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. Elton Bates
- 2024 · Nobody Wants This as Rabbi Cohen
- 2023 · Frog and Toad as Dragonfly (voice)
- 2022 · The Really Loud House as Walter Phillipini
- 2022 · Hollywood Signs as Self
- 2022 · Minx as Conrad Ross
- 2021 · Hacks as Henry Weeks
- 2020 · Stars in the House as Self
- 2020 · ThunderCats Roar as Driller (voice)
- 2019 · Green Eggs and Ham as Chad (voice)
- 2019 · Fractured as Dr. Berthram
- 2019 · Schooled as Earl Ball
- 2017 · No Activity as (voice)
- 2017 · One Day at a Time as Dr. Berkowitz
- 2016 · Justice League Action as Professor Stein (voice)
- 2016 · Bad Internet as James
- 2016 · Where is Rocky II? as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
- 2016 · Fuller House as Mr. Gerald
- 2015 · Dr. Ken as Joe
- 2015 · We Bare Bears as Stephen ( voice)
- 2015 · Another Period as Thomas Edison
- 2014 · Silicon Valley as Jack Barker
- 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)
- 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 · True Jackson, VP as Lars Balthazar
- 2008 · The Rainbow Tribe as Principal Sands
- 2007 · Californication as Stu Beggs
- 2007 · Wild Hogs as Charley
- 2007 · The Sarah Silverman Program. as Bill Fantastimart
- 2007 · The Valley of Light as Littlefield
- 2006 · Heroes as Bob Bishop
- 2006 · Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as
- 2006 · The New Adventures of Old Christine as Principal James Merrow
- 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 · Entourage as Mayor of Beverly Hills
- 2004 · Garfield as Happy Chapman
- 2004 · Deadwood as Hugo Jarry
- 2003 · Las Vegas as Donny Rollins
- 2003 · Freaky Friday as Mr. Bates
- 2003 · Kingpin as
- 2003 · National Security as Billy Narthax
- 2002 · CSI: Miami as Don Haffman
- 2002 · The Dead Zone as Jim Pratt
- 2002 · Par 6 as T.T. Riley
- 2001 · Off Centre as
- 2001 · Reba as Judge
- 2001 · According to Jim as Dr. Ted
- 2001 · Law & Order: Criminal Intent as Jim Halliwell
- 2001 · Black River as Mayor Tom Thompson
- 2001 · On the Edge as Tom (wraparound segments)
- 2001 · The Prime Gig as Mick
- 2001 · The Lone Gunmen as
- 2000 · Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes as Dewey Wise
- 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 · Stanley's Gig as Abe Cohen
- 2000 · Bossa Nova as Trevor
- 2000 · Malcolm in the Middle as Mr. Fisher
- 1999 · Roswell as Julius Walters
- 1999 · Snoops as Michael Bench
- 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 · Around the Fire as Doc
- 1998 · Will & Grace as Ned Weathers
- 1998 · Hercules as Numericles (voice)
- 1998 · That '70s Show as Professor
- 1998 · Any Day Now as
- 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 · The Practice as Clyde Burrows
- 1997 · King of the Hill as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
- 1996 · The Pretender as Dr. Alan Trader
- 1996 · Suddenly Susan as Dr. Gerken
- 1995 · Murder One as
- 1995 · Murder One as Dr. Andross
- 1995 · The Drew Carey Show as Councilman
- 1995 · The Naked Truth as Vincent Hartford
- 1995 · Murder in the First as Mr. Henkin
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as Dr. Ted Joseph
- 1994 · Chicago Hope as Ted Joseph
- 1993 · The Pickle as Mike Krakower
- 1993 · Groundhog Day as Ned Ryerson
- 1992 · Mad About You as Principal Hocksacker
- 1992 · Sneakers as Dr. Werner Brandes
- 1992 · Roadside Prophets as Ranger Bob
- 1992 · Basic Instinct as Dr. Lamott
- 1991 · Deadly Medicine as Ron Sutton
- 1991 · Thelma & Louise as Max
- 1991 · Wedlock as Warden Holliday
- 1989 · The Simpsons as Merle (voice)
- 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 · Swing Shift as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
- 1983 · Cocaine and Blue Eyes as TV Clerk
- 1982 · Cagney & Lacey as
- 1981 · Falcon Crest as Doctor
- 1979 · Knots Landing as Steve Comiskey
- 1976 · Alice as
- 1956 · Tony Awards as Self - Nominee
- Future · Butterfly in the Typewriter as The Abbot
- 2026 · Mimics as Melvin Reinhold
- 2025 · Haul Out the Halloween as Ned Broadhead
- 2025 · The Cowboy Killer as God
- 2025 · Thelma & Louise: Born to Live as Self
- 2024 · Watching Walter as Walter
- 2024 · Poolman as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
- 2023 · Candy Cane Lane as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
- 2023 · Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up as Ned
- 2023 · Love Virtually as Dr. Divine
- 2023 · Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues as Self
