Stephen Tobolowsky
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.
Known For
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
The Simpsons
1989
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
2000
Desperate Housewives
2004
CSI: Miami
2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
2001
King of the Hill
1997
Seinfeld
1989
The West Wing
1999
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000
The Practice
1997
Filmography
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Edwin Adelson · 1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
as Mr. Kayman · 1999
The Simpsons
as Merle (voice) · 1989
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
as Spencer Freiberg · 2000
Desperate Housewives
as Bud Penrod · 2004
CSI: Miami
as Don Haffman · 2002
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
as Jim Halliwell · 2001
King of the Hill
as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice) · 1997
Seinfeld
as Tor Eckman · 1989
The West Wing
as Dr. Max Milkman · 1999
Curb Your Enthusiasm
as Len Dunkel · 2000
The Practice
as Clyde Burrows · 1997
The Closer
as James Bloom · 2005
Heroes
as Bob Bishop · 2006
Chicago Hope
as Dr. Ted Joseph · 1994
Chicago Hope
as Ted Joseph · 1994
Ghost Whisperer
as Dr. Peltier · 2005
Knots Landing
as Steve Comiskey · 1979
Glee
as Sandy Ryerson · 2009
Boston Legal
as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft · 2004
Malcolm in the Middle
as Mr. Fisher · 2000
The Goldbergs
as Principal Ball · 2013
Will & Grace
as Ned Weathers · 1998
Falcon Crest
as Doctor · 1981
Las Vegas
as Donny Rollins · 2003
Entourage
as Mayor of Beverly Hills · 2004
That '70s Show
as Professor · 1998
Tony Awards
as Self - Nominee · 1956
The Drew Carey Show
as Councilman · 1995
Mad About You
as Principal Hocksacker · 1992
L.A. Law
as Michael Segal · 1986
Archer
as Robert (voice) · 2009
Hacks
as Henry Weeks · 2021
We Bare Bears
as Stephen ( voice) · 2015
Community
as Professor Peter Sheffield · 2009
Californication
as Stu Beggs · 2007
Arli$$
as Craig Levitz · 1996
Silicon Valley
as Jack Barker · 2014
The Mindy Project
as Marc Shulman · 2012
Justified
as Jerry Barkley · 2010
According to Jim
as Dr. Ted · 2001
Alice
· 1976
The Pretender
as Dr. Alan Trader · 1996
The Dead Zone
as Jim Pratt · 2002
Cagney & Lacey
· 1982
Hercules
as Numericles (voice) · 1998
Deadwood
as Hugo Jarry · 2004
Roswell
as Julius Walters · 1999
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
as Gil (voice) · 2000
The New Adventures of Old Christine
as Principal James Merrow · 2006
Fuller House
as Mr. Gerald · 2016
Stars in the House
as Self · 2020
The Lorax
as Uncle Ubb (voice) · 2012
Reba
as Judge · 2001
Pound Puppies
as Mr. Geekman (voice) · 2010
Nobody Wants This
as Rabbi Cohen · 2024
Murder One
· 1995
Murder One
as Dr. Andross · 1995
Two Guys and a Girl
as Father Viteri · 1998
Justice League Action
as Professor Stein (voice) · 2016
The Sarah Silverman Program
as Bill Fantastimart · 2007
Basic Instinct
as Dr. Lamott · 1992
The Naked Truth
as Vincent Hartford · 1995
Freaky Friday
as Mr. Bates · 2003
True Jackson, VP
as Lars Balthazar · 2008
Groundhog Day
as Ned · 1993
Green Eggs and Ham
as Chad (voice) · 2019
Crazy like a Fox
as Hotel Clerk · 1984
Dr. Ken
as Joe · 2015
Minx
as Conrad Ross · 2022
Memento
as Sammy · 2000
One Day at a Time
as Dr. Berkowitz · 2017
Designing Women
· 1986
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
as Alex · 1987
227
· 1985
Another Period
as Thomas Edison · 2015
Spaceballs
as Captain of the Guard · 1987
Suddenly Susan
as Dr. Gerken · 1996
The Really Loud House
as Walter Phillipini · 2022
Any Day Now
· 1998
No Activity
as (voice) · 2017
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
· 2006
Freakier Friday
as Mr. Elton Bates · 2025
The Defenders
as Judge Gelineau · 2010
Robots
as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice) · 2005
Off Centre
· 2001
ThunderCats Roar
as Driller (voice) · 2020
Sneakers
