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Bob Balaban
Born · August 16, 1945 (79 years old)
Known For: Acting
Place of Birth: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Bio
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.
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Self
5.7
2023
Asteroid City
Larkings Executive
6.5
2023
80 for Brady
Mark
6.4
2023
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
0.0
2022
The French Dispatch
Uncle Nick
7.0
2021
The Chair
Elliot Rentz · (6 episodes)
6.6
2021
How Moving
Uncle Aaron
0.0
2021
Space Force
Ron (voice) · (1 episode)
6.5
2020
The Politician
Keaton Hobart · (8 episodes)
7.0
2019
Carl Laemmle
Himself
4.8
2019
An L.A. Minute
Shelley
2.0
2018
Summer Camp Island
Gerald (voice) · (1 episode)
7.2
2018
Condor
Reuel Abbott · (20 episodes)
7.0
2018
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
Self · (1 episode)
6.8
2018
Isle of Dogs
King (voice)
7.9
2018
Wormwood
Dr. Harold A. Abramson · (3 episodes)
6.4
2017
Spielberg
Self
7.6
2017
Mascots
Sol Lumpkin
5.4
2016
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
Mr. Waxcap
4.5
2016
Eva Hesse
Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
6.5
2016
Starring Austin Pendleton
Self
6.7
2016
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Self
6.3
2016
Everything Is Copy
Self
7.3
2015
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Self / The Narrator
6.5
2015
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Narrator (voice)
7.3
2015
Show Me a Hero
Leonard B. Sand · (6 episodes)
7.0
2015
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self · (1 episode)
7.9
2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel
M. Martin
8.0
2014
The Monuments Men
Pvt. Preston Savitz
6.1
2014
Broad City
Arthur Wexler · (3 episodes)
7.2
2014
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Lawyer (uncredited)
6.4
2013
Fading Gigolo
Sol
5.8
2013
Alpha House
Senator Elliot Robeson · (2 episodes)
7.1
2013
Girl Most Likely
Maxwell
5.6
2012
Do You Like to Read?
The Narrator
6.2
2012
Moonrise Kingdom
The Narrator
7.7
2012
Girls
Therapist · (1 episode)
6.3
2012
Thin Ice
Leonard Dahl
6.6
2012
A Monster in Paris
Pâté
6.9
2011
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell · (1 episode)
7.0
2011
The Five Stages of Grief
Voice of Daniel's father
7.0
2011
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Self · (7 episodes)
4.7
2010
Howl
Judge Clayton Horn
6.5
2010
F--k
Bob
5.8
2010
Rage
Mr. White
3.5
2009
The Good Wife
Gordon Higgs · (2 episodes)
7.6
2009
The Windmill Movie
Self
7.0
2009
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell · (3 episodes)
7.5
2008
Recount
Ben Ginsberg
6.8
2008
Dedication
Arthur Planck
6.3
2007
License to Wed
Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
5.7
2007
No Reservations
Therapist
6.7
2007
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Self / Santimassino
0.0
2007
For Your Consideration
Philip Koontz
5.8
2006
Lady in the Water
Harry Farber
5.6
2006
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Self
0.0
2006
Capote
William Shawn
7.0
2005
Trust the Man
Tobey's Therapist
5.2
2005
Hopeless Pictures
(8 episodes)
8.0
2005
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Walt Pickle (voice) · (1 episode)
7.0
2004
Scene Stealers
Jonathan Crouch Esq.
0.0
2004
Marie and Bruce
Roger
3.9
2004
A Mighty Wind
Jonathan Steinbloom
6.8
2003
The Tuxedo
Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
5.7
2002
The Making of 'Gosford Park'
Self
5.0
2002
The Majestic
Elvin Glyde
6.8
2001
Gosford Park
Morris Weissman
6.8
2001
Ghost World
Enid's Dad
7.1
2001
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self
6.9
2001
The Mexican
Bernie Nayman
5.9
2001
Plan B
James Foster
4.7
2001
Best in Show
Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
6.9
2000
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Tex
0.0
2000
Cradle Will Rock
Harry Hopkins
6.5
1999
George Romero's Golden Tales 2
0.0
1999
Three to Tango
Decker
5.7
1999
Now and Again
(1 episode)
6.8
1999
The West Wing
Ted Marcus · (1 episode)
8.3
1999
Jakob the Liar
Kowalsky
6.7
1999
Swing Vote
Justice Eli MacCorckle
5.7
1999
The Monster Hunter
Dr. William Powell
5.2
1999
Giving Up the Ghost
Bob
6.0
1998
Deconstructing Harry
Richard
7.3
1997
The Definite Maybe
Wolfe Rollins
0.0
1997
Clockwatchers
Milton Lasky
6.1
1997
Conversation with the Beast
Mr. Webster
0.0
1997
Waiting for Guffman
Lloyd Miller
7.0
1996
The Late Shift
Warren Littlefield
6.3
1996
Pie in the Sky
Paul Entamen
6.6
1996
Legend
(1 episode)
6.0
1995
Friends
Frank Sr. · (1 episode)
8.4
1994
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
5.3
1994
Greedy
Ed
6.2
1994
For Love or Money
Ed Drinkwater
6.2
1993
Amos & Andrew
Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
5.4
1993
Bob Roberts
Cutting Edge Producer
6.5
1992
Unnatural Pursuits
Lou Finkleberg
0.0
1992
Little Man Tate
Quizmaster
6.6
1991
Alice
Sid Moscowitz
6.4
1990
The Face of Fear
Ira Preduski
7.1
1990
The Simpsons
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
8.0
1989
Seinfeld
Russell Dalrymple · (6 episodes)
8.3
1989
Dead Bang
Elliott Webley
6.3
1989
Funny
Self
0.0
1988
End of the Line
Warren Gerber
5.5
1987
Amazing Stories
Jo-Jo Gillespie · (1 episode)
7.5
1985
2010
Dr. R. Chandra
6.7
1984
Miami Vice
(2 episodes)
7.5
1984
Nothing Lasts Forever
Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
6.4
1984
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Carter Hill
7.1
1981
Absence of Malice
Elliott Rosen
6.6
1981
Prince of the City
Santimassino
7.0
1981
Altered States
Arthur Rosenberg
6.7
1980
Girlfriends
Martin
6.6
1978
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
David Laughlin
7.4
1977
Report to the Commissioner
Joey Egan
6.8
1975
The Bank Shot
Victor Karp
5.4
1974
Maude
Ambrose Riley · (1 episode)
6.7
1972
Marriage: Year One
Bernie
6.0
1971
Making It
Wilkie
4.5
1971
The Strawberry Statement
Elliot
6.3
1970
Catch-22
Capt. Orr
6.7
1970
Love, American Style
Nick · (1 episode)
5.8
1969
Room 222
(1 episode)
5.7
1969
Me, Natalie
Morris
5.6
1969
Midnight Cowboy
The Young Student
7.5
1969
The Mod Squad
(2 episodes)
6.5
1968
Hank
(1 episode)
3.5
1965