Stephen Tobolowsky
- Highest Rated: Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005)
- Lowest Rated: Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? (2014)
- Birthday: May 30, 1951
- Birthplace: Dallas, Texas, USA
-
Perhaps one of the most instantly recognizable -- yet seemingly unidentifiable -- character actors to have succeeded in Hollywood, Stephen Tobolowsky's non-movie star looks have enabled the native Texan to portray a wider variety of characters more conventional movie stars simply could not. Born and raised in Dallas, Tobolowsky attended Southern Methodist University for his undergraduate degree and went on to earn a Master's degree in acting from the University of Illinois. While at S.M.U., the young Tobolowsky won his first film role in a low-budget horror film entitled Keep My Grave Open. Soon after finishing his studies, he went west to Los Angeles and started working somewhat consistently in both television and film in the early '80s -- while gaining some notice for his work in the films Swing Shift and Mississippi Burning. After toiling on the West Coast for a few years, Tobolowsky became a bi-coastal star with a role in a 1981 Broadway production of Beth Henley's play The Wake of Jamey Foster. In 1986, he collaborated with Henley -- who also happened to be a fellow student of Tobolowsky's during his undergraduate studies at S.M.U. -- and David Byrne to co-write the script for Byrne's 1986 film True Stories. The multi-talented thespian then went on to write and direct his own play, Two Idiots in Hollywood, which he also turned into a film in 1988. The early '90s brought Tobolowsky his greatest exposure to the movie-going public, with a number of diverse and interesting roles that highlighted the actor's great range and skill -- nearly to the extent of upstaging these films' higher-profile stars. Perhaps the most prototypical Tobolowsky characterization can be found in the 1993 Harold Ramis comedy Groundhog Day, in which Tobolowsky portrayed the hapless insurance salesman Ned Ryerson. Other memorable performances from this decade include Thelma & Louise, Basic Instinct, Sneakers, and The Radioland Murders. Tobolowsky continued creating endearing characters into the 2000s, starting with Christopher Nolan's indy hit Memento. As amnesiac Sammy Jankis, Tobolowsky created one of the most powerful dramatic performances of his career. His next significant film role came via the 2002 Spike Jonze/Charlie Kaufman film Adaptation, which further displayed the nearly chameleon-like actor's range and talent that make him one of the best character actors in the industry. In the years to come, Tobolowsky would remain active on screen, appearing on shows like Glee and Californication.
Photos
Highest Rated Movies
Filmography
Movies
Rating |
Title |
Credit |
Box
|
Year |
---|---|---|---|---|
62% | Fractured | Dr. Berthram | — | 2019 |
93% | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' | Mr. Bentley | — | 2019 |
43% | Strange Nature | Mayor Paulson | — | 2018 |
Welcome to the Men's Group | Carl | — | 2018 | |
Six LA Love Stories | Actor | — | 2018 | |
Monsters At Large | Mr. Phillips | — | 2018 | |
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends | Andy | — | 2016 | |
91% | The Confirmation | Father Lyons | — | 2016 |
Mamaboy | Actor | — | 2016 | |
20% | The Barber | Chief Hardaway | — | 2015 |
The Primary Instinct | Screenwriter Executive Producer | — | 2015 | |
