Bob Balaban

Personal Info

Known For:
Acting

Birthday:
August 16, 1945

Place of Birth:
Chicago, Illinois, USA

Social Media

Bob Balaban

Biography

Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels.

Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women.

In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood.

In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing.

Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come.

Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars.

Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.

Known For

Filmography

Year Movie Role
2025 Fantasy Life
2024 Bad Actors
2023 80 for Brady Mark
2023 Asteroid City Larkings Executive
2023 Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Self
2022 How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
2021 The French Dispatch Uncle Nick
2021 How Moving Uncle Aaron
2019 Carl Laemmle Himself
2018 An L.A. Minute Shelley
2018 Isle of Dogs King (voice)
2017 Spielberg Self
2016 Mascots Sol Lumpkin
2016 Eva Hesse Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
2016 I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Mr. Waxcap
2016 Mike Nichols: An American Master Self
2016 Starring Austin Pendleton Self
2015 Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' Self / The Narrator
2015 Everything Is Copy Self
2015 Hitchcock/Truffaut Narrator (voice)
2014 The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Martin
2014 The Monuments Men Pvt. Preston Savitz
2013 Fading Gigolo Sol
2013 Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Lawyer (uncredited)
2012 Girl Most Likely Maxwell
2012 Moonrise Kingdom The Narrator
2012 Thin Ice Leonard Dahl
2012 Do You Like to Read? The Narrator
2011 The Five Stages of Grief Voice of Daniel's father
2010 Howl Judge Clayton Horn
2010 F--k Bob
2009 Rage Mr. White
2009 The Windmill Movie Self
2008 Recount Ben Ginsberg
2007 No Reservations Therapist
2007 Dedication Arthur Planck
2007 License to Wed Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
2007 Prince of the City: The Real Story Self / Santimassino
2006 Lady in the Water Harry Farber
2006 For Your Consideration Philip Koontz
2006 Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film Self
2005 Trust the Man Tobey's Therapist
2005 Capote William Shawn
2004 Scene Stealers Jonathan Crouch Esq.
2004 Marie and Bruce Roger
2003 A Mighty Wind Jonathan Steinbloom
2002 The Tuxedo Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
2002 The Making of 'Gosford Park' Self
2001 Ghost World Enid's Dad
2001 Gosford Park Morris Weissman
2001 The Majestic Elvin Glyde
2001 The Mexican Bernie Nayman
2001 The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' Self
2001 Plan B James Foster
2000 Best in Show Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
2000 Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger Tex
1999 Jakob the Liar Kowalsky
1999 The Monster Hunter Dr. William Powell
1999 Swing Vote Justice Eli MacCorckle
1999 Three to Tango Decker
1999 Cradle Will Rock Harry Hopkins
1999 George Romero's Golden Tales 2
1998 Giving Up the Ghost Bob
1997 Conversation with the Beast Mr. Webster
1997 Deconstructing Harry Richard
1997 Clockwatchers Milton Lasky
1997 The Definite Maybe Wolfe Rollins
1996 The Late Shift Warren Littlefield
1996 Waiting for Guffman Lloyd Miller
1996 Pie in the Sky Paul Entamen
1994 City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
1994 Greedy Ed
1993 For Love or Money Ed Drinkwater
1993 Amos & Andrew Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
1992 Unnatural Pursuits Lou Finkleberg
1992 Bob Roberts Cutting Edge Producer
1991 Little Man Tate Quizmaster
1990 The Face of Fear Ira Preduski
1990 Alice Sid Moscowitz
1989 Dead Bang Elliott Webley
1988 Funny Self
1987 End of the Line Warren Gerber
1984 2010 Dr. R. Chandra
1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
1984 2010 : The Odyssey Continues Himself
1981 Whose Life Is It Anyway? Carter Hill
1981 Absence of Malice Elliott Rosen
1981 Prince of the City Santimassino
1980 Altered States Arthur Rosenberg
1978 Girlfriends Martin
1977 Close Encounters of the Third Kind David Laughlin
1975 Report to the Commissioner Joey Egan
1974 The Bank Shot Victor Karp
1971 Making It Wilkie
1971 Marriage: Year One Bernie
1970 The Strawberry Statement Elliot
1970 Catch-22 Capt. Orr
1969 Midnight Cowboy The Young Student
1969 Me, Natalie Morris
Year TV Show Role
2022 Severance Mark Wilkins
2021 The Chair Elliot Rentz
2020 Space Force Ron (voice)
2019 The Politician Keaton Hobart
2018 Condor Reuel Abbott
2018 Summer Camp Island Gerald (voice)
2018 James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Self
2017 Wormwood Dr. Harold A. Abramson
2015 Show Me a Hero Leonard B. Sand
2014 Broad City Arthur Wexler
2014 Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Self
2013 Alpha House Senator Elliot Robeson
2013 Family Tree Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim
2012 Girls Therapist
2011 Web Therapy Ted Mitchell
2011 China, IL (voice)
2010 Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood Self
2009 The Good Wife Gordon Higgs
2008 Web Therapy Ted Mitchell
2005 Hopeless Pictures
2005 American Dad! Glen Hanover (voice)
2004 Tom Goes to the Mayor Walt Pickle (voice)
1999 Now and Again
1999 The West Wing Ted Marcus
1995 Legend
1995 Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Bob (voice)
1994 Friends Frank Sr.
1989 The Simpsons Narrator (voice)
1989 Seinfeld Russell Dalrymple
1985 Amazing Stories Jo-Jo Gillespie
1984 Miami Vice
1972 Maude Ambrose Riley
1969 Room 222
1969 Love, American Style Nick
1968 The Mod Squad
1965 Hank
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