Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting Born May 30, 1951 Dallas, Texas, USA 264 credits
Biography
Stephen Tobolowsky is an American character actor. He was born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. Tobolowsky studied geology at Southern Methodist University before switching to theater after being cast in a production of "The Crucible." He has appeared in numerous film and television roles, including insurance agent Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day and amnesiac Sammy Jankis in Memento. His television credits include Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood, Bob Bishop in Heroes, and Principal Earl Ball in The Goldbergs. Tobolowsky has also appeared in other notable shows such as Glee, Californication, Silicon Valley, and The Mindy Project. He has a total of 257 acting credits.
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Career overview
Stephen Tobolowsky is a character actor known for his versatility in film and television roles. He has appeared in a wide range of productions, including Groundhog Day and Memento. Tobolowsky's television credits include notable characters in series such as Deadwood, Heroes, Glee, Californication, Silicon Valley, One Day at a Time, The Goldbergs, and The Mindy Project.
Tobolowsky's acting career spans multiple genres and formats, showcasing his ability to adapt to various roles. He has worked in film and television, often playing memorable supporting characters. His extensive body of work includes numerous credits in both film and television, demonstrating his dedication to the craft.
Born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas, Texas, Tobolowsky studied geology at Southern Methodist University before switching to theater after being cast in a production of "The Crucible." This pivotal moment marked a significant shift in his academic and professional pursuits, ultimately leading him to pursue a career in acting.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
MimicsMary the WidowWoodstockersFreaks Part II
Freakier FridayThe Cowboy KillerThelma & Louise: Born to LiveHaul Out the Halloween
Nobody Wants ThisPoolmanWatching Walter
Candy Cane LaneFrog and ToadHaul Out the Holly: Lit UpLove VirtuallyJimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
MinxThe Really Loud HouseHollywood SignsHaul Out the Holly
Hacks
Stars in the HouseThunderCats RoarDicktown
Green Eggs and HamSchooledFracturedThe Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-weenFantastic Mr. Murray
The Cool KidsStrange NatureMonsters at Large
One Day at a TimeNo ActivityScooby-Doo! Shaggy's ShowdownWhite Famous
Fuller HouseJustice League ActionBad InternetThe ConfirmationSix L.A. Love Stories
We Bare BearsDr. KenAnother PeriodBig Time in Hollywood, FlThe Barber
Silicon ValleyMr. Peabody & ShermanHello Ladies: The MovieFriends with Better LivesThe Hotwives of Orlando
The GoldbergsToy Story of Terror!
The Mindy ProjectThe LoraxThe Last RideSay It Ain't SoloPearblossom Hwy
You May Not Kiss the BrideHard BreakersHail MaryMagnificat
JustifiedPound PuppiesThe DefendersBuriedPeep World
CommunityGleeArcherThe Time Traveler's WifeThe Face is Familiar
True Jackson, VPBeethoven's Big BreakThe Rainbow TribeWaiting for Yvette
CalifornicationThe Sarah Silverman Program.Wild HogsThe Valley of LightJohn from Cincinnati
HeroesThe New Adventures of Old ChristineFailure to LaunchStudio 60 on the Sunset StripThe Sasquatch Gang
The CloserGhost WhispererRobotsMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and FabulousNight Stalker
Desperate HousewivesBoston LegalEntourageDeadwoodGarfield
Las VegasFreaky FridayNational SecurityOliver BeeneView from the Top
CSI: MiamiThe Dead ZoneDo OverThe Country BearsRitual
Law & Order: Criminal IntentAccording to JimRebaOff CentreFreddy Got Fingered
CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationCurb Your EnthusiasmMalcolm in the MiddleMementoBuzz Lightyear of Star Command
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitThe West WingRoswellThe Insider
That '70s ShowWill & GraceHerculesTwo Guys and a GirlAny Day Now
King of the HillThe PracticeMr. Magoo
Full Filmography
264 titles- Mimics (2026) as Melvin Reinhold
