Dr. Max Milkman (1 episode)
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Edwin Adelson (1 episode)
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Mr. Kayman (1 episode)
1999
One Man's Hero as Captain Gaine
1998
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story as Tabaqui (voice)
1998
Around the Fire as Doc
1998
Will & Grace as Ned Weathers (1 episode)
1998
Hercules as Numericles (voice) (1 episode)
1998
That '70s Show as Professor (1 episode)
1998
Any Day Now (1 episode)
1998
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars as Calculator (voice)
1998
Black Dog as McClaren
1998
Two Guys and a Girl as Father Viteri (1 episode)
1998
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn as Bill Bardo
1997
Mr. Magoo as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
1997
Buffy the Vampire Slayer as Principal Flutie (1 episode)
1997
Boys Life 2 as Father John
1997
The Practice (1 episode)
1997
King of the Hill as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice) (1 episode)
1996
The Curse of Inferno as Lonnie Martin
1996
Night Visitors as Taylor
1996
The Glimmer Man as Christopher Maynard
1996
Mr. Rhodes (19 episodes)
1996
The Pretender as Dr. Alan Trader (1 episode)
1996
Power 98 as Rick Harris
1996
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco as Bando (voice)
1995
Dweebs (10 episodes)
1995
Murder One (3 episodes)
1995
The Drew Carey Show as Councilman (1 episode)
1995
The Naked Truth as Vincent Hartford (1 episode)
1995
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde as Oliver Mintz
1995
Murder in the First as Mr. Henkin
1995
A Whole New Ballgame as Dr. Warner Brakefield (2 episodes)
1994
Radioland Murders as Max Applewhite
1994
Chicago Hope (2 episodes)
1994
Blue Skies as Oak (8 episodes)
1994
My Father the Hero as Mike
1994
Trevor as Father Joe
1993
Josh and S.A.M. as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
1993
Against the Grain as Niles Hardeman (8 episodes)
1993
Harts of the West (1 episode)
1993
Romeo Is Bleeding as District Attorney (uncredited)
1993
Calendar Girl as Antonio
1993
The Pickle as Mike Krakower
1993
Groundhog Day as Ned Ryerson
1992
Hero as Wallace
1992
Mad About You (1 episode)
1992
Where the Day Takes You as Charles
1992
Sneakers as Dr. Werner Brandes
1992
Single White Female as Mitch Myerson
1992
Roadside Prophets as Ranger Bob
1992
Basic Instinct as Dr. Lamott
1992
Memoirs of an Invisible Man as Warren Singleton
1991
Deadly Medicine as Ron Sutton
1991
To the Moon, Alice as Sitcom Producer
1991
1991
Wedlock as Warden Holliday
1991
Baby Talk (1 episode)
1991
Tagget as Al Hentz
1991
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster as Sergeant Phil Baranski
1991
The Marla Hanson Story as Defense Attorney
1990
Mirror Mirror as Mr. Anderson
1990
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael as Mayor Bill Klepler
1990
Funny About Love as Hugo
1990
The Grifters as Jeweler
1990
Last Flight Out as Doctor Timothy Brandon
1990
Bird on a Wire as Joe Weyburn
1990
Shannon's Deal (1 episode)
1989
Breaking In as District Attorney
1989
In Country as Pete
1989
Seinfeld as Tor Eckman (2 episodes)
1989
Great Balls of Fire! as Jud Phillips
1989
Roe vs. Wade as Darryl Horwath
1989
Checking Out as Pharmacist
1988
Mississippi Burning as Townley
1988
Two Idiots in Hollywood as Prosecuting Attorney
1987
Spaceballs as Captain of the Guard
1987
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd as Alex (1 episode)
1986
Nobody's Fool as Kirk
1986
Designing Women (1 episode)
1986
L.A. Law as Dr. Michael Segal (1 episode)
1985
227 (1 episode)
1984
Crazy like a Fox as Hotel Clerk (1 episode)
1984
The Philadelphia Experiment as Barney
1984
Swing Shift as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1983
Cocaine and Blue Eyes as TV Clerk
1982
Cagney & Lacey (1 episode)
1981
Falcon Crest (1 episode)
1979
Knots Landing (1 episode)
1977
Keep My Grave Open as Robert
1976
Alice (1 episode)
1956
Tony Awards as Self - Nominee (1 episode)

Directing (1)

1988
Two Idiots in Hollywood • Director
• Director

Production (1)

2015
The Primary Instinct • Executive Producer
• Executive Producer

Writing (3)

2015
The Primary Instinct • Writer
• Writer
1988
Two Idiots in Hollywood • Writer
• Writer
1986
True Stories • Writer
• Writer