Personal Info
Known For:
Acting
Birthday:
May 30, 1951
Place of Birth:
Dallas, Texas, USA
Social Media
Stephen Tobolowsky
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.
Known For
Filmography
| Year | Movie | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Freakier Friday | Mr. Bates |
| 2025 | Thelma et Louise, un western féministe | Self |
| 2024 | Poolman | Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche |
| 2024 | Watching Walter | Walter |
| 2023 | Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues | Self |
| 2023 | Love Virtually | Dr. Divine |
| 2023 | Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up | Ned |
| 2023 | Candy Cane Lane | Mr. Benedetto (uncredited) |
| 2022 | Haul Out the Holly | Ned |
| 2022 | Hollywood Signs | Self |
| 2019 | Fractured | Dr. Berthram |
| 2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" | Mr. Bentley |
| 2019 | Loners | Mr. Tessman |
| 2019 | The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween | Creepy Rattlechains (voice) |
| 2019 | Fantastic Mr. Murray | Self - Interviewee |
| 2018 | Monsters at Large | Mr. Phillips |
| 2018 | Strange Nature | Mayor Paulson |
| 2017 | Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown | Andy Gunderson (voice) |
| 2016 | The Confirmation | Father Lyons |
| 2016 | Where is Rocky II? | Byron (segment: "Monument One") |
| 2016 | Mamaboy | Reverend Weld |
| 2016 | Welcome to the Men's Group | |
| 2016 | Six L.A. Love Stories | Professor John Dobler |
| 2015 | The Barber | Chief Hardaway |
| 2015 | The Primary Instinct | Himself |
| 2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Principal Purdy (voice) |
| 2014 | Atlas Shrugged: Part III | Dr. Hugh Akston |
| 2014 | Hello Ladies: The Movie | Alan |
| 2014 | Christian Mingle | Douglas McCarver |
| 2014 | Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends | Andy |
| 2013 | Toy Story of Terror! | Ron (voice) |
| 2012 | The Lorax | Uncle Ubb (voice) |
| 2012 | The Last Ride | Ray |
| 2012 | Say It Ain't Solo | Himself |
| 2012 | Pearblossom Hwy | Rick Lawler |
| 2011 | You May Not Kiss the Bride | Plumber |
| 2011 | Hard Breakers | Max |
| 2011 | Magnificat | Neighbor |
| 2011 | Hail Mary | |
| 2010 | Buried | Alan Davenport (voice) |
| 2010 | Peep World | Ephraim |
| 2010 | Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want | Father Joe (segment "Trevor") |
| 2009 | The Face is Familiar | |
| 2009 | The Time Traveler's Wife | Dr. Kendrick |
| 2008 | Beethoven's Big Break | Sal |
| 2008 | Waiting for Yvette | Alan |
| 2008 | The Rainbow Tribe | Principal Sands |
| 2007 | Boxboarders! | dr.james |
| 2007 | Wild Hogs | Charley |
| 2007 | The Valley of Light | Littlefield |
| 2006 | Blind Dating | Dr. Perkins |
| 2006 | Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party | Self |
| 2006 | Promise Me Tomorrow | Carl Venable |
| 2006 | Failure to Launch | Bud |
| 2006 | The Sasquatch Gang | Dalrymple |
| 2005 | Living 'til the End | Dr. Shaw |
| 2005 | McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out | Harry Evers |
| 2005 | Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous | Tom Abernathy |
| 2005 | Robots | Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice) |
| 2004 | Garfield | Happy Chapman |
| 2004 | Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! | George Ruddy |
| 2004 | Debating Robert Lee | Debate Judge |
| 2004 | Little Black Book | Carl |
| 2003 | Frankie and Johnny Are Married | Murray Mintz |
| 2003 | Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey | Self |
| 2003 | National Security | Billy Narthax |
| 2003 | Freaky Friday | Mr. Bates |
| 2003 | View from the Top | Frank Thomas (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Love Liza | Tom Bailey |
| 2002 | The Country Bears | Norbert Barrington |
