Bob Balaban
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- August 16, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA
- Active Years
- 1961–2026 (66 Years)
- Total Credits
- 181 credits in database
Acting Born Aug 16, 1945 Chicago, Illinois, USA 181 credits
Biography
Bob Balaban is an American actor born on August 16, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. He is known for his appearances in various films, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration, as well as Midnight Cowboy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Altered States, 2010, Deconstructing Harry, and Capote. Balaban has directed numerous television episodes and films, in addition to three feature films. He is also an author of children's novels. With a career spanning multiple mediums, Balaban has accumulated 166 known credits in acting.
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Career overview
Bob Balaban is an American actor known for his appearances in various films. He has appeared in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration. Balaban has also been in films such as Midnight Cowboy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Altered States, 2010, Deconstructing Harry, and Capote.
Balaban's acting credits include numerous films and television episodes. He has worked with various directors and actors throughout his career. His roles in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies have contributed to his recognition as a comedic actor.
Balaban's acting career spans multiple decades, with a significant portion of his work being in film. He has appeared in a variety of genres, including comedy and drama.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Fantasy Life
Bad ActorsBrooklyn, Minnesota · Producer
Asteroid City80 for BradyDesperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
SeveranceHow Dare You Want More: The Short Film
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening SunThe ChairHow Moving
Space Force
The PoliticianCarl Laemmle
Summer Camp IslandCondorIsle of DogsJames Cameron's Story of Science FictionCan You Ever Forgive Me? · Executive Producer
SpielbergWormwood
GravesGraves · DirectorI Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the HouseMike Nichols: An American MasterMascots
Show Me a HeroEverything Is CopyHitchcock/TruffautExploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Last Week Tonight with John OliverThe Grand Budapest HotelBroad CityThe Monuments MenWe the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss · Director
Alpha HouseAlpha House · DirectorFading GigoloFamily TreeMuhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
GirlsMoonrise KingdomThin IceGirl Most LikelyDo You Like to Read?
China, ILWeb TherapyThe Five Stages of Grief
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of HollywoodF--kHowl
The Good WifeNurse Jackie · DirectorGeorgia O'Keeffe · DirectorThe Windmill MovieRage
Web TherapySwingtown · DirectorRecount
No ReservationsLicense to WedDedicationPrince of the City: The Real Story
Lady in the WaterFor Your ConsiderationThe Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman · ProducerThe Exonerated · DirectorThe Exonerated · Executive Producer
American Dad!CapoteHopeless PicturesTrust the Man
EntourageTom Goes to the MayorScene StealersKramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to CosmoMarie and Bruce
A Mighty Wind
The Twilight Zone · DirectorThe TuxedoThe Making of Gosford ParkPlan B
Gosford ParkGosford Park · ProducerGosford Park · IdeaThe MexicanThe Majestic
Best in ShowTex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
The West WingStrangers with Candy · DirectorNow and AgainNow and Again · DirectorCradle Will Rock
Giving Up the Ghost
Oz · DirectorDeconstructing HarryConversation with the BeastWaiting for GuffmanSubway Stories · Director
The Late ShiftPie in the Sky
Full Filmography
181 titles- Fantasy Life (2026) as Lenny
- Bad Actors (2024)
- Brooklyn, Minnesota (2024) Producer
- Asteroid City (2023) as Larkings Executive
- 80 for Brady (2023) as Mark
- Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy (2023) as Self
- Severance (2022) as Mark Wilkins
- How Dare You Want More: The Short Film (2022)
- The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021) as Uncle Nick
- The Chair (2021) as Elliot Rentz
- How Moving (2021) as Uncle Aaron
- Space Force (2020) as Ron (voice)
- The Politician (2019) as Keaton Hobart
- Carl Laemmle (2019) as Himself
- Summer Camp Island (2018) as Gerald (voice)
- Condor (2018) as Reuel Abbott
- Isle of Dogs (2018) as King (voice)
- James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction (2018) as Self
- Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018) Executive Producer