- 2022 · Haul Out the Holly as Ned
- 2020 · Dicktown as John’s Dad
- 2019 · Fantastic Mr. Murray as Self - Interviewee
- 2019 · The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
- 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
- 2018 · The Cool Kids as Leonard
- 2018 · Strange Nature as Mayor Paulson
- 2018 · Monsters at Large as Mr. Phillips
- 2017 · White Famous as Stu Beggs
- 2017 · Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown as Andy Gunderson (voice)
- 2016 · Mamaboy as Reverend Weld
- 2016 · Six L.A. Love Stories as Professor John Dobler
- 2016 · Welcome to the Men's Group as
- 2016 · The Confirmation as Father Lyons
- 2015 · The Primary Instinct as Himself
- 2015 · The Barber as Chief Hardaway
- 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 · Friends with Better Lives as Dr. Adleman
- 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 Self
- 2011 · Magnificat as Neighbor
- 2011 · Hail Mary as
- 2011 · Hard Breakers as Max
- 2011 · You May Not Kiss the Bride as Plumber
- 2010 · Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
- 2009 · The Face is Familiar as
- 2008 · Beethoven's Big Break as Sal
- 2008 · Waiting for Yvette as Alan
- 2007 · John from Cincinnati as
- 2007 · Boxboarders! as dr.james
- 2007 · Raines as
- 2007 · Loveless in Los Angeles as Jon
- 2006 · Big Day as
- 2006 · Blind Dating as Dr. Perkins
- 2006 · Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party as Self
- 2006 · Failure to Launch as Bud
- 2006 · The Sasquatch Gang as Dalrymple
- 2006 · Promise Me Tomorrow as Carl Venable
- 2005 · Living 'til the End as Dr. Shaw
- 2005 · Night Stalker as
- 2005 · McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out as Harry Evers
- 2004 · Debating Robert Lee as Debate Judge
- 2004 · Little Black Book as Carl
- 2004 · Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! as George Ruddy
- 2003 · Frankie and Johnny Are Married as Murray Mintz
- 2003 · Married to the Kellys as Henry Conway
- 2003 · View from the Top as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
- 2003 · Oliver Beene as Ringmaster Bob
- 2003 · Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey as Self
- 2002 · Love Liza as Tom Bailey
- 2002 · Do Over as
- 2002 · Ritual as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
- 2002 · The Country Bears as Norbert Barrington
- 2002 · Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time as Self
- 2001 · The Day the World Ended as Ed Turner
- 2001 · Freddy Got Fingered as Uncle Neil
- 2000 · Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion as B.J. McQueen
- 2000 · The Operator as Doc
- 1999 · The Insider as Eric Kluster
- 1999 · Don't Look Under the Bed as Michael McCausland
- 1999 · One Man's Hero as Captain Gaine
- 1998 · The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story as Tabaqui (voice)
- 1998 · The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars as Calculator (voice)
- 1997 · Mr. Magoo as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
- 1996 · The Curse of Inferno as Lonnie Martin
- 1996 · Night Visitors as Taylor
- 1996 · The Glimmer Man as Christopher Maynard
- 1996 · Mr. Rhodes as
- 1996 · Power 98 as Rick Harris
- 1996 · Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco as Bando (voice)
- 1995 · The Home Court as Jeffrey Solomon
- 1995 · Dweebs as
- 1995 · Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde as Oliver Mintz
- 1995 · A Whole New Ballgame as Dr. Warner Brakefield
- 1994 · Radioland Murders as Max Applewhite
- 1994 · Blue Skies as Oak
- 1994 · My Father the Hero as Mike
- 1994 · Trevor as Father Joe
- 1993 · Josh & S.A.M. as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
- 1993 · Against the Grain as Niles Hardeman
- 1993 · Harts of the West as
- 1993 · Cafe Americain as Roger Livingston
- 1993 · Calendar Girl as Antonio
- 1992 · Hero as Wallace
- 1992 · Where the Day Takes You as Charles
- 1992 · Single White Female as Mitch Myerson
- 1992 · Memoirs of an Invisible Man as Warren Singleton
- 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 · 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 as
- 1989 · Breaking In as District Attorney
- 1989 · In Country as Pete
- 1989 · Roe vs. Wade as Darryl Horwath
- 1988 · Checking Out as Pharmacist
- 1986 · Nobody's Fool as Kirk
- Future · American Men as Sterling Moss
- 1988 · Two Idiots in Hollywood as Prosecuting Attorney
- 1984 · The Philadelphia Experiment as Barney
- 1977 · Keep My Grave Open as Robert