| 2002 | Par 6 | T.T. Riley |
| 2002 | Ritual | Dr. Javitz (uncredited) |
| 2002 | Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time | Self |
| 2001 | Freddy Got Fingered | Uncle Neil |
| 2001 | Black River | Mayor Tom Thompson |
| 2001 | The Prime Gig | Mick |
| 2001 | The Day the World Ended | Ed Turner |
| 2001 | On the Edge | Tom (wraparound segments) |
| 2000 | Memento | Sammy |
| 2000 | Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Dewey Wise |
| 2000 | The Operator | Doc |
| 2000 | Bossa Nova | Trevor |
| 2000 | Stanley's Gig | Abe Cohen |
| 2000 | Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion | B.J. McQueen |
| 1999 | The Insider | Eric Kluster |
| 1999 | Don't Look Under the Bed | Michael McCausland |
| 1999 | One Man's Hero | Captain Gaine |
| 1998 | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | Calculator (voice) |
| 1998 | Black Dog | McClaren |
| 1998 | The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story | Tabaqui (voice) |
| 1998 | Around the Fire | Doc |
| 1998 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn | Bill Bardo |
| 1997 | Mr. Magoo | Agent FBI Chuck Stupak |
| 1996 | Power 98 | Rick Harris |
| 1996 | Night Visitors | Taylor |
| 1996 | The Glimmer Man | Christopher Maynard |
| 1996 | Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Bando (voice) |
| 1996 | The Curse of Inferno | Lonnie Martin |
| 1995 | Murder in the First | Mr. Henkin |
| 1995 | Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde | Oliver Mintz |
| 1994 | Radioland Murders | Max Applewhite |
| 1994 | Trevor | Father Joe |
| 1994 | My Father the Hero | Mike |
| 1993 | Groundhog Day | Ned Ryerson |
| 1993 | The Pickle | Mike Krakower |
| 1993 | Josh and S.A.M. | Thomas 'Thom' Whitney |
| 1993 | Calendar Girl | Antonio |
| 1993 | Romeo Is Bleeding | District Attorney (uncredited) |
| 1992 | Basic Instinct | Dr. Lamott |
| 1992 | Memoirs of an Invisible Man | Warren Singleton |
| 1992 | Single White Female | Mitch Myerson |
| 1992 | Where the Day Takes You | Charles |
| 1992 | Sneakers | Dr. Werner Brandes |
| 1992 | Roadside Prophets | Ranger Bob |
| 1992 | Hero | Wallace |
| 1991 | Thelma & Louise | Max |
| 1991 | Wedlock | Warden Holliday |
| 1991 | Deadly Medicine | Ron Sutton |
| 1991 | Tagget | Al Hentz |
| 1991 | The Marla Hanson Story | Defense Attorney |
| 1991 | To the Moon, Alice | Sitcom Producer |
| 1991 | Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster | Sergeant Phil Baranski |
| 1990 | Bird on a Wire | Joe Weyburn |
| 1990 | Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael | Mayor Bill Klepler |
| 1990 | Funny About Love | Hugo |
| 1990 | The Grifters | Jeweler |
| 1990 | Last Flight Out | Doctor Timothy Brandon |
| 1990 | Mirror Mirror | Mr. Anderson |
| 1989 | Great Balls of Fire! | Jud Phillips |
| 1989 | Roe vs. Wade | Darryl Horwath |
| 1989 | In Country | Pete |
| 1989 | Breaking In | District Attorney |
| 1988 | Mississippi Burning | Townley |
| 1988 | Two Idiots in Hollywood | Prosecuting Attorney |
| 1988 | Checking Out | Pharmacist |
| 1987 | Spaceballs | Captain of the Guard |
| 1986 | Nobody's Fool | Kirk |
| 1984 | The Philadelphia Experiment | Barney |
| 1984 | Swing Shift | French deMille / Documentary Narrator |
| 1983 | Cocaine and Blue Eyes | TV Clerk |
| 1977 | Keep My Grave Open | Robert |
| Butterfly in the Typewriter | The Abbot | |
| Mimics | Melvin Reinhold |
| Year | TV Show | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nobody Wants This | Rabbi Cohen |
| 2023 | Frog and Toad | Dragonfly (voice) |
| 2022 | The Really Loud House | Walter Phillipini |
| 2022 | Minx | Conrad Ross |
| 2021 | Hacks | Henry Weeks |
| 2020 | Dicktown | John’s Dad |
| 2020 | Stars in the House | Self |
| 2020 | ThunderCats Roar | Driller (voice) |
| 2019 | Green Eggs and Ham | Chad (voice) |