- An L.A. Minute (2018) as Shelley
- Spielberg (2017) as Self
- Wormwood (2017) as Dr. Harold A. Abramson
- Graves (2016) as Secretary Burns
- Graves (2016) Director
- I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016) as Mr. Waxcap
- Mike Nichols: An American Master (2016) as Self
- Mascots (2016) as Sol Lumpkin
- Starring Austin Pendleton (2016) as Self
- Eva Hesse (2016) as Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
- Show Me a Hero (2015) as Leonard B. Sand
- Everything Is Copy (2015) as Self
- Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015) as Narrator (voice)
- Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2015) as Self / The Narrator
- Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (2014) as Self
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) as M. Martin
- Broad City (2014) as Arthur Wexler
- The Monuments Men (2014) as Pvt. Preston Savitz
- We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss (2014) Director
- Alpha House (2013) as Senator Elliot Robeson
- Alpha House (2013) Director
- Fading Gigolo (2013) as Sol
- Family Tree (2013) as Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim
- Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013) as Lawyer (uncredited)
- Girls (2012) as Therapist
- Moonrise Kingdom (2012) as The Narrator
- Thin Ice (2012) as Leonard Dahl
- Girl Most Likely (2012) as Maxwell
- Do You Like to Read? (2012) as The Narrator
- China, IL (2011) as (voice)
- Web Therapy (2011) as Ted Mitchell
- The Five Stages of Grief (2011) as Voice of Daniel's father
- Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood (2010) as Self
- F--k (2010) as Bob
- Howl (2010) as Judge Clayton Horn
- The Good Wife (2009) as Gordon Higgs
- Nurse Jackie (2009) Director
- Georgia O'Keeffe (2009) Director
- The Windmill Movie (2009) as Self
- Rage (2009) as Mr. White
- Web Therapy (2008) as Ted Mitchell
- Swingtown (2008) Director
- Recount (2008) as Ben Ginsberg
- No Reservations (2007) as Therapist
- License to Wed (2007) as Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
- Dedication (2007) as Arthur Planck
- Prince of the City: The Real Story (2007) as Self / Santimassino
- Lady in the Water (2006) as Harry Farber
- For Your Consideration (2006) as Philip Koontz
- The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman (2006) Producer
- The Exonerated (2006) Director
- The Exonerated (2006) Executive Producer
- Bernard and Doris (2006) Director
- Bernard and Doris (2006) Executive Producer
- Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film (2006) as Self
- American Dad! (2005) as Glen Hanover (voice)
- Capote (2005) as William Shawn
- Hopeless Pictures (2005)
- Trust the Man (2005) as Tobey's Therapist
- Entourage (2004) as Doctor
- Tom Goes to the Mayor (2004) as Walt Pickle (voice)
- Scene Stealers (2004) as Jonathan Crouch Esq.
- Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo (2004) as Self
- Marie and Bruce (2004) as Roger
- A Mighty Wind (2003) as Jonathan Steinbloom
- The Twilight Zone (2002) Director
- The Tuxedo (2002) as Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
- The Making of Gosford Park (2002) as Self
- Plan B (2002) as James Foster
- Gosford Park (2001) as Morris Weissman
- Gosford Park (2001) Producer
- Gosford Park (2001) Idea
- The Mexican (2001) as Bernie Nayman
- The Majestic (2001) as Elvin Glyde
- Ghost World (2001) as Enid's Dad
- The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (2001) as Self
- Best in Show (2000) as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
- Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger (2000) as Tex
- The West Wing (1999) as Ted Marcus
- Strangers with Candy (1999) Director
- Now and Again (1999)
- Now and Again (1999) Director
- Cradle Will Rock (1999) as Harry Hopkins
- Jakob the Liar (1999) as Kowalsky
- Three to Tango (1999) as Decker
- The Monster Hunter (1999) as Dr. William Powell
- Swing Vote (1999) as Justice Eli MacCorckle
- The Wedding Toast (1999) Director
- The Wedding Toast (1999) Producer
- Giving Up the Ghost (1998) as Bob
- Oz (1997) Director
- Deconstructing Harry (1997) as Richard
- Conversation with the Beast (1997) as Mr. Webster
- Waiting for Guffman (1997) as Lloyd Miller
- Subway Stories (1997) Director
- Clockwatchers (1997) as Milton Lasky
- The Definite Maybe (1997) as Wolfe Rollins
- The Late Shift (1996) as Warren Littlefield
- Pie in the Sky (1996) as Paul Entamen
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) as Bob (voice)
- Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995) Additional Writing
- Legend (1995)
- Legend (1995) Director
- George Romero's Golden Tales 2 (1995)
- George Romero's Golden Tales 2 (1995) Writer
- George Romero's Golden Tales 3 (1995) Director
- Friends (1994) as Frank Sr.