Hollywood Adventures | Wronald Wright | — | 2015 | |
Christian Mingle The Movie | Douglas McCarver | $20.3K | 2014 | |
0% | Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? | Hugh Akston | — | 2014 |
81% | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Principal Purdy | $101.8M | 2014 |
44% | The Last Ride | Ray | $16.8K | 2012 |
53% | Dr Seuss' The Lorax | Uncle Ubb | $214M | 2012 |
Pearblossom Hwy | Rick Lawler | — | 2012 | |
14% | Hard Breakers | Max | — | 2011 |
25% | Peep World | Ephraim | $11.4K | 2011 |
The Rainbow Tribe | Principal Sands | — | 2011 | |
86% | Buried | Alan Davenport | $0.3M | 2010 |
39% | The Time Traveler's Wife | Dr. David Kendrick | $63.4M | 2009 |
Starz Inside | Actor | — | 2009 | |
Beethoven's Big Break | Sal | — | 2008 | |
46% | The Sasquatch Gang | Ernie Dalrymple | — | 2007 |
25% | Blind Dating | Dr. Perkins | $62.4K | 2007 |
Totally Baked: A Pot-u-mentary | Actor | — | 2007 | |
14% | Wild Hogs | Charley | $168.3M | 2007 |
The Valley of Light | Littleberry | — | 2007 | |
Pope Dreams | Carl Venable | — | 2006 | |
24% | Failure to Launch | Bud | $88.7M | 2006 |
Loveless in Los Angeles | Jon | — | 2006 | |
Boxboarders! | Dr. James | — | 2006 | |
Debating Robert Lee | District Judge | — | 2006 | |
Living 'til the End | Dr. Shaw | — | 2005 | |
64% | Robots | Bigmouth Executive | $128.2M | 2005 |
100% | Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party | Actor | — | 2005 |
22% | Little Black Book | Carl | $20.5M | 2004 |
15% | Garfield - The Movie | Happy Chapman | $75.3M | 2004 |
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Actor | — | 2004 | |
67% | Frankie and Johnny Are Married | Murray Mintz | — | 2004 |
Love Hollywood Style | Actor | — | 2004 | |
53% | Win a Date With Tad Hamilton! | George Ruddy | $16.9M | 2004 |
88% | Freaky Friday | Mr. Bates | $110.2M | 2003 |
14% | View from the Top | Frank Thomas | $15.6M | 2003 |
11% | National Security | Billy Narthax | $35.8M | 2003 |
Kingpin | Klein's Lawyer | — | 2003 | |
91% | Adaptation | Ranger Steve Neely | $22.2M | 2002 |
29% | The Country Bears | Norbert Barrington | $16.9M | 2002 |
53% | Love Liza | Tom Bailey | — | 2002 |
The Day the World Ended | Principal Turner | — | 2001 | |
On the Edge | Actor | — | 2001 | |
Dean Koontz's 'Black River' | Mayor Thompson | — | 2001 | |
92% | Memento | Sammy Jankis | $23.9M | 2000 |
Stanley's Gig | Abe | — | 2000 | |
73% | Bossa Nova | Trevor | — | 2000 |
45% | The Operator | Doc | — | 2000 |
44% | The Prime Gig | Mick | — | 2000 |
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Dewey Wise | — | 2000 | |
Alien Fury | Actor | — | 2000 | |
96% | The Insider | Eric Kluster | — | 1999 |
Don't Look Under the Bed | Michael McCausland | — | 1999 | |
38% | One Man's Hero | Captain Gaine | — | 1999 |
Around the Fire | Doc | — | 1998 | |
The Curse of Inferno | Lonnie Martin | — | 1998 | |
40% | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | Calculator | — | 1998 |
10% | Black Dog | Agent McClaren | — | 1998 |
8% | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn | Bill Bardo | — | 1998 |
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story | Tabaqui | — | 1998 | |
7% | Mr. Magoo | Agent Chuck Stupak | — | 1997 |
80% | Boys Life 2 | Father Joe [Trevor] | — | 1997 |
12% | The Glimmer Man | Christopher Maynard | — | 1996 |
53% | Homeward Bound II - Lost in San Francisco | Bando | — | 1996 |
14% | Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde | Olivier | — | 1995 |
24% | Radioland Murders | Max Applewhite | — | 1994 |
50% | Murder in the First | Mr. Henkin | — | 1994 |
14% | My Father, the Hero | Mike | — | 1994 |
Trevor | Father Joe | — | 1994 | |
20% | The Pickle | Mike Krakower | — | 1993 |
96% | Groundhog Day | Ned Ryerson | — | 1993 |
25% | Josh and S.A.M. | Thom Whitney | — | 1993 |
11% | Calendar Girl | Antonio Gallo | — | 1993 |
65% | Hero | Wallace | — | 1992 |
80% | Where the Day Takes You | Charles | — | 1992 |
78% | Sneakers | Dr. Werner Brandes | — | 1992 |
55% | Single White Female | Mitchell Myerson | — | 1992 |
53% | Basic Instinct | Dr. Lamott | — | 1992 |
23% | Memoirs of an Invisible Man | Warren Singleton | — | 1992 |
83% | Roadside Prophets | Ranger Bob | — | 1992 |
Wedlock (Deadlock) | Warden Holliday | — | 1991 | |
Megaville | Warren Singleton | — | 1991 | |
84% | Thelma & Louise | Max | — | 1991 |
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster | Sgt. Phil Baranski | — | 1991 | |
Face Value | Defense Attorney | — | 1991 | |
44% | Welcome Home Roxy Carmichael | Bill Klepler | — | 1990 |
0% | Funny About Love | Hugo | — | 1990 |
90% | The Grifters | Jeweler | — | 1990 |
Tagget | Actor | — | 1990 | |
32% | Bird on a Wire | Joe Weyburn | — | 1990 |
Mirror, Mirror | Mr. Anderson | — | 1990 | |
Last Flight Out | Doctor Timothy Brandon | — | 1990 | |
89% | Breaking In | District Attorney | — | 1989 |
68% | In Country | Pete | — | 1989 |
63% | Great Balls of Fire | John | — | 1989 |
20% | Checking Out | Pharmacist | — | 1989 |
87% | Mississippi Burning | Townley | — | 1988 |
2 Idiots in Hollywood | Screenwriter Director | — | 1988 | |
59% | Spaceballs | Captain of the Guard | — | 1987 |
0% | Nobody's Fool | Kirk | $0.6M | 1986 |
76% | True Stories | Screenwriter | — | 1986 |
50% | The Philadelphia Experiment | Barney | — | 1984 |
93% | Swing Shift | Documentary Narrator/French de Mille | — | 1984 |
Keep My Grave Open | Actor | — | 1980 |
TV
Rating |
Title |
Credit |
Year |
---|---|---|---|
73% |
Schooled
2019
|
Principal Ball |
|
65% |
The Cool Kids
2018
|
Leonard |
|
98% |
One Day at a Time
2017
|
Dr. Berkowitz |
|
The Goldbergs
2013
|
Earl Ball Principal Ball |
|
|
94% |
Silicon Valley
2014
|
Jack Barker |
|
86% |
The Mindy Project
2012-2017
|
Dr. Marc Shulman |
|
73% |
Big Time in Hollywood, FL
2015
|
Alan |
|
7% |
Dr. Ken
2015-2017
|
Joe |
|
@midnight With Chris Hardwick
2014-2017
|
Appearing |
|
|
9% |
Friends With Better Lives
2014
|
Dr. Adelman |
|
57% |
Californication
2007-2014
|
Producer Stu Beggs |
|
97% |
Justified
2010-2015
|
Barkley Jeremy Barkley |
|
5% |
Work It
2012
|
Dr. David Deutsch |
|
74% |
The Defenders
2010-2011
|
Judge Gelineau |
|
88% |
Community
2009-2015
|
Professor Sheffield |
|
71% |
Glee
2009-2015
|
Sandy Ryerson |
|
36% |
Rita Rocks
2008-2009
|
|
|
89% |
The New Adventures of Old Christine
2006-2010
|
Principal Merrow |
|
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000-2015
|
Spencer Freiberg |
|
|
55% |
Heroes
2006-2010
|
Bob |
|
86% |
Boston Legal
2004-2008
|
Alvin Azinabinacroft |
|
66% |
Entourage
2004-2011
|
Mayor |
|
50% |
John From Cincinnati
2007
|
Mark Lewinsky |
|
50% |
Big Day
2006-2007
|
The Garf |
|
66% |
Desperate Housewives
2004-2012
|
Bud Penrod |
|
95% |
Deadwood
2004-2006
|
Hugo Jarry |
|
92% |
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000-2017
|
|
|
Lass es, Larry!