| 2019 | Schooled | Earl Ball |
| 2018 | The Cool Kids | Leonard |
| 2017 | One Day at a Time | Dr. Berkowitz |
| 2017 | No Activity | (voice) |
| 2017 | White Famous | Stu Beggs |
| 2016 | Fuller House | Mr. Gerald |
| 2016 | Bad Internet | James |
| 2016 | Justice League Action | Professor Stein (voice) |
| 2015 | We Bare Bears | Stephen ( voice) |
| 2015 | Another Period | Thomas Edison |
| 2015 | Big Time in Hollywood, Fl | Alan Dolfe |
| 2015 | Dr. Ken | Joe |
| 2014 | Silicon Valley | Jack Barker |
| 2014 | The Hotwives of Orlando | Phil |
| 2014 | Friends with Better Lives | Dr. Adleman |
| 2013 | The Goldbergs | Principal Ball |
| 2012 | The Mindy Project | Marc Shulman |
| 2010 | Pound Puppies | Mr. Geekman (voice) |
| 2010 | Justified | Jerry Barkley |
| 2010 | The Defenders | Judge Gelineau |
| 2009 | Glee | Sandy Ryerson |
| 2009 | Community | Professor Peter Sheffield |
| 2009 | Archer | Robert (voice) |
| 2008 | True Jackson, VP | Lars Balthazar |
| 2007 | John from Cincinnati | |
| 2007 | Raines | |
| 2007 | Californication | Stu Beggs |
| 2007 | The Sarah Silverman Program. | Bill Fantastimart |
| 2006 | Big Day | |
| 2006 | Heroes | Bob Bishop |
| 2006 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | |
| 2006 | The New Adventures of Old Christine | Principal James Merrow |
| 2005 | The Closer | James Bloom |
| 2005 | Ghost Whisperer | Dr. Peltier |
| 2005 | Night Stalker | |
| 2004 | Deadwood | Hugo Jarry |
| 2004 | Desperate Housewives | Bud Penrod |
| 2004 | Boston Legal | Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft |
| 2004 | Complete Savages | Mr. Frehley |
| 2003 | Las Vegas | |
| 2003 | Oliver Beene | |
| 2003 | Kingpin | |
| 2003 | Married to the Kellys | |
| 2002 | CSI: Miami | Don Haffman |
| 2002 | Do Over | |
| 2002 | The Dead Zone | Jim Pratt |
| 2001 | Reba | |
| 2001 | According to Jim | Dr. Ted |
| 2001 | Off Centre | |
| 2001 | The Lone Gunmen | |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Jim Halliwell |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Spencer Freiberg |
| 2000 | Malcolm in the Middle | Mr. Fisher |
| 2000 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Len Dunkel |
| 2000 | Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | Gil (voice) |
| 1999 | Roswell | Julius Walters |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Edwin Adelson |
| 1999 | The West Wing | Dr. Max Milkman |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mr. Kayman |
| 1999 | Snoops | Michael Bench |
| 1998 | That '70s Show | Professor |
| 1998 | Two Guys and a Girl | Father Viteri |
| 1998 | Any Day Now | |
| 1998 | Will & Grace | Ned Weathers |
| 1998 | Hercules | Numericles (voice) |
| 1997 | King of the Hill | Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice) |
| 1997 | The Practice | |
| 1996 | The Pretender | Dr. Alan Trader |
| 1996 | Mr. Rhodes | |
| 1996 | Suddenly Susan | Dr. Gerken |
| 1995 | Murder One | |
| 1995 | Dweebs | |
| 1995 | A Whole New Ballgame | Dr. Warner Brakefield |
| 1995 | The Drew Carey Show | Councilman |
| 1995 | The Naked Truth | Vincent Hartford |
| 1994 | Chicago Hope | |
| 1994 | Blue Skies | Oak |
| 1993 | Against the Grain | Niles Hardeman |
| 1993 | Harts of the West | |
| 1993 | Cafe Americain | Roger Livingston |
| 1992 | Mad About You | Principal Hocksacker |
| 1991 | Baby Talk | |
| 1990 | Shannon's Deal | |
| 1989 | Seinfeld | Tor Eckman |
| 1987 | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Alex |
| 1986 | Designing Women | |
| 1986 | L.A. Law | Dr. Michael Segal |
| 1985 | 227 | |
| 1984 | Crazy like a Fox | Hotel Clerk |
| 1982 | Cagney & Lacey | |
| 1981 | Falcon Crest | Doctor |
| 1979 | Knots Landing | Steve Comiskey |
| 1976 | Alice | |
| 1956 | Tony Awards | Self - Nominee |
| American Men | Sterling Moss |