- Greedy (1994) as Ed
- The Last Good Time (1994) Director
- The Last Good Time (1994) Screenplay
- The Last Good Time (1994) Producer
- City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994) as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
- For Love or Money (1993) as Ed Drinkwater
- Amos & Andrew (1993) as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
- My Boyfriend's Back (1993) Director
- Stephen King's Golden Tales (1993) Writer
- Bob Roberts (1992) as Cutting Edge Producer
- Unnatural Pursuits (1992) as Lou Finkleberg
- Eerie, Indiana (1991) Director
- Little Man Tate (1991) as Quizmaster
- Alice (1990) as Sid Moscowitz
- Tales from the Darkside (1990) Director
- The Face of Fear (1990) as Ira Preduski
- The Simpsons (1989) as Narrator (voice)
- Seinfeld (1989) as Russell Dalrymple
- Dead Bang (1989) as Elliott Webley
- Parents (1989) Director
- Monsters (1988) Writer
- Funny (1988) as Self
- End of the Line (1987) as Warren Gerber
- Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread (1987) Director
- Amazing Stories (1985) as Jo-Jo Gillespie
- Amazing Stories (1985) Director
- Miami Vice (1984) as Ira Stone
- Tales from the Darkside (1984) Writer
- 2010 (1984) as Dr. R. Chandra
- 2010 : The Odyssey Continues (1984) as Himself
- Nothing Lasts Forever (1984) as Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
- The Brass Ring (1983) Director
- Trick or Treat (1983) Director
- Absence of Malice (1981) as Elliott Rosen
- Prince of the City (1981) as Santimassino
- Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981) as Carter Hill
- Fridays (1980) as Self
- Altered States (1980) as Arthur Rosenberg
- Girlfriends (1978) as Martin
- Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) as David Laughlin
- Report to the Commissioner (1975) as Joey Egan
- The Bank Shot (1974) as Victor Karp
- Maude (1972) as Ambrose Riley
- Maude (1972) Director
- Marriage: Year One (1971) as Bernie
- Making It (1971) as Wilkie
- Catch-22 (1970) as Capt. Orr
- The Strawberry Statement (1970) as Elliot
- Love, American Style (1969) as Nick
- Room 222 (1969)
- Midnight Cowboy (1969) as The Young Student
- Me, Natalie (1969) as Morris
- The Mod Squad (1968)
- Hank (1965)
- The Mike Douglas Show (1961) as Self
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Bob Balaban best known for?
Bob Balaban is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Fantasy Life (2026), Asteroid City (2023), 80 for Brady (2023), Severance (2022).
When and where was Bob Balaban born?
Bob Balaban was born on August 16, 1945 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.
How many credits does Bob Balaban have?
Bob Balaban has accumulated over 181 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1961 to 2026.
What is Bob Balaban's background in cinema and television?
Bob Balaban is an American actor born on August 16, 1945, in Chicago, Illinois. He is known for his appearances in various films, including Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, and For Your Consideration, as well as Midnight Cowboy, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Altered States, 2010, Deconstructing H...
Bob Balaban by the numbers
181credits
125films
56TV series
1961–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Severance (2022) as Mark Wilkins — aged about 76
- Friends (1994) as Frank Sr. — aged about 48
- The West Wing (1999) as Ted Marcus — aged about 53
- Seinfeld (1989) as Russell Dalrymple — aged about 43
- The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014) as M. Martin — aged about 68
- The Simpsons (1989) as Narrator (voice) — aged about 43
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