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Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky

Acting1951Dallas, Texas, USA

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.

Acting History

2025
Freakier Friday
as Mr. Elton Bates
Haul Out the Halloween
as Ned Broadhead
The Simpsons
TVas Merle (voice)1 eps
2024
Poolman
as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
Hacks
TVas Henry Weeks1 eps
Nobody Wants This
TVas Rabbi Cohen4 eps
2023
Candy Cane Lane
as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
Love Virtually
as Dr. Divine
Frog and Toad
TVas Dragonfly (voice)3 eps
2022
Minx
TVas Conrad Ross1 eps
The Really Loud House
TVas Walter Phillipini
2021
No Activity
TVas (voice)1 eps
2020
Archer
TVas Robert (voice)11 eps
Stars in the House
TVas Self1 eps
ThunderCats Roar
TVas Driller (voice)
2019
Fractured
as Dr. Berthram
Schooled
TVas Earl Ball4 eps
The Cool Kids
TVas Leonard1 eps
Green Eggs and Ham
TVas Chad (voice)1 eps
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TVas Mr. Kayman / Edwin Adelson1 eps
2018
Monsters at Large
as Mr. Phillips
2017
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
as Andy Gunderson (voice)
We Bare Bears
TVas Stephen ( voice)1 eps
Justice League Action
TVas Professor Stein (voice)8 eps
White Famous
TVas Stu Beggs
One Day at a Time
TVas Dr. Berkowitz46 eps
2016
Six L.A. Love Stories
as Professor John Dobler
The Confirmation
as Father Lyons
Where is Rocky II?
as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
Fuller House
TVas Mr. Gerald1 eps
Bad Internet
TVas James
Silicon Valley
TVas Jack Barker17 eps
2015
The Barber
as Chief Hardaway
Dr. Ken
TVas Joe1 eps
Another Period
TVas Thomas Edison1 eps
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
TVas Alan Dolfe10 eps
2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
as Principal Purdy (voice)
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
as Dr. Hugh Akston
Christian Mingle
as Douglas McCarver
The Goldbergs
TVas Principal Ball43 eps
2013
Toy Story of Terror!
as Ron (voice)
2012
Pearblossom Hwy
as Rick Lawler
The Lorax
as Uncle Ubb (voice)
The Mindy Project
TVas Marc Shulman4 eps
Justified
TVas Jerry Barkley3 eps
2011
Magnificat
as Neighbor
Californication
TVas Stu Beggs30 eps
Community
TVas Professor Peter Sheffield1 eps
Pound Puppies
TVas Mr. Geekman (voice)1 eps
The Defenders
TVas Judge Gelineau1 eps
2010
Peep World
as Ephraim
Buried
as Alan Davenport (voice)
The Sarah Silverman Program.
TVas Bill Fantastimart1 eps
True Jackson, VP
TVas Lars Balthazar1 eps
2009
Glee
TVas Sandy Ryerson8 eps
The New Adventures of Old Christine
TVas Principal James Merrow2 eps
2008
The Rainbow Tribe
as Principal Sands
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TVas Spencer Freiberg1 eps
2007
Wild Hogs
as Charley
Boxboarders!
as dr.james
The Valley of Light
as Littlefield
Heroes
TVas Bob Bishop11 eps
Boston Legal
TVas Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft1 eps
Entourage
TVas Mayor of Beverly Hills1 eps
2006
The Sasquatch Gang
as Dalrymple
Blind Dating
as Dr. Perkins
Ghost Whisperer
TVas Dr. Peltier1 eps
Desperate Housewives
TVas Bud Penrod1 eps
2005
Robots
as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
Reba
TVas Judge1 eps
Deadwood
TVas Hugo Jarry9 eps
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TVas Len Dunkel1 eps
