Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting
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.
Known for
Acting255
movieWoodstockers
2026
Calvin
movieMimics
2026
Melvin Reinhold
movieHaul Out the Halloween
2025
Ned Broadhead
movieFreakier Friday
2025
Mr. Elton Bates
tvNobody Wants This
2024
Rabbi Cohen
moviePoolman
2024
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
movieCandy Cane Lane
2023
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
movieLove Virtually
2023
Dr. Divine
tvFrog and Toad
2023
Dragonfly (voice)
tvThe Really Loud House
2022
Walter Phillipini
tvMinx
2022
Conrad Ross
tvHacks
2021
Henry Weeks
tvDicktown
2020
John’s Dad
tvThunderCats Roar
2020
Driller (voice)
tvGreen Eggs and Ham
2019
Chad (voice)
movieFantastic Mr. Murray
2019
Self - Interviewee
movieThe Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
2019
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
movieFractured
2019
Dr. Berthram
movieLoners
2019
Mr. Tessman
movieLive in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
2019
Mr. Bentley
tvSchooled
2019
Earl Ball
tvThe Cool Kids
2018
Leonard
movieStrange Nature
2018
Mayor Paulson
movieMonsters at Large
2018
Mr. Phillips
tvNo Activity
2017
(voice)
tvWhite Famous
2017
Stu Beggs
movieScooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
2017
Andy Gunderson (voice)
tvOne Day at a Time
2017
Dr. Berkowitz
tvJustice League Action
2016
Professor Stein (voice)
movieMamaboy
2016
Reverend Weld
movieSix L.A. Love Stories
2016
Professor John Dobler
tvBad Internet
2016
James
movieWhere is Rocky II?
2016
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
movieThe Confirmation
2016
Father Lyons
tvFuller House
2016
Mr. Gerald
tvWe Bare Bears
2015
Stephen ( voice)
tvAnother Period
2015
Thomas Edison
movieThe Barber
2015
Chief Hardaway
tvBig Time in Hollywood, Fl
2015
Alan Dolfe
movieChristian Mingle
2014
Douglas McCarver
movieAtlas Shrugged: Part III
2014
Dr. Hugh Akston
tvSilicon Valley
2014
Jack Barker
tvFriends with Better Lives
2014
Dr. Adleman
movieMr. Peabody & Sherman
2014
Principal Purdy (voice)
movieToy Story of Terror!
2013
Ron (voice)
tvThe Goldbergs
2013
Principal Ball
moviePearblossom Hwy
2012
Rick Lawler
tvThe Mindy Project
2012
Marc Shulman
movieThe Lorax
2012
Uncle Ubb (voice)
movieMagnificat
2011
Neighbor
tvPound Puppies
2010
Mr. Geekman (voice)
movieBuried
2010
Alan Davenport (voice)
tvThe Defenders
2010
Judge Gelineau
moviePeep World
2010
Ephraim
movieBoys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
2010
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
tvJustified
2010
Jerry Barkley
tvCommunity
2009
Professor Peter Sheffield
tvArcher
2009
Robert (voice)
movieThe Time Traveler's Wife
2009
Dr. Kendrick
tvGlee
2009
Sandy Ryerson
tvTrue Jackson, VP
2008
Lars Balthazar
movieThe Rainbow Tribe
2008
Principal Sands
tvCalifornication
2007
Stu Beggs
tvJohn from Cincinnati
2007
Mark Lewinsky
movieBoxboarders!
2007
dr.james
movieWild Hogs
2007
Charley
tvThe Sarah Silverman Program.
2007
Bill Fantastimart
movieThe Valley of Light
2007
Littlefield
tvHeroes
2006
Bob Bishop
movieBlind Dating
2006
Dr. Perkins
tvThe New Adventures of Old Christine
2006
Principal James Merrow
movieThe Sasquatch Gang
2006
Dalrymple
moviePromise Me Tomorrow
2006
Carl Venable
movieLiving 'til the End
2005
Dr. Shaw
tvNight Stalker
2005
Titus Berry
tvGhost Whisperer
2005
Dr. Peltier
tvThe Closer
2005
James Bloom
movieMiss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
2005
Tom Abernathy
movieRobots
2005
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
tvDesperate Housewives
2004
Bud Penrod
tvBoston Legal
2004
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
tvComplete Savages
2004
Mr. Frehley
movieDebating Robert Lee
2004
Debate Judge
tvEntourage
2004
Mayor of Beverly Hills
movieGarfield
2004
Happy Chapman
tvDeadwood
2004
Hugo Jarry
movieWin a Date with Tad Hamilton!
