Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting
Biography
Stephen Harold Tobolowsky is an American character actor. He is known for film roles such as insurance agent Ned Ryerson in Groundhog Day and amnesiac Sammy Jankis in Memento, as well as such television characters as Commissioner Hugo Jarry in Deadwood, Bob Bishop in Heroes, Sandy Ryerson in Glee, Stu Beggs in Californication and White Famous, "Action" Jack Barker in Silicon Valley, Dr. Leslie Berkowitz in One Day at a Time, Principal Earl Ball in The Goldbergs, and Dr. Schulman in The Mindy Project. Tobolowsky was born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas, Texas. He studied geology at Southern Methodist University but switched to theater after being cast in a production of "The Crucible." He later attended the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, where he graduated with a degree in drama. Tobolowsky began his acting career in the early 1980s, appearing in films such as The Philadelphia Experiment (1984), Nobody's Fool (1986), and Spaceballs (1987). He also had a recurring role on the television series Seinfeld (1989-1998). Tobolowsky's breakthrough role came in 1993, when he played Ned Ryerson in the comedy Groundhog Day. His performance in the film was critically acclaimed, and he has since become one of the most recognizable character actors in Hollywood. Tobolowsky has continued to work steadily in film and television over the years. He has appeared in numerous other films, including Memento (2000), Mulholland Drive (2001), and The Informant! (2009). He has also had recurring roles on the television series Deadwood (2004-2006), Heroes (2006-2007), Californication (2007-2014), and Silicon Valley (2014-2019). In addition to his acting career, Tobolowsky is also a writer and a podcaster. He has written two books, The Dangerous Animals Club (2002) and The Tobolowsky Files (2017). He also hosts the podcast The Tobolowsky Files, in which he tells stories about his life and career.
Born: May 30, 1951
Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA
Known For
Promise Me Tomorrow
A coming-of-age tale of a young man in a band who meets a girl way out of his league. What could go wrong? Plenty, when adding in the challenging parents and his lovable but annoying best friend.
Married to the Kellys
New York writer Tom grew up an only child and is a loner by nature. He's a man who takes pride in refusing to learn the names of his neighbors. But his life is destined for change when he marries Susan, a gregarious social butterfly from the Midwest. Tom loves the big city, but Susan longs for something more, so Tom promises her that when he sells his first book, they'll move wherever she wants. Well, he sells one and has to make good – the couple moves to Kansas City to be near her large and close-knit family. And what a family it is!
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
The story was born from the pen of debutante Callie Khouri: Thelma, married to a macho man, and Louise, an independent waitress, go on a girls' getaway that turns into a runaway when the latter, during a stopover in a bar, shoots a man who was trying to rape her friend. But at the dawn of the 1990s, screens were dominated by testosterone-fueled opuses, and Hollywood studios were reluctant to entrust the steering wheel to a female duo. Seduced by the script, forwarded by his associate Mimi Polk, Ridley Scott agreed to produce the film and decided, against all odds, to direct it himself. Under the British director's watch, the two accidental outlaws, fabulously portrayed by Susan Sarandon and Geena Davis, flee across the vastness of the Far West on an emancipatory epic that sees them defy male oppression and reveal themselves to themselves.
Malcolm in the Middle
A gifted young teen tries to survive life with his dimwitted, dysfunctional family.
Frog and Toad
Frog and Toad are not at all alike. Frog likes new adventures. Toad likes the comforts of home. Yet despite their differences, Frog and Toad are always there for each other—as best friends should be.
Off Centre
Off Centre is an American sitcom that aired on The WB network from October 14, 2001 to October 31, 2002. Created by Chris Weitz, Paul Weitz, and Danny Zuker, the series was heavily promoted as "from the guys who brought you American Pie".
Seinfeld
A stand-up comedian and his three offbeat friends weather the pitfalls and payoffs of life in New York City in the '90s. It's a show about nothing.
The West Wing
The West Wing provides a glimpse into presidential politics in the nation's capital as it tells the stories of the members of a fictional presidential administration. These interesting characters have humor and dedication that touches the heart while the politics that they discuss touch on everyday life.
Oliver Beene
Oliver Beene is an American sitcom. Set in 1962 and 1963, the show chronicled the trials and tribulations of the 11-to-12-year-old Oliver Beene, in first person perspective. Oliver Beene's other main characters are his parents Jerry and Charlotte Beene, his brother Ted Beene, and his two friends Joyce and Michael. The narrator, an older Oliver reflecting on his experience, is voiced by David Cross. Often in episodes, the story is interrupted by flashbacks and flash-forwards.
