Stephen Tobolowsky
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.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 · Freakier Friday as Mr. Bates
- 2024 · Nobody Wants This as Rabbi Cohen
- 2024 · Poolman as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
- 2023 · Candy Cane Lane as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
- 2023 · Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up as Ned
- 2023 · Frog and Toad as Dragonfly (voice)
- 2022 · Haul Out the Holly as Ned
- 2022 · The Really Loud House as Walter Phillipini
- 2022 · Minx as Conrad Ross
- 2021 · Hacks as Henry Weeks
- 2020 · Dicktown as John’s Dad
- 2020 · Stars in the House as Self
- 2020 · ThunderCats Roar as Driller (voice)
- 2019 · Green Eggs and Ham as Chad (voice)
- 2019 · The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
- 2019 · Fractured as Dr. Berthram
- 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
- 2018 · The Cool Kids as Leonard
- 2018 · Strange Nature as Mayor Paulson
- 2018 · Monsters at Large as Mr. Phillips
- 2017 · No Activity as (voice)
- 2017 · White Famous as Stu Beggs
- 2017 · Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown as Andy Gunderson (voice)
- 2017 · One Day at a Time as Dr. Berkowitz
- 2016 · Justice League Action as Professor Stein (voice)
- 2016 · Six L.A. Love Stories as Professor John Dobler
- 2016 · Bad Internet as James
- 2016 · The Confirmation as Father Lyons
- 2016 · Fuller House as Mr. Gerald
- 2015 · Dr. Ken as Joe
- 2015 · We Bare Bears as Stephen ( voice)
- 2015 · Another Period as Thomas Edison
- 2015 · Big Time in Hollywood, Fl as Alan Dolfe
- 2014 · Hello Ladies: The Movie as Alan
- 2014 · Christian Mingle as Douglas McCarver
- 2014 · Atlas Shrugged: Part III as Dr. Hugh Akston
- 2014 · The Hotwives of Orlando as Phil
- 2014 · Silicon Valley as Jack Barker
- 2014 · Friends with Better Lives as Dr. Adleman
- 2014 · Mr. Peabody & Sherman as Principal Purdy (voice)
- 2013 · The Goldbergs as Principal Ball
- 2012 · The Mindy Project as Marc Shulman
- 2012 · The Lorax as Uncle Ubb (voice)
- 2011 · Hard Breakers as Max
- 2011 · You May Not Kiss the Bride as Plumber
- 2010 · Pound Puppies as Mr. Geekman (voice)
- 2010 · Buried as Alan Davenport (voice)
- 2010 · The Defenders as Judge Gelineau
- 2010 · Peep World as Ephraim
- 2010 · Justified as Jerry Barkley
- 2009 · Archer as Robert (voice)
- 2009 · Community as Professor Peter Sheffield
- 2009 · The Time Traveler's Wife as Dr. Kendrick
- 2009 · Glee as Sandy Ryerson
- 2008 · Beethoven's Big Break as Sal
- 2008 · True Jackson, VP as Lars Balthazar
- 2008 · The Rainbow Tribe as Principal Sands
- 2007 · Californication as Stu Beggs
- 2007 · John from Cincinnati as
- 2007 · Raines as
- 2007 · Wild Hogs as Charley
- 2007 · The Sarah Silverman Program. as Bill Fantastimart
- 2007 · The Valley of Light as Littlefield
- 2006 · Big Day as
- 2006 · Heroes as Bob Bishop
- 2006 · Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as
- 2006 · Blind Dating as Dr. Perkins
- 2006 · The New Adventures of Old Christine as Principal James Merrow
- 2006 · Failure to Launch as Bud
- 2006 · The Sasquatch Gang as Dalrymple
- 2005 · Night Stalker as
- 2005 · Ghost Whisperer as Dr. Peltier
- 2005 · The Closer as James Bloom
- 2005 · Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous as Tom Abernathy
- 2005 · Robots as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
- 2004 · Desperate Housewives as Bud Penrod
- 2004 · Boston Legal as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
- 2004 · Complete Savages as Mr. Frehley
- 2004 · Little Black Book as Carl
- 2004 · Garfield as Happy Chapman
- 2004 · Deadwood as Hugo Jarry
- 2004 · Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! as George Ruddy
- 2003 · Married to the Kellys as
- 2003 · Las Vegas as
- 2003 · Freaky Friday as Mr. Bates
- 2003 · View from the Top as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
- 2003 · Oliver Beene as
- 2003 · Kingpin as
- 2003 · National Security as Billy Narthax
- 2002 · Love Liza as Tom Bailey
- 2002 · CSI: Miami as Don Haffman
- 2002 · Do Over as
- 2002 · Ritual as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
- 2002 · The Country Bears as Norbert Barrington
- 2002 · The Dead Zone as Jim Pratt
- 2002 · Par 6 as T.T. Riley
- 2001 · Off Centre as
- 2001 · Reba as
- 2001 · According to Jim as Dr. Ted
- 2001 · Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Jim Halliwell
- 2001 · The Prime Gig as Mick
- 2001 · Freddy Got Fingered as Uncle Neil
- 2001 · The Lone Gunmen as
- 2000 · Curb Your Enthusiasm as Len Dunkel
- 2000 · Memento as Sammy
- 2000 · CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as Spencer Freiberg
- 2000 · Buzz Lightyear of Star Command as Gil (voice)
- 2000 · Malcolm in the Middle as Mr. Fisher
- 1999 · The Insider as Eric Kluster
- 1999 · Don't Look Under the Bed as Michael McCausland
- 1999 · Roswell as Julius Walters
- 1999 · The West Wing as Dr. Max Milkman
