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Bob Balaban

Acting 80 years old Chicago, Illinois, USA ★ 1.8
Born: August 16, 1945

Biography

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.

External Links

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Known For

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Martin 2014
The Face of Fear
The Face of Fear Ira Preduski 1990
Asteroid City
Asteroid City Larkings Executive 2023
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun Uncle Nick 2021
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Prince of the City: The Real Story Self / Santimassino 2007

Jimmy's Seen (2)

Ghost World
Ghost World Enid's Dad 2001
The Mexican
The Mexican Bernie Nayman 2001

Filmography

Acting Credits (140)

Fantasy Life
Fantasy Life Lenny 2026
Bad Actors
Bad Actors 2024
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Self 2023
Asteroid City
Asteroid City Larkings Executive 2023
80 for Brady
80 for Brady Mark 2023
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film 2022
Severance
Severance Mark Wilkins 2022
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun Uncle Nick 2021
The Chair
The Chair Elliot Rentz 2021
How Moving
How Moving Uncle Aaron 2021
Space Force
Space Force Ron (voice) 2020
The Politician
The Politician Keaton Hobart 2019
Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle Himself 2019
An L.A. Minute
An L.A. Minute Shelley 2018
Summer Camp Island
Summer Camp Island Gerald (voice) 2018
Condor
Condor Reuel Abbott 2018
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Self 2018
Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs King (voice) 2018
Wormwood
Wormwood Dr. Harold A. Abramson 2017
Spielberg
Spielberg Self 2017
Graves
Graves Secretary Burns 2016
Mascots
Mascots Sol Lumpkin 2016
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Mr. Waxcap 2016
Eva Hesse
Eva Hesse Wilhelm Hesse (voice) 2016
Starring Austin Pendleton
Starring Austin Pendleton Self 2016
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Mike Nichols: An American Master Self 2016
Everything Is Copy
Everything Is Copy Self 2015
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' Self / The Narrator 2015
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Hitchcock/Truffaut Narrator (voice) 2015
Show Me a Hero
Show Me a Hero Leonard B. Sand 2015
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Self 2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel M. Martin 2014
The Monuments Men
The Monuments Men Pvt. Preston Savitz 2014
Broad City
Broad City Arthur Wexler 2014
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Lawyer (uncredited) 2013
Fading Gigolo
Fading Gigolo Sol 2013
Family Tree
Family Tree Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim 2013
Alpha House
Alpha House Senator Elliot Robeson 2013
Girl Most Likely
Girl Most Likely Maxwell 2012
Do You Like to Read?
Do You Like to Read? The Narrator 2012
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom The Narrator 2012
Girls
Girls Therapist 2012
Thin Ice
Thin Ice Leonard Dahl 2012
China, IL
China, IL (voice) 2011
Web Therapy
Web Therapy Ted Mitchell 2011
The Five Stages of Grief
The Five Stages of Grief Voice of Daniel's father 2011
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood Self 2010
Howl
Howl Judge Clayton Horn 2010
F--k
F--k Bob 2010
Rage
Rage Mr. White 2009
The Good Wife
The Good Wife Gordon Higgs 2009
The Windmill Movie
The Windmill Movie Self 2009
Web Therapy
Web Therapy Ted Mitchell 2008
Recount
Recount Ben Ginsberg 2008
Dedication
Dedication Arthur Planck 2007
License to Wed
License to Wed Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited) 2007
No Reservations
No Reservations Therapist 2007
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Prince of the City: The Real Story Self / Santimassino 2007
For Your Consideration
For Your Consideration Philip Koontz 2006
Lady in the Water
Lady in the Water Harry Farber 2006
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film Self 2006
Capote
Capote William Shawn 2005
Trust the Man
