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.
Fantasy Life
2025
Bad Actors
2024
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Self
2023
Asteroid City
Larkings Executive
2023
80 for Brady
Mark
2023
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
2022
Severance
Mark Wilkins · (2 episodes)
2022
The French Dispatch
Uncle Nick
2021
The Chair
Elliot Rentz · (6 episodes)
2021
How Moving
Uncle Aaron
2021
Space Force
Ron (voice) · (1 episode)
2020
The Politician
Keaton Hobart · (8 episodes)
2019
Carl Laemmle
Himself
2019
An L.A. Minute
Shelley
2018
Summer Camp Island
Gerald (voice) · (1 episode)
2018
Condor
Reuel Abbott · (20 episodes)
2018
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
Self · (1 episode)
2018
Isle of Dogs
King (voice)
2018
Wormwood
Dr. Harold A. Abramson · (3 episodes)
2017
Spielberg
Self
2017
Mascots
Sol Lumpkin
2016
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
Mr. Waxcap
2016
Eva Hesse
Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
2016
Starring Austin Pendleton
Self
2016
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Self
2016
Everything Is Copy
Self
2015
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Self / The Narrator
2015
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Narrator (voice)
2015
Show Me a Hero
Leonard B. Sand · (6 episodes)
2015
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self · (1 episode)
2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel
M. Martin
2014
The Monuments Men
Pvt. Preston Savitz
2014
Broad City
Arthur Wexler · (3 episodes)
2014
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Lawyer (uncredited)
2013
Fading Gigolo
Sol
2013
Family Tree
Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim · (1 episode)
2013
Alpha House
Senator Elliot Robeson · (2 episodes)
2013
Girl Most Likely
Maxwell
2012
Do You Like to Read?
The Narrator
2012
Moonrise Kingdom
The Narrator
2012
Girls
Therapist · (1 episode)
2012
Thin Ice
Leonard Dahl
2012
China, IL
(voice) · (1 episode)
2011
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell · (1 episode)
2011
The Five Stages of Grief
Voice of Daniel's father
2011
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Self · (7 episodes)
2010
Howl
Judge Clayton Horn
2010
F--k
Bob
2010
Rage
Mr. White
2009
The Good Wife
Gordon Higgs · (2 episodes)
2009
The Windmill Movie
Self
2009
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell · (3 episodes)
2008
Recount
Ben Ginsberg
2008
Dedication
Arthur Planck
2007
License to Wed
Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
2007
No Reservations
Therapist
2007
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Self / Santimassino
2007
For Your Consideration
Philip Koontz
2006
Lady in the Water
Harry Farber
2006
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Self
2006
Capote
William Shawn
2005
Trust the Man
Tobey's Therapist
2005
Hopeless Pictures
(8 episodes)
2005
American Dad!
Glen Hanover (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Walt Pickle (voice) · (1 episode)
2004
Scene Stealers
Jonathan Crouch Esq.
2004
Marie and Bruce
Roger
2004
A Mighty Wind
Jonathan Steinbloom
2003
The Tuxedo
Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
2002
The Making of 'Gosford Park'
Self
2002
Gosford Park
Morris Weissman
2001
The Majestic
Elvin Glyde
2001
Ghost World
Enid's Dad
2001
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self
2001
The Mexican
Bernie Nayman
2001
Plan B
James Foster
2001
Best in Show
Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
2000
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Tex
2000
Cradle Will Rock
Harry Hopkins
1999
George Romero's Golden Tales 2
1999
Three to Tango
Decker
1999
Now and Again
(1 episode)
1999
The West Wing
Ted Marcus · (1 episode)
1999
Jakob the Liar
Kowalsky
1999
Swing Vote
Justice Eli MacCorckle
1999
The Monster Hunter
Dr. William Powell
1999
Giving Up the Ghost
Bob
1998
Deconstructing Harry
Richard
1997
The Definite Maybe
Wolfe Rollins
1997
Clockwatchers
Milton Lasky
1997
Conversation with the Beast
Mr. Webster
1997
Waiting for Guffman
Lloyd Miller
1996
The Late Shift
Warren Littlefield
1996
Pie in the Sky
Paul Entamen
1996
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Bob (voice) · (1 episode)
1995
Legend
(1 episode)
1995
Friends
Frank Sr. · (1 episode)
1994
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
1994
Greedy
Ed
1994
For Love or Money
Ed Drinkwater
1993
Amos & Andrew
Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
1993
Bob Roberts
Cutting Edge Producer
1992
Unnatural Pursuits
Lou Finkleberg
1992
Little Man Tate
Quizmaster
1991
Alice
Sid Moscowitz
1990
The Face of Fear
Ira Preduski
1990
The Simpsons
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
1989
Seinfeld
Russell Dalrymple · (6 episodes)
1989
Dead Bang
Elliott Webley
1989
Funny
Self
1988
End of the Line
Warren Gerber
1987
Amazing Stories
Jo-Jo Gillespie · (1 episode)
1985
2010
Dr. R. Chandra
1984
Miami Vice
(2 episodes)
1984
Nothing Lasts Forever
Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
1984
2010 : The Odyssey Continues
Himself
1984
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Carter Hill
1981
Absence of Malice
Elliott Rosen
1981
Prince of the City
Santimassino
1981
Altered States
Arthur Rosenberg
1980
Girlfriends
Martin
1978
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
David Laughlin
1977
Report to the Commissioner
Joey Egan
1975
The Bank Shot
Victor Karp
1974
Maude
Ambrose Riley · (1 episode)
1972
Marriage: Year One
Bernie
1971
Making It
Wilkie
1971
The Strawberry Statement
Elliot
1970
Catch-22
Capt. Orr
1970
Love, American Style
Nick · (1 episode)
1969
Room 222
(1 episode)
1969
Me, Natalie
Morris
1969
Midnight Cowboy
The Young Student
1969
The Mod Squad
(2 episodes)
1968
Hank
(1 episode)
1965