About
Stephen Tobolowsky
Overview
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
Acting |
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2025 | Freakier Friday | Actor | Mr. Bates | N/A N/A |
2024 | Poolman | Actor | Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche | 57 Average |
2023 | Candy Cane Lane | Actor | Mr. Benedetto (uncredited) | 59 Average |
2023 | Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up | Actor | Ned | 59 Average |
2023 | Love Virtually | Actor | Dr. Divine | 58 Average |
2023 | Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2022 | Haul Out the Holly | Actor | Ned | 59 Average |
2022 | Hollywood Signs | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2019 | Fantastic Mr. Murray | Actor | Self - Interviewee | 59 Average |
2019 | The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween | Actor | Creepy Rattlechains (voice) | 59 Average |
2019 | Fractured | Actor | Dr. Berthram | 65 Fair |
2019 | Loners | Actor | Mr. Tessman | 58 Average |
2019 | Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" | Actor | Mr. Bentley | 59 Average |
2018 | Strange Nature | Actor | Mayor Paulson | 59 Average |
2018 | Monsters at Large | Actor | Mr. Phillips | 58 Average |
2017 | Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown | Actor | Andy Gunderson (voice) | 64 Fair |
2017 | One Day at a Time | Actor | Dr. Berkowitz | 76 Good |
2016 | Mamaboy | Actor | Reverend Weld | 58 Average |
2016 | Six L.A. Love Stories | Actor | Professor John Dobler | 58 Average |
2016 | Welcome to the Men's Group | Actor | 58 Average |
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2016 | Where is Rocky II? | Actor | Byron (segment: "Monument One") | 59 Average |
2016 | The Confirmation | Actor | Father Lyons | 60 Fair |
2015 | The Primary Instinct | Actor | Himself | 59 Average |
2015 | The Barber | Actor | Chief Hardaway | 58 Average |
2015 | Big Time in Hollywood, Fl | Actor | Alan Dolfe | 70 Good |
2014 | Hello Ladies: The Movie | Actor | Alan | 60 Fair |
2014 | Christian Mingle | Actor | Douglas McCarver | 59 Average |
2014 | Atlas Shrugged: Part III | Actor | Dr. Hugh Akston | 56 Average |
2014 | The Hotwives of Orlando | Actor | Phil | 68 Fair |
2014 | Mr. Peabody & Sherman | Actor | Principal Purdy (voice) | 65 Fair |
2014 | Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends | Actor | Andy | 58 Average |
2013 | Toy Story of Terror! | Actor | Ron (voice) | 67 Fair |
2012 | Pearblossom Hwy | Actor | Rick Lawler | 58 Average |
2012 | The Last Ride | Actor | Ray | 59 Average |
2012 | Say It Ain't Solo | Actor | Himself | N/A N/A |
2012 | The Lorax | Actor | Uncle Ubb (voice) | 64 Fair |
2011 | Magnificat | Actor | Neighbor | 59 Average |
2011 | Hail Mary | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2011 | Hard Breakers | Actor | Max | 57 Average |
2011 | You May Not Kiss the Bride | Actor | Plumber | 58 Average |
2010 | Buried | Actor | Alan Davenport (voice) | 64 Fair |
2010 | Peep World | Actor | Ephraim | 57 Average |
2010 | Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want | Actor | Father Joe (segment "Trevor") | 59 Average |
2009 | The Time Traveler's Wife | Actor | Dr. Kendrick | 67 Fair |
2009 | The Face is Familiar | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2008 | Beethoven's Big Break | Actor | Sal | 57 Average |
2008 | The Rainbow Tribe | Actor | Principal Sands | 59 Average |
2008 | Waiting for Yvette | Actor | Alan | 59 Average |
2007 | Boxboarders! | Actor | dr.james | 58 Average |
2007 | Wild Hogs | Actor | Charley | 59 Average |
2007 | The Valley of Light | Actor | Littlefield | 59 Average |
2006 | Blind Dating | Actor | Dr. Perkins | 59 Average |
2006 | Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2006 | Failure to Launch | Actor | Bud | 58 Average |
2006 | The Sasquatch Gang | Actor | Dalrymple | 58 Average |
2006 | Promise Me Tomorrow | Actor | Carl Venable | 59 Average |
2005 | Living 'til the End | Actor | Dr. Shaw | 59 Average |
2005 | McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out | Actor | Harry Evers | 59 Average |
2005 | Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous | Actor | Tom Abernathy | 57 Average |
2005 | Robots | Actor | Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice) | 64 Fair |
2004 | Debating Robert Lee | Actor | Debate Judge | 59 Average |
2004 | Little Black Book | Actor | Carl | 56 Average |
2004 | Garfield | Actor | Happy Chapman | 57 Average |
2004 | Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! | Actor | George Ruddy | 58 Average |
2003 | Frankie and Johnny Are Married | Actor | Murray Mintz | 59 Average |
2003 | Freaky Friday | Actor | Mr. Bates | 64 Fair |
2003 | View from the Top | Actor | Frank Thomas (uncredited) | 56 Average |
2003 | Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2003 | National Security | Actor | Billy Narthax | 58 Average |
2002 | Love Liza | Actor | Tom Bailey | 59 Average |
2002 | Ritual | Actor | Dr. Javitz (uncredited) | 57 Average |
2002 | The Country Bears | Actor | Norbert Barrington | 56 Average |
2002 | Par 6 | Actor | T.T. Riley | N/A N/A |
2002 | Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time | Actor | Self | 59 Average |
2001 | The Day the World Ended | Actor | Ed Turner | 58 Average |