Trust the Man Tobey's Therapist 2005
Hopeless Pictures
Hopeless Pictures 2005
American Dad!
American Dad! Glen Hanover (voice) 2005
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo Self 2004
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Tom Goes to the Mayor Walt Pickle (voice) 2004
Entourage
Entourage Doctor 2004
Scene Stealers
Scene Stealers Jonathan Crouch Esq. 2004
Marie and Bruce
Marie and Bruce Roger 2004
A Mighty Wind
A Mighty Wind Jonathan Steinbloom 2003
The Tuxedo
The Tuxedo Winton Chalmers (uncredited) 2002
The Making of Gosford Park
The Making of Gosford Park Self 2002
Plan B
Plan B James Foster 2002
Gosford Park
Gosford Park Morris Weissman 2001
The Majestic
The Majestic Elvin Glyde 2001
Ghost World
Ghost World Enid's Dad 2001
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' Self 2001
The Mexican
The Mexican Bernie Nayman 2001
Best in Show
Best in Show Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III 2000
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger Tex 2000
Cradle Will Rock
Cradle Will Rock Harry Hopkins 1999
Three to Tango
Three to Tango Decker 1999
Now and Again
Now and Again 1999
The West Wing
The West Wing Ted Marcus 1999
Jakob the Liar
Jakob the Liar Kowalsky 1999
Swing Vote
Swing Vote Justice Eli MacCorckle 1999
The Monster Hunter
The Monster Hunter Dr. William Powell 1999
Giving Up the Ghost
Giving Up the Ghost Bob 1998
Deconstructing Harry
Deconstructing Harry Richard 1997
The Definite Maybe
The Definite Maybe Wolfe Rollins 1997
Clockwatchers
Clockwatchers Milton Lasky 1997
Conversation with the Beast
Conversation with the Beast Mr. Webster 1997
Waiting for Guffman
Waiting for Guffman Lloyd Miller 1997
The Late Shift
The Late Shift Warren Littlefield 1996
Pie in the Sky
Pie in the Sky Paul Entamen 1996
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Bob (voice) 1995
Legend
Legend 1995
George Romero's Golden Tales 2
George Romero's Golden Tales 2 1995
Friends
Friends Frank Sr. 1994
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited) 1994
Greedy
Greedy Ed 1994
For Love or Money
For Love or Money Ed Drinkwater 1993
Amos & Andrew
Amos & Andrew Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink 1993
Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts Cutting Edge Producer 1992
Unnatural Pursuits
Unnatural Pursuits Lou Finkleberg 1992
Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate Quizmaster 1991
Alice
Alice Sid Moscowitz 1990
The Face of Fear
The Face of Fear Ira Preduski 1990
The Simpsons
The Simpsons Narrator (voice) 1989
Seinfeld
Seinfeld Russell Dalrymple 1989
Dead Bang
Dead Bang Elliott Webley 1989
Funny
Funny Self 1988
End of the Line
End of the Line Warren Gerber 1987
Amazing Stories
Amazing Stories Jo-Jo Gillespie 1985
2010
2010 Dr. R. Chandra 1984
Miami Vice
Miami Vice Ira Stone 1984
Nothing Lasts Forever
Nothing Lasts Forever Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar 1984
2010 : The Odyssey Continues
2010 : The Odyssey Continues Himself 1984
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Carter Hill 1981
Absence of Malice
Absence of Malice Elliott Rosen 1981
Prince of the City
Prince of the City Santimassino 1981
Altered States
Altered States Arthur Rosenberg 1980
Fridays
Fridays Self 1980
Girlfriends
Girlfriends Martin 1978
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind David Laughlin 1977
Report to the Commissioner
Report to the Commissioner Joey Egan 1975
The Bank Shot
The Bank Shot Victor Karp 1974
Maude
Maude Ambrose Riley 1972
Marriage: Year One
Marriage: Year One Bernie 1971
Making It
Making It Wilkie 1971
The Strawberry Statement
The Strawberry Statement Elliot 1970
Catch-22
Catch-22 Capt. Orr 1970
Love, American Style
Love, American Style Nick 1969
Room 222
Room 222 1969
Me, Natalie
Me, Natalie Morris 1969
Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy The Young Student 1969
The Mod Squad
The Mod Squad 1968
Hank
Hank 1965
The Mike Douglas Show
The Mike Douglas Show Self 1961

Directing Credits (25)

Writing Credits (5)

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