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Edwin Adelson
- 1999 · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Mr. Kayman
- 1998 · The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story as Tabaqui (voice)
- 1998 · Will & Grace as Ned Weathers
- 1998 · Hercules as Numericles (voice)
- 1998 · That '70s Show as Professor
- 1998 · Any Day Now as
- 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
- 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
- 1997 · The Practice as
- 1997 · King of the Hill as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
- 1996 · The Curse of Inferno as Lonnie Martin
- 1996 · The Glimmer Man as Christopher Maynard
- 1996 · Mr. Rhodes as
- 1996 · The Pretender as Dr. Alan Trader
- 1996 · Suddenly Susan as Dr. Gerken
- 1996 · Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco as Bando (voice)
- 1995 · Dweebs as
- 1995 · Murder One as
- 1995 · The Drew Carey Show as Councilman
- 1995 · The Naked Truth as Vincent Hartford
- 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
- 1994 · Radioland Murders as Max Applewhite
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as
- 1994 · Blue Skies as Oak
- 1994 · My Father the Hero as Mike
- 1994 · Trevor as Father Joe
- 1993 · Against the Grain as Niles Hardeman
- 1993 · Harts of the West as
- 1993 · Cafe Americain as Roger Livingston
- 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 as Principal Hocksacker
- 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
- 1992 · Where the Day Takes You as Charles
- 1991 · Thelma & Louise as Max
- 1991 · Wedlock as Warden Holliday
- 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 · Bird on a Wire as Joe Weyburn
- 1990 · Shannon's Deal as
- 1989 · Breaking In as District Attorney
- 1989 · In Country as Pete
- 1989 · Seinfeld as Tor Eckman
- 1989 · Great Balls of Fire! as Jud Phillips
- 1988 · Mississippi Burning as Townley
- 1987 · Spaceballs as Captain of the Guard
- 1987 · The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd as Alex
- 1986 · Designing Women as
- 1986 · L.A. Law as Dr. Michael Segal
- 1985 · 227 as
- 1984 · Crazy like a Fox as Hotel Clerk
- 1984 · The Philadelphia Experiment as Barney
- 1984 · Swing Shift as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
- 1982 · Cagney & Lacey as
- 1981 · Falcon Crest as Doctor
- 1979 · Knots Landing as Steve Comiskey
- 1976 · Alice as
- Future · American Men as Sterling Moss
- 2025 · Thelma et Louise, un western féministe as Self
- 2024 · Watching Walter as Walter
- 2023 · Love Virtually as Dr. Divine
- 2023 · Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues as Self
- 2022 · Hollywood Signs as Self
- 2019 · Fantastic Mr. Murray as Self - Interviewee
- 2019 · Loners as Mr. Tessman
- 2016 · Mamaboy as Reverend Weld
- 2016 · Welcome to the Men's Group as
- 2016 · Where is Rocky II? as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
- 2015 · The Primary Instinct as Himself
- 2015 · The Barber as Chief Hardaway
- 2014 · Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends as Andy
- 2013 · Toy Story of Terror! as Ron (voice)
- 2012 · Pearblossom Hwy as Rick Lawler
- 2012 · The Last Ride as Ray
- 2012 · Say It Ain't Solo as Himself
- 2011 · Magnificat as Neighbor
- 2011 · Hail Mary as
- 2010 · Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
- 2009 · The Face is Familiar as
- 2008 · Waiting for Yvette as Alan
- 2007 · Boxboarders! as dr.james
- 2006 · Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party as Self
- 2006 · Promise Me Tomorrow as Carl Venable
- 2005 · Living 'til the End as Dr. Shaw
- 2005 · McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out as Harry Evers
- 2004 · Debating Robert Lee as Debate Judge
- 2003 · Frankie and Johnny Are Married as Murray Mintz
- 2003 · Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey as Self
- 2002 · Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time as Self
- 2001 · The Day the World Ended as Ed Turner
- 2001 · Black River as Mayor Tom Thompson
- 2001 · On the Edge as Tom (wraparound segments)
- 2000 · Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes as Dewey Wise
- 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
- 1999 · One Man's Hero as Captain Gaine
- 1998 · Around the Fire as Doc
- 1996 · Night Visitors as Taylor
- 1996 · Power 98 as Rick Harris
- 1993 · Josh and S.A.M. as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
- 1991 · Deadly Medicine as Ron Sutton
- 1991 · To the Moon, Alice as Sitcom Producer
- 1991 · Baby Talk as
- 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 · Last Flight Out as Doctor Timothy Brandon
- 1989 · Roe vs. Wade as Darryl Horwath
- 1988 · Checking Out as Pharmacist
- 1988 · Two Idiots in Hollywood as Prosecuting Attorney
- 1986 · Nobody's Fool as Kirk
- 1983 · Cocaine and Blue Eyes as TV Clerk
- Future · Butterfly in the Typewriter as The Abbot
- Future · Mimics as Melvin Reinhold
- 1977 · Keep My Grave Open as Robert
- 1956 · Tony Awards as Self - Nominee