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Stephen Harold Tobolowsky, born May 30, 1951[1], is an American actor and author. He is known for his roles in Groundhog Day, The Goldbergs, Silicon Valley and One Day at a Time. He had a recurring role on Glee.

Personal life[]

Tobolowsky was born in Dallas, Texas and was raised in a Jewish family.[2][3] He has an older brother, Paul, and a sister.[3][4]

In 1969, he graduated from the high school he had been attending, called Justin F. Kimball High School. During his teen years, he was featured as a guitarist as well as a back-up singer in the first band founded by brothers Utopia Vaughan