as Dr. Werner Brandes · 1992
Oliver Beene
as Ringmaster Bob · 2003
Thelma & Louise
as Max · 1991
Frog and Toad
as Dragonfly (voice) · 2023
Complete Savages
as Mr. Frehley · 2004
Failure to Launch
as Bud · 2006
The Lone Gunmen
· 2001
The Time Traveler's Wife
as Dr. Kendrick · 2009
Night Stalker
as Titus Berry · 2005
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
as Principal Purdy (voice) · 2014
Candy Cane Lane
as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited) · 2023
Garfield
as Happy Chapman · 2004
Schooled
as Earl Ball · 2019
The Cool Kids
as Leonard · 2018
Bird on a Wire
as Joe Weyburn · 1990
John from Cincinnati
as Mark Lewinsky · 2007
The Insider
as Eric Kluster · 1999
National Security
as Billy Narthax · 2003
Friends with Better Lives
as Dr. Adleman · 2014
Do Over
· 2002
Mississippi Burning
as Townley · 1988
Snoops
as Michael Bench · 1999
Bad Internet
as James · 2016
Wild Hogs
as Charley · 2007
Married to the Kellys
as Henry Conway · 2003
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
as Bando (voice) · 1996
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
as Tom Abernathy · 2005
Raines
· 2007
View from the Top
as Frank Thomas (uncredited) · 2003
Shannon's Deal
· 1990
White Famous
as Stu Beggs · 2017
The Home Court
as Jeffrey Solomon · 1995
Dicktown
as John’s Dad · 2020
Mr. Rhodes
· 1996
Big Day
· 2006
Kingpin
· 2003
Murder in the First
as Mr. Henkin · 1995
Little Black Book
as Carl · 2004
Buried
as Alan Davenport (voice) · 2010
Harts of the West
· 1993
Fractured
as Dr. Berthram · 2019
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
as Andy Gunderson (voice) · 2017
Cafe Americain
as Roger Livingston · 1993
Against the Grain
as Niles Hardeman · 1993
Hero
as Wallace · 1992
The Glimmer Man
as Christopher Maynard · 1996
Single White Female
as Mitch Myerson · 1992
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
as Warren Singleton · 1992
The Hotwives of Orlando
as Phil · 2014
The Philadelphia Experiment
as Barney · 1984
The Country Bears
as Norbert Barrington · 2002
The Cowboy Killer
as God · 2026
Freddy Got Fingered
as Uncle Neil · 2001
My Father the Hero
as Mike · 1994
The Grifters
as Jeweler · 1990
A Whole New Ballgame
as Dr. Warner Brakefield · 1995
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
as Alan Dolfe · 2015
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
as George Ruddy · 2004
Don't Look Under the Bed
as Michael McCausland · 1999
Blue Skies
as Oak · 1994
Great Balls of Fire!
as Jud Phillips · 1989
Black Dog
as McClaren · 1998
Hello Ladies: The Movie
as Alan · 2014
Beethoven's Big Break
as Sal · 2008
You May Not Kiss the Bride
as Plumber · 2011
Radioland Murders
as Max Applewhite · 1994
One Man's Hero
as Captain Gaine · 1999
Mr. Magoo
as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak · 1997
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
as Bill Bardo · 1998
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
as Creepy Rattlechains (voice) · 2019
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
as Dr. Hugh Akston · 2014
The Confirmation
as Father Lyons · 2016
Haul Out the Holly
as Ned · 2022
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
as Calculator (voice) · 1998
Where the Day Takes You
as Charles · 1992
The Valley of Light
as Littlefield · 2007
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
as Tabaqui (voice) · 1998
Dweebs
as Karl · 1995
Poolman
as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche · 2024
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
as Oliver Mintz · 1995
Wedlock
as Warden Holliday · 1991
The Rainbow Tribe
as Principal Sands · 2008
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
as Mayor Bill Klepler · 1990
In Country
as Pete · 1989
Blind Dating
as Dr. Perkins · 2007
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up
as Ned · 2023
The Barber
as Chief Hardaway · 2015
American Men
as Sterling Moss
Haul Out the Halloween
as Ned Broadhead · 2025
Josh & S.A.M.