The Closer
TVas James Bloom1 eps
2004
Garfield
as Happy Chapman
Debating Robert Lee
as Debate Judge
The West Wing
TVas Dr. Max Milkman1 eps
According to Jim
TVas Dr. Ted1 eps
Complete Savages
TVas Mr. Frehley1 eps
Will & Grace
TVas Ned Weathers1 eps
2003
Freaky Friday
as Mr. Bates
National Security
as Billy Narthax
View from the Top
as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
The Dead Zone
TVas Jim Pratt1 eps
CSI: Miami
TVas Don Haffman5 eps
Las Vegas
TVas Donny Rollins1 eps
Married to the Kellys
TVas Henry Conway
Oliver Beene
TVas Ringmaster Bob
2002
Love Liza
as Tom Bailey
Ritual
as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
The Country Bears
as Norbert Barrington
Par 6
as T.T. Riley
Tony Awards
TVas Self - Nominee1 eps
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TVas Jim Halliwell1 eps
Malcolm in the Middle
TVas Mr. Fisher1 eps
2001
Black River
as Mayor Tom Thompson
On the Edge
as Tom (wraparound segments)
Freddy Got Fingered
as Uncle Neil
King of the Hill
TVas Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)1 eps
Roswell
TVas Julius Walters1 eps
2000
Bossa Nova
as Trevor
Memento
as Sammy
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
TVas Gil (voice)1 eps
1999
The Insider
as Eric Kluster
Don't Look Under the Bed
as Michael McCausland
Two Guys and a Girl
TVas Father Viteri1 eps
That '70s Show
TVas Professor1 eps
Mad About You
TVas Principal Hocksacker1 eps
Snoops
TVas Michael Bench
The Practice
TVas Clyde Burrows1 eps
1998
Black Dog
as McClaren
Hercules
TVas Numericles (voice)1 eps
Suddenly Susan
TVas Dr. Gerken1 eps
1997
Mr. Magoo
as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
The Drew Carey Show
TVas Councilman1 eps
Murder One
TVas Dr. Andross1 eps
The Naked Truth
TVas Vincent Hartford1 eps
1996
The Curse of Inferno
as Lonnie Martin
Power 98
as Rick Harris
The Glimmer Man
as Christopher Maynard
The Pretender
TVas Dr. Alan Trader1 eps
1995
Murder in the First
as Mr. Henkin
Chicago Hope
TVas Ted Joseph2 eps
The Home Court
TVas Jeffrey Solomon
1994
Radioland Murders
as Max Applewhite
Trevor
as Father Joe
1993
Josh and S.A.M.
as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
The Pickle
as Mike Krakower
Calendar Girl
as Antonio
Groundhog Day
as Ned Ryerson
Cafe Americain
TVas Roger Livingston
1992
Basic Instinct
as Dr. Lamott
Sneakers
as Dr. Werner Brandes
Hero
as Wallace
Roadside Prophets
as Ranger Bob
Single White Female
as Mitch Myerson
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
as Warren Singleton
1991
The Marla Hanson Story
as Defense Attorney
Wedlock
as Warden Holliday
Tagget
as Al Hentz
Deadly Medicine
as Ron Sutton
Seinfeld
TVas Tor Eckman1 eps
1990
Mirror Mirror
as Mr. Anderson
Bird on a Wire
as Joe Weyburn
The Grifters
as Jeweler
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
as Mayor Bill Klepler
1989
Breaking In
as District Attorney
In Country
as Pete
Great Balls of Fire!
as Jud Phillips
L.A. Law
TVas Michael Segal1 eps
1987
Spaceballs
as Captain of the Guard
1985
Knots Landing
TVas Steve Comiskey1 eps
Falcon Crest
TVas Doctor1 eps
Crazy like a Fox
TVas Hotel Clerk1 eps
1984
Swing Shift
as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1983
1977

Social Media

Personal Info

Known For
Acting
Gender
Male
Birthday
5/30/1951(74 years old)
Place of Birth
Dallas, Texas, USA