2001 | Black River | Actor | Mayor Tom Thompson | 58 Average |
2001 | On the Edge | Actor | Tom (wraparound segments) | 58 Average |
2001 | The Prime Gig | Actor | Mick | 59 Average |
2001 | Freddy Got Fingered | Actor | Uncle Neil | 53 Average |
2000 | Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes | Actor | Dewey Wise | 58 Average |
2000 | Memento | Actor | Sammy | 81 Very good |
2000 | Manhattan, AZ | Actor | N/A N/A |
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2000 | Stanley's Gig | Actor | Abe Cohen | 59 Average |
2000 | Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion | Actor | B.J. McQueen | 58 Average |
2000 | The Operator | Actor | Doc | 58 Average |
2000 | Bossa Nova | Actor | Trevor | 58 Average |
1999 | The Insider | Actor | Eric Kluster | 71 Good |
1999 | Don't Look Under the Bed | Actor | Michael McCausland | 59 Average |
1999 | One Man's Hero | Actor | Captain Gaine | 58 Average |
1998 | The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story | Actor | Tabaqui (voice) | 58 Average |
1998 | Around the Fire | Actor | Doc | 58 Average |
1998 | The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars | Actor | Calculator (voice) | 58 Average |
1998 | Black Dog | Actor | McClaren | 60 Fair |
1998 | An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn | Actor | Bill Bardo | 57 Average |
1997 | Mr. Magoo | Actor | Agent FBI Chuck Stupak | 52 Average |
1996 | The Curse of Inferno | Actor | Lonnie Martin | 58 Average |
1996 | Night Visitors | Actor | Taylor | N/A N/A |
1996 | The Glimmer Man | Actor | Christopher Maynard | 56 Average |
1996 | Mr. Rhodes | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1996 | Power 98 | Actor | Rick Harris | 58 Average |
1996 | Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco | Actor | Bando (voice) | 62 Fair |
1995 | Dweebs | Actor | N/A N/A |
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1995 | Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde | Actor | Oliver Mintz | 57 Average |
1995 | Murder in the First | Actor | Mr. Henkin | 65 Fair |
1994 | Radioland Murders | Actor | Max Applewhite | 59 Average |
1994 | Blue Skies | Actor | Oak | N/A N/A |
1994 | My Father the Hero | Actor | Mike | 57 Average |
1994 | Trevor | Actor | Father Joe | 59 Average |
1993 | Josh and S.A.M. | Actor | Thomas 'Thom' Whitney | 58 Average |
1993 | Against the Grain | Actor | Niles Hardeman | N/A N/A |
1993 | Romeo Is Bleeding | Actor | District Attorney (uncredited) | 59 Average |
1993 | Calendar Girl | Actor | Antonio | 58 Average |
1993 | The Pickle | Actor | Mike Krakower | 58 Average |
1993 | Groundhog Day | Actor | Ned Ryerson | 74 Good |
1992 | Hero | Actor | Wallace | 60 Fair |
1992 | Where the Day Takes You | Actor | Charles | 59 Average |
1992 | Sneakers | Actor | Dr. Werner Brandes | 65 Fair |
1992 | Single White Female | Actor | Mitch Myerson | 61 Fair |
1992 | Roadside Prophets | Actor | Ranger Bob | 58 Average |
1992 | Basic Instinct | Actor | Dr. Lamott | 67 Fair |
1992 | Memoirs of an Invisible Man | Actor | Warren Singleton | 58 Average |
1991 | Deadly Medicine | Actor | Ron Sutton | N/A N/A |
1991 | To the Moon, Alice | Actor | Sitcom Producer | N/A N/A |
1991 | Thelma & Louise | Actor | Max | 73 Good |
1991 | Wedlock | Actor | Warden Holliday | 58 Average |
1991 | Tagget | Actor | Al Hentz | N/A N/A |
1991 | The Marla Hanson Story | Actor | Defense Attorney | 59 Average |
1990 | Mirror Mirror | Actor | Mr. Anderson | 58 Average |
1990 | Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael | Actor | Mayor Bill Klepler | 59 Average |
1990 | Funny About Love | Actor | Hugo | 58 Average |
1990 | The Grifters | Actor | Jeweler | 61 Fair |
1990 | Last Flight Out | Actor | Doctor Timothy Brandon | N/A N/A |
1990 | Bird on a Wire | Actor | Joe Weyburn | 60 Fair |
1989 | Breaking In | Actor | District Attorney | 58 Average |
1989 | In Country | Actor | Pete | 58 Average |
1989 | Great Balls of Fire! | Actor | Jud Phillips | 60 Fair |
1989 | Roe vs. Wade | Actor | Darryl Horwath | 59 Average |
1988 | Mississippi Burning | Actor | Townley | 72 Good |
1988 | Checking Out | Actor | Pharmacist | 58 Average |
1988 | Two Idiots in Hollywood | Actor | Prosecuting Attorney | N/A N/A |
1987 | Spaceballs | Actor | Captain of the Guard | 67 Fair |
1986 | Nobody's Fool | Actor | Kirk | 58 Average |
1984 | The Philadelphia Experiment | Actor | Barney | 59 Average |
1984 | Swing Shift | Actor | French deMille / Documentary Narrator | 58 Average |
1983 | Cocaine and Blue Eyes | Actor | TV Clerk | 58 Average |
1977 | Keep My Grave Open | Actor | Robert | 58 Average |
Butterfly in the Typewriter | Actor | The Abbot | N/A N/A |
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Directing |
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1988 | Two Idiots in Hollywood | Directing | Director | N/A N/A |
Writing |
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2015 | The Primary Instinct | Writing | Writer | 59 Average |
1988 | Two Idiots in Hollywood | Writing | Writer | N/A N/A |
1986 | True Stories | Writing | Writer | 60 Fair |
Production |
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2015 | The Primary Instinct | Production | Executive Producer | 59 Average |