as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney · 1993
Calendar Girl
as Antonio · 1993
On the Edge
as Tom (wraparound segments) · 2001
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
as Dewey Wise · 2000
Hollywood Signs
as Self · 2022
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
as Mr. Bentley · 2019
Funny About Love
as Hugo · 1990
Christian Mingle
as Douglas McCarver · 2014
Swing Shift
as French deMille / Documentary Narrator · 1984
The Sasquatch Gang
as Dalrymple · 2006
Butterfly in the Typewriter
as The Abbot
Peep World
as Ephraim · 2010
The Face is Familiar
· 2009
The Day the World Ended
as Ed Turner · 2001
Tagget
as Al Hentz · 1991
Ritual
as Dr. Javitz (uncredited) · 2002
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
as Self · 2025
Hard Breakers
as Max · 2011
Around the Fire
as Doc · 1998
Monsters at Large
as Mr. Phillips · 2018
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
as Father Joe (segment "Trevor") · 2010
Roe vs. Wade
as Darryl Horwath · 1989
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time
as Self · 2002
Love Liza
as Tom Bailey · 2002
Woodstockers
as Calvin · 2026
The Pickle
as Mike Krakower · 1993
Checking Out
as Pharmacist · 1988
Where is Rocky II?
as Byron (segment: "Monument One") · 2016
Power 98
as Rick Harris · 1996
Two Idiots in Hollywood
as Prosecuting Attorney · 1988
The Last Ride
as Ray · 2012
Mirror Mirror
as Mr. Anderson · 1990
Debating Robert Lee
as Debate Judge · 2004
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
as Sergeant Phil Baranski · 1991
Fantastic Mr. Murray
as Self - Interviewee · 2019
Strange Nature
as Mayor Paulson · 2018
To The Moon, Alice
as Sitcom Producer · 1991
Cocaine and Blue Eyes
as TV Clerk · 1983
Six L.A. Love Stories
as Professor John Dobler · 2016
Mimics
as Melvin Reinhold · 2026
The Prime Gig
as Mick · 2001
Last Flight Out
as Doctor Timothy Brandon · 1990
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey
as Self · 2003
The Marla Hanson Story
as Defense Attorney · 1991
Welcome to the Men's Group
· 2016
Freaks Part II
· 2026
Black River
as Mayor Tom Thompson · 2001
Nobody's Fool
as Kirk · 1986
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
as Self · 2023
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
as Self · 2006
Roadside Prophets
as Ranger Bob · 1992
Mary the Widow
as Ed · 2026
Say It Ain't Solo
as Self · 2012
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
as B.J. McQueen · 2000
Breaking In
as District Attorney · 1989
Frankie and Johnny Are Married
as Murray Mintz · 2003
Living 'til the End
as Dr. Shaw · 2005
Promise Me Tomorrow
as Carl Venable · 2006
Hail Mary
· 2011
Keep My Grave Open
as Robert · 1977
Loveless in Los Angeles
as Jon · 2007
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out
as Harry Evers · 2005
The Curse of Inferno
as Lonnie Martin · 1996
Night Visitors
as Taylor · 1996
Deadly Medicine
as Ron Sutton · 1991
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends
as Andy · 2014
Loners
as Mr. Tessman · 2019
Love Virtually
as Dr. Divine · 2023
Par 6
as T.T. Riley · 2002
Trevor
as Father Joe · 1994
The Operator
as Doc · 2000
Stanley's Gig
as Abe Cohen · 2000
Bossa Nova
as Trevor · 2000
The Five Keys to Mastery
as Self · 2005
Mamaboy
as Reverend Weld · 2016
Waiting for Yvette
as Alan · 2008
Magnificat
as Neighbor · 2011
Pearblossom Hwy
as Rick Lawler · 2012
Boxboarders!
as Dr. Stephen James · 2007
The Primary Instinct
as Himself · 2015
Watching Walter
as Walter · 2024
Toy Story of Terror!
as Ron (voice) · 2013
Baby Talk
· 1991