2000-2017
|
|
||
CSI: Miami
2002-2012
|
Don Haffman |
|
|
14% |
It's All Relative
2003-2004
|
Roy |
|
33% |
Married to the Kellys
2003-2004
|
Henry Conway |
|
75% |
The West Wing
1999-2006
|
Max Milkman |
|
Will & Grace
1998
|
Ned Weathers |
|
|
According to Jim
2001-2009
|
|
||
Las Vegas
2003-2008
|
Donny Rollins |
|
|
The Dead Zone
2002-2007
|
Jim Pratt |
|
|
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001-2011
|
James Halliwell |
|
|
Malcolm in the Middle
2000-2006
|
Mr. Fisher |
|
|
10% |
Off Centre
2001-2002
|
Milt Platt |
|
38% |
The Lone Gunmen
2001
|
Adam Burgess |
|
83% |
That's Life
2000-2002
|
Roger Robinson |
|
Mad About You
1992-1999
|
Principal |
|
|
20% |
Odd Man Out
1999-2001
|
Al |
|
Snoops
1999
|
Bench Attorney Bench |
|
|
The Practice
1997-2004
|
Clyde Burrows |
|
|
Two Guys and a Girl
1998-2001
|
Father Vetere |
|
|
That '70s Show
1998-2006
|
Professor Stark |
|
|
Suddenly Susan
1996-2000
|
Dr. Mort Gerken |
|
|
Promised Land
1996-1999
|
Fred Argyle |
|
|
The Drew Carey Show
1995-2004
|
Councilman |
|
|
Chicago Hope
1994-2000
|
Dr. Joseph |
|
|
100% |
Dweebs
1995
|
Karl |
|
82% |
Picket Fences
1992-1996
|
Sasha |
|
88% |
Seinfeld
1989-1998
|
Tor Akman |
|
Designing Women
1986-1993
|
Boyd |
|
|
A Whole New Ballgame
1995
|
Dr. Warner Brakefield |
|
|
73% |
Against the Grain
1994
|
Niles Hardeman |
|
The Mindy Project
|
Dr. Marc Shulman |
|
QUOTES FROM Stephen Tobolowsky CHARACTERS
- Agent Ford
-
Oh spare us the physco babble will you!
- Agent McClaren
-
If you screw this up shithead I am not going down with you!
- Max
-
If she calls, just be gentle, you know? Like you're really happy to hear from her. Like you miss her. Women love that shit.
- Principal Purdy
-
Pictures were taken for insurance purposes.
- Agent Chuck Stupak
-
It's Luanne Leseur, the Black Widow. She kills all of her male accomplices. No one has ever been able to finger her.
- Ned
-
Watch that first step. It's a doozie.
- Ned
-
Phil, Hey Phil, Phil Connors!
- Phil Connors
-
Ned?! [Punches Ned in face]
- Phil Connors
-
Ned?! [punches Ned in face]
- Max Applewhite
-
I could yell fire over the intercom and we could call it a night.
- Max Applewhite
-
I could yell 'Fire' into the intercom and we could call it a night.
- Mrs. Barrington
-
[To Beary] Honey, even if you were adopted, we would love you as much as we love Dexter.
- Mrs. Barrington
-
[to Beary] Honey, even if you were adopted, we would love you as much as we love Dexter.
- Norbert Barrington
-
Maybe more.
- Mr. Bates
-
Who couldn't make up his... mind.
- Mitchell Myerson
-
Black leather gloves means more than murdr, her hands are cold!
- Townley
-
you dont know who i am