- Mary the Widow (2026) as Ed
- Woodstockers (2026) as Calvin
- Freaks Part II (2026)
- Freakier Friday (2025) as Mr. Elton Bates
- The Cowboy Killer (2025) as God
- Thelma & Louise: Born to Live (2025) as Self
- Haul Out the Halloween (2025) as Ned Broadhead
- Nobody Wants This (2024) as Rabbi Cohen
- Poolman (2024) as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
- Watching Walter (2024) as Walter
- Candy Cane Lane (2023) as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
- Frog and Toad (2023) as Dragonfly (voice)
- Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up (2023) as Ned
- Love Virtually (2023) as Dr. Divine
- Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues (2023) as Self
- Minx (2022) as Conrad Ross
- The Really Loud House (2022) as Walter Phillipini
- Hollywood Signs (2022) as Self
- Haul Out the Holly (2022) as Ned
- Hacks (2021) as Henry Weeks
- Stars in the House (2020) as Self
- ThunderCats Roar (2020) as Driller (voice)
- Dicktown (2020) as John’s Dad
- Green Eggs and Ham (2019) as Chad (voice)
- Schooled (2019) as Earl Ball
- Fractured (2019) as Dr. Berthram
- The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween (2019) as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
- Fantastic Mr. Murray (2019) as Self - Interviewee
- Loners (2019) as Mr. Tessman
- Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (2019) as Mr. Bentley
- The Cool Kids (2018) as Leonard
- Strange Nature (2018) as Mayor Paulson
- Monsters at Large (2018) as Mr. Phillips
- One Day at a Time (2017) as Dr. Berkowitz
- No Activity (2017) as (voice)
- Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown (2017) as Andy Gunderson (voice)
- White Famous (2017) as Stu Beggs
- Fuller House (2016) as Mr. Gerald
- Justice League Action (2016) as Professor Stein (voice)
- Bad Internet (2016) as James
- The Confirmation (2016) as Father Lyons
- Six L.A. Love Stories (2016) as Professor John Dobler
- Mamaboy (2016) as Reverend Weld
- Where is Rocky II? (2016) as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
- Welcome to the Men's Group (2016)
- We Bare Bears (2015) as Stephen ( voice)
- Dr. Ken (2015) as Joe
- Another Period (2015) as Thomas Edison
- Big Time in Hollywood, Fl (2015) as Alan Dolfe
- The Barber (2015) as Chief Hardaway
- The Primary Instinct (2015) as Himself
- The Primary Instinct (2015) Executive Producer
- The Primary Instinct (2015) Writer
- Silicon Valley (2014) as Jack Barker
- Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) as Principal Purdy (voice)
- Hello Ladies: The Movie (2014) as Alan
- Friends with Better Lives (2014) as Dr. Adleman
- The Hotwives of Orlando (2014) as Phil
- Atlas Shrugged: Part III (2014) as Dr. Hugh Akston
- Christian Mingle (2014) as Douglas McCarver
- Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends (2014) as Andy
- The Goldbergs (2013) as Principal Ball
- Toy Story of Terror! (2013) as Ron (voice)
- The Mindy Project (2012) as Marc Shulman
- The Lorax (2012) as Uncle Ubb (voice)
- The Last Ride (2012) as Ray
- Say It Ain't Solo (2012) as Self
- Pearblossom Hwy (2012) as Rick Lawler
- You May Not Kiss the Bride (2011) as Plumber
- Hard Breakers (2011) as Max
- Hail Mary (2011)
- Magnificat (2011) as Neighbor
- Justified (2010) as Jerry Barkley
- Pound Puppies (2010) as Mr. Geekman (voice)
- The Defenders (2010) as Judge Gelineau
- Buried (2010) as Alan Davenport (voice)
- Peep World (2010) as Ephraim
- Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want (2010) as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
- Community (2009) as Professor Peter Sheffield
- Glee (2009) as Sandy Ryerson
- Archer (2009) as Robert (voice)
- The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) as Dr. Kendrick
- The Face is Familiar (2009)
- True Jackson, VP (2008) as Lars Balthazar
- Beethoven's Big Break (2008) as Sal
- The Rainbow Tribe (2008) as Principal Sands
- Waiting for Yvette (2008) as Alan
- Californication (2007) as Stu Beggs
- The Sarah Silverman Program. (2007) as Bill Fantastimart
- Wild Hogs (2007) as Charley
- The Valley of Light (2007) as Littlefield
- John from Cincinnati (2007) as Mark Lewinsky
- Raines (2007)
- Loveless in Los Angeles (2007) as Jon
