Biography
This page uses content from the Stephen Tobolowsky biography page on the English version of Wikipedia and is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. This list of authors can be seen in the page history. Rotten Tomatoes disclaims any and all warranties as to the accuracy or reliability of the content.
Stephen Tobolowsky (born May 30, 1951 in Dallas, Texas) is an American actor. Tobolowsky (IPA pronunciation: ) is a character actor most often cast as supporting characters that are amiable, brainy, and/or clueless. Perhaps through sheer force of repetition, he is best known from his role in 1993's Groundhog Day, in which he played Bill Murray's annoying high school classmate and insurance salesman, Ned Ryerson, who Murray's character keeps running into when he keeps repeating February 2. Tobolowsky would later reunite with Murray 11 years later in the movie version of the comic strip Garfield: The Movie in which Tobolowsky played the villainous TV star Happy Chapman (Murray himself provided the voice of the orange feline). He appeared as a gentle sound man with a dark secret in the 1994 film Radioland Murders. He also had a memorable guest spot on Seinfeld as Tor Ackman, Kramer's holistic healer, in the second season episode, "The Heart Attack."
After starting on the New York theater scene, Stephen moved to Hollywood to enter the film business. He has appeared in over 100 films and at least as many television projects. Throughout his career he has maintained a connection to the theater by directing and acting in plays in New York and Los Angeles. He directed one movie, Two Idiots in Hollywood, which was based on his play of the same name. Stephen also co-wrote the film True Stories with David Byrne. In 2005 he released a documentary film, Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party, featuring a performance in which he tells stories from his life to a group of friends.
Tobolowsky was nominated for a Tony Award in 2002 as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for a revival of Morning's At Seven. He is married to actress Ann Hearn and is the father of two teenage sons.
He is currently attached to star in writer/producer Clint Morris's horror satire, "Howl", and next appears opposite John Travolta in "Wild Hogs".
Selected Filmography
- Howl (2005) as Christopher Cox
- Wild Hogs (2007) as Charley
- Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005) featuring a performance in which he tells stories from his life to a group of friends.
- Garfield as Happy Chapman
- Freaky Friday (2003) as Mr. Bates
- Freddy Got Fingered (2001) as Uncle Neil
- Memento (2000) as Sammy Jankis
- The Insider (1999) as Eric Kluster, a network executive on the receiving end of an enraged Mike Wallace (Christopher Plummer)
- Mr. Magoo (1997) as FBI Agent Chuck Stupak
- Radioland Murders (1994) as Max Applewhite, the disgruntled studio sound engineer
- Groundhog Day (1993) as Ned Ryerson, Bill Murray's annoying high school classmate and insurance salesman
- Sneakers (1992) as hubristic engineer Werner Brandes, duped by the protagonists to gain access to his place of employment
- Thelma and Louise (1991) as Max
- Great Balls of Fire! (1989) as Jud Phillips
- Spaceballs (1987) as Captain of the Guards
External links
- Interview - Now Playing magazine
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify the biographical information on this page under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License, Version 1.2 or any later version published by the Free Software Foundation.
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