2004
George Ruddy
movieFrankie and Johnny Are Married
2003
Murray Mintz
tvMarried to the Kellys
2003
Henry Conway
tvLas Vegas
2003
Donny Rollins
movieFreaky Friday
2003
Mr. Bates
movieView from the Top
2003
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
tvOliver Beene
2003
Ringmaster Bob
movieNational Security
2003
Billy Narthax
movieLove Liza
2002
Tom Bailey
tvCSI: Miami
2002
Don Haffman
movieRitual
2002
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
movieThe Country Bears
2002
Norbert Barrington
tvThe Dead Zone
2002
Jim Pratt
moviePar 6
2002
T.T. Riley
movieThe Day the World Ended
2001
Ed Turner
tvReba
2001
Judge
tvAccording to Jim
2001
Dr. Ted
tvLaw & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
Jim Halliwell
movieBlack River
2001
Mayor Tom Thompson
movieOn the Edge
2001
Tom (wraparound segments)
movieFreddy Got Fingered
2001
Uncle Neil
movieSleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
2000
Dewey Wise
tvCurb Your Enthusiasm
2000
Len Dunkel
movieMemento
2000
Sammy
tvCSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Spencer Freiberg
tvBuzz Lightyear of Star Command
2000
Gil (voice)
movieStanley's Gig
2000
Abe Cohen
movieAlien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
2000
B.J. McQueen
movieBossa Nova
2000
Trevor
tvMalcolm in the Middle
2000
Mr. Fisher
movieThe Insider
1999
Eric Kluster
movieDon't Look Under the Bed
1999
Michael McCausland
tvRoswell
1999
Julius Walters
tvSnoops
1999
Michael Bench
tvThe West Wing
1999
Dr. Max Milkman
tvLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Edwin Adelson / Mr. Kayman
movieOne Man's Hero
1999
Captain Gaine
movieThe Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
1998
Tabaqui (voice)
tvWill & Grace
1998
Ned Weathers
tvHercules
1998
Numericles (voice)
tvThat '70s Show
1998
Professor
movieThe Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
1998
Calculator (voice)
movieBlack Dog
1998
McClaren
tvTwo Guys and a Girl
1998
Father Viteri
movieMr. Magoo
1997
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
tvThe Practice
1997
Clyde Burrows
tvKing of the Hill
1997
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
movieThe Curse of Inferno
1996
Lonnie Martin
movieNight Visitors
1996
Taylor
movieThe Glimmer Man
1996
Christopher Maynard
tvThe Pretender
1996
Dr. Alan Trader
tvSuddenly Susan
1996
Dr. Gerken
tvArli$$
1996
Craig Levitz
moviePower 98
1996
Rick Harris
movieHomeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
1996
Bando (voice)
tvThe Home Court
1995
Jeffrey Solomon
tvDweebs
1995
Karl
tvMurder One
1995
Dr. Andross
tvThe Drew Carey Show
1995
Councilman
tvThe Naked Truth
1995
Vincent Hartford
movieDr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
1995
Oliver Mintz
movieMurder in the First
1995
Mr. Henkin
A Whole New Ballgame
1995
Dr. Warner Brakefield
movieRadioland Murders
1994
Max Applewhite
tvChicago Hope
1994
Dr. Ted Joseph / Ted Joseph
movieTrevor
1994
Father Joe
movieJosh & S.A.M.
1993
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
tvAgainst the Grain
1993
Niles Hardeman
tvCafe Americain
1993
Roger Livingston
movieCalendar Girl
1993
Antonio
movieThe Pickle
1993
Mike Krakower
movieGroundhog Day
1993
Ned Ryerson
movieHero
1992
Wallace
tvMad About You
1992
Principal Hocksacker
movieSneakers
1992
Dr. Werner Brandes
movieSingle White Female
1992
Mitch Myerson
movieRoadside Prophets
1992
Ranger Bob
movieBasic Instinct
1992
Dr. Lamott
movieMemoirs of an Invisible Man
1992
Warren Singleton
movieDeadly Medicine
1991
Ron Sutton
To the Moon, Alice
1991
Sitcom Producer
movieWedlock
1991
Warden Holliday
movieTagget
1991
Al Hentz
moviePerry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
1991
Sergeant Phil Baranski
movieThe Marla Hanson Story
1991
Defense Attorney
movieMirror Mirror
1990
Mr. Anderson
movieWelcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
1990
Mayor Bill Klepler
movieThe Grifters
1990
Jeweler
Last Flight Out
1990
Doctor Timothy Brandon
movieBird on a Wire
1990
Joe Weyburn
tvThe Simpsons
1989
Merle (voice)
movieBreaking In
1989
District Attorney
tvSeinfeld
1989
Tor Eckman
movieGreat Balls of Fire!
1989
Jud Phillips
movieRoe vs. Wade
1989
Darryl Horwath
movieMississippi Burning
1988
Townley
movieChecking Out
1988
Pharmacist
movieTwo Idiots in Hollywood
1988
Prosecuting Attorney
movieSpaceballs
1987
Captain of the Guard
tvL.A. Law
1986
Michael Segal
tvCrazy like a Fox
1984
Hotel Clerk
movieSwing Shift
1984
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
movieCocaine and Blue Eyes
1983
TV Clerk
tvFalcon Crest
1981
Doctor
tvKnots Landing
1979
Steve Comiskey
tvTony Awards
1956
Self - Nominee
movieButterfly in the Typewriter
The Abbot
American Men
Sterling Moss
Writing3
Directing1
movieTwo Idiots in Hollywood
1988
Director
Production1
movieThe Primary Instinct
2015
Executive Producer