Memento
Leonard Shelby is tracking down the man who raped and murdered his wife. The difficulty of locating his wife's killer, however, is compounded by the fact that he suffers from a rare, untreatable form of short-term memory loss. Although he can recall details of life before his accident, Leonard cannot remember what happened fifteen minutes ago, where he's going, or why.
Filmography
as Melvin Reinhold
as Ned Broadhead
as Mr. Elton Bates
as God
as Rabbi Cohen
as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
as Dr. Divine
as Dragonfly (voice)
as Ned
as Walter Phillipini
as Self
as Conrad Ross
as Henry Weeks
as John’s Dad
as Self
as Driller (voice)
as Chad (voice)
as Self - Interviewee
as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
as Dr. Berthram
as Mr. Tessman
as Earl Ball
as Leonard
as Mayor Paulson
as Mr. Phillips
as (voice)
as Stu Beggs
as Andy Gunderson (voice)
as Dr. Berkowitz
as Professor Stein (voice)
as Reverend Weld
as Professor John Dobler
as James
as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
as Father Lyons
as Mr. Gerald
as Joe
as Stephen ( voice)
as Thomas Edison
as Himself
as Chief Hardaway
as Alan Dolfe
as Alan
as Douglas McCarver
as Dr. Hugh Akston
as Phil
as Jack Barker
as Dr. Adleman
as Principal Purdy (voice)
as Ron (voice)
as Principal Ball
as Rick Lawler
as Marc Shulman
as Ray
as Uncle Ubb (voice)
as Neighbor
as Max
as Plumber
as Mr. Geekman (voice)
as Alan Davenport (voice)
as Judge Gelineau
as Ephraim
as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
as Jerry Barkley
as Professor Peter Sheffield
as Robert (voice)
as Dr. Kendrick
as Sandy Ryerson
as Sal
as Lars Balthazar
as Principal Sands
as Alan
as Stu Beggs
as dr.james
as Charley
as Bill Fantastimart
as Littlefield
as Jon
as Bob Bishop
as Dr. Perkins
as Principal James Merrow
as Bud
as Dalrymple
as Carl Venable
as Dr. Shaw
as Dr. Peltier
as James Bloom
as Harry Evers
as Tom Abernathy
as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
as Bud Penrod
as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
as Mr. Frehley
as Debate Judge
as Carl
as Mayor of Beverly Hills
as Happy Chapman
as Hugo Jarry
as George Ruddy
as Murray Mintz
as Henry Conway
as Donny Rollins
as Mr. Bates
as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
as Ringmaster Bob
as Billy Narthax
as Tom Bailey
as Don Haffman
as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
as Norbert Barrington
as Jim Pratt
as T.T. Riley
as Ed Turner
as Judge
as Dr. Ted
as Jim Halliwell
as Mayor Tom Thompson
as Tom (wraparound segments)
as Mick
as Uncle Neil
as Dewey Wise
as Len Dunkel
as Sammy
as Spencer Freiberg
as Gil (voice)
as B.J. McQueen
as Doc
as Trevor
as Mr. Fisher
as Eric Kluster
as Michael McCausland
as Julius Walters
as Michael Bench
as Dr. Max Milkman
as Edwin Adelson
as Mr. Kayman
as Captain Gaine
as Tabaqui (voice)
as Doc
as Ned Weathers
as Numericles (voice)
as Professor
as Calculator (voice)
as McClaren
as Father Viteri
as Bill Bardo
as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
as Clyde Burrows
as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
as Lonnie Martin
as Taylor
as Christopher Maynard
as Dr. Alan Trader
as Dr. Gerken
as Rick Harris
as Bando (voice)
as Jeffrey Solomon
as Dr. Andross
as Councilman
as Vincent Hartford
as Oliver Mintz
as Mr. Henkin
as Max Applewhite
as Dr. Ted Joseph
as Ted Joseph
as Mike
as Father Joe
as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
as Niles Hardeman
as Roger Livingston
as Antonio
as Mike Krakower
as Ned Ryerson
as Wallace
as Principal Hocksacker
as Charles
as Dr. Werner Brandes
as Mitch Myerson
as Ranger Bob
as Dr. Lamott
as Warren Singleton
as Ron Sutton
as Max
as Warden Holliday
as Al Hentz
as Sergeant Phil Baranski
as Defense Attorney
as Mr. Anderson
as Mayor Bill Klepler
as Hugo
as Jeweler
as Doctor Timothy Brandon
as Joe Weyburn
as Merle (voice)
as District Attorney
as Pete
as Tor Eckman
as Jud Phillips
as Darryl Horwath
as Townley
as Pharmacist
as Prosecuting Attorney
as Captain of the Guard
as Kirk
as Dr. Michael Segal
as Hotel Clerk
as Barney
as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
as TV Clerk
as Doctor
as Steve Comiskey
as Robert
as The Abbot