- Boxboarders! (2007) as dr.james
- Heroes (2006) as Bob Bishop
- The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006) as Principal James Merrow
- Failure to Launch (2006) as Bud
- Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip (2006)
- The Sasquatch Gang (2006) as Dalrymple
- Big Day (2006)
- Blind Dating (2006) as Dr. Perkins
- Promise Me Tomorrow (2006) as Carl Venable
- Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2006) as Self
- The Closer (2005) as James Bloom
- Ghost Whisperer (2005) as Dr. Peltier
- Robots (2005) as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
- Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) as Tom Abernathy
- Night Stalker (2005) as Titus Berry
- Living 'til the End (2005) as Dr. Shaw
- McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out (2005) as Harry Evers
- The Five Keys to Mastery (2005) as Self
- Desperate Housewives (2004) as Bud Penrod
- Boston Legal (2004) as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
- Entourage (2004) as Mayor of Beverly Hills
- Deadwood (2004) as Hugo Jarry
- Garfield (2004) as Happy Chapman
- Little Black Book (2004) as Carl
- Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004) as George Ruddy
- Complete Savages (2004) as Mr. Frehley
- Debating Robert Lee (2004) as Debate Judge
- Las Vegas (2003) as Donny Rollins
- Freaky Friday (2003) as Mr. Bates
- National Security (2003) as Billy Narthax
- Oliver Beene (2003) as Ringmaster Bob
- View from the Top (2003) as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
- Married to the Kellys (2003) as Henry Conway
- Kingpin (2003)
- Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey (2003) as Self
- Frankie and Johnny Are Married (2003) as Murray Mintz
- CSI: Miami (2002) as Don Haffman
- The Dead Zone (2002) as Jim Pratt
- Do Over (2002)
- The Country Bears (2002) as Norbert Barrington
- Ritual (2002) as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
- Love Liza (2002) as Tom Bailey
- Par 6 (2002) as T.T. Riley
- Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time (2002) as Self
- Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2001) as Jim Halliwell
- According to Jim (2001) as Dr. Ted
- Reba (2001) as Judge
- Off Centre (2001)
- Freddy Got Fingered (2001) as Uncle Neil
- The Lone Gunmen (2001)
- On the Edge (2001) as Tom (wraparound segments)
- The Prime Gig (2001) as Mick
- The Day the World Ended (2001) as Ed Turner
- Black River (2001) as Mayor Tom Thompson
- CSI: Crime Scene Investigation (2000) as Spencer Freiberg
- Curb Your Enthusiasm (2000) as Len Dunkel
- Malcolm in the Middle (2000) as Mr. Fisher
- Memento (2000) as Sammy
- Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000) as Gil (voice)
- Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes (2000) as Dewey Wise
- The Operator (2000) as Doc
- Bossa Nova (2000) as Trevor
- Stanley's Gig (2000) as Abe Cohen
- Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion (2000) as B.J. McQueen
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Edwin Adelson
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1999) as Mr. Kayman
- The West Wing (1999) as Dr. Max Milkman
- Roswell (1999) as Julius Walters
- The Insider (1999) as Eric Kluster
- Snoops (1999) as Michael Bench
- Don't Look Under the Bed (1999) as Michael McCausland
- One Man's Hero (1999) as Captain Gaine
- That '70s Show (1998) as Professor
- Will & Grace (1998) as Ned Weathers
- Hercules (1998) as Numericles (voice)
- Two Guys and a Girl (1998) as Father Viteri
- Any Day Now (1998)
- Black Dog (1998) as McClaren
- The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) as Calculator (voice)
- The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998) as Tabaqui (voice)
- An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn (1998) as Bill Bardo
- Around the Fire (1998) as Doc
- King of the Hill (1997) as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
- The Practice (1997) as Clyde Burrows
- Mr. Magoo (1997) as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
- Arli$$ (1996) as Craig Levitz
- The Pretender (1996) as Dr. Alan Trader
- Suddenly Susan (1996) as Dr. Gerken
- The Glimmer Man (1996) as Christopher Maynard
- Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) as Bando (voice)
- Mr. Rhodes (1996)
- The Curse of Inferno (1996) as Lonnie Martin
- Night Visitors (1996) as Taylor
- Power 98 (1996) as Rick Harris
- The Drew Carey Show (1995) as Councilman
- Murder One (1995)
- Murder One (1995) as Dr. Andross
- The Naked Truth (1995) as Vincent Hartford
- The Home Court (1995) as Jeffrey Solomon
- Murder in the First (1995) as Mr. Henkin
- Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde (1995) as Oliver Mintz
- A Whole New Ballgame (1995) as Dr. Warner Brakefield
- Dweebs (1995) as Karl
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Dr. Ted Joseph
- Chicago Hope (1994) as Ted Joseph
- My Father the Hero (1994) as Mike
- Radioland Murders (1994) as Max Applewhite
- Blue Skies (1994) as Oak
- Trevor (1994) as Father Joe
- Groundhog Day (1993) as Ned Ryerson
- Cafe Americain (1993) as Roger Livingston
- Harts of the West (1993)
- Calendar Girl (1993) as Antonio
- Against the Grain (1993) as Niles Hardeman
- Josh & S.A.M. (1993) as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
- The Pickle (1993) as Mike Krakower
- Basic Instinct (1992) as Dr. Lamott
- Mad About You (1992) as Principal Hocksacker
- Sneakers (1992) as Dr. Werner Brandes
- Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) as Warren Singleton
- Single White Female (1992) as Mitch Myerson
- Hero (1992) as Wallace
- Where the Day Takes You (1992) as Charles
- Roadside Prophets (1992) as Ranger Bob
- Thelma & Louise (1991) as Max
- To the Moon, Alice (1991) as Sitcom Producer
- Wedlock (1991) as Warden Holliday
- Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster (1991) as Sergeant Phil Baranski
- The Marla Hanson Story (1991) as Defense Attorney
- Deadly Medicine (1991) as Ron Sutton
- Tagget (1991) as Al Hentz
- Baby Talk (1991)
- Bird on a Wire (1990) as Joe Weyburn
- The Grifters (1990) as Jeweler
- Funny About Love (1990) as Hugo
- Shannon's Deal (1990)
- Mirror Mirror (1990) as Mr. Anderson
- Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) as Mayor Bill Klepler
- Last Flight Out (1990) as Doctor Timothy Brandon
- The Simpsons (1989) as Merle (voice)
- Seinfeld (1989) as Tor Eckman
- Great Balls of Fire! (1989) as Jud Phillips
- Roe vs. Wade (1989) as Darryl Horwath
- In Country (1989) as Pete
- Breaking In (1989) as District Attorney
- Mississippi Burning (1988) as Townley
- Checking Out (1988) as Pharmacist
- Two Idiots in Hollywood (1988) as Prosecuting Attorney
- Two Idiots in Hollywood (1988) Director
- Two Idiots in Hollywood (1988) Writer
- Spaceballs (1987) as Captain of the Guard
- The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd (1987) as Alex
- L.A. Law (1986) as Michael Segal
- Designing Women (1986)
- Nobody's Fool (1986) as Kirk
- True Stories (1986) Writer
- 227 (1985)
- Crazy like a Fox (1984) as Hotel Clerk
- The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) as Barney
- Swing Shift (1984) as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
- Cocaine and Blue Eyes (1983) as TV Clerk
- Cagney & Lacey (1982)
- Falcon Crest (1981) as Doctor
- Knots Landing (1979) as Steve Comiskey
- Keep My Grave Open (1977) as Robert
- Alice (1976)
- Tony Awards (1956) as Self - Nominee
- Butterfly in the Typewriter as The Abbot
- American Men as Sterling Moss
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Stephen Tobolowsky best known for?
Stephen Tobolowsky is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Freaks Part II (2026), Freakier Friday (2025), The Cowboy Killer (2026), Nobody Wants This (2024).
When and where was Stephen Tobolowsky born?
Stephen Tobolowsky was born on May 30, 1951 in Dallas, Texas, USA.
How many credits does Stephen Tobolowsky have?
Stephen Tobolowsky has accumulated over 264 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1956 to 2026.
What is Stephen Tobolowsky's background in cinema and television?
Stephen Tobolowsky is an American character actor. He was born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. Tobolowsky studied geology at Southern Methodist University before switching to theater after being cast in a production of "The Crucible." He has appeared in numerous film and television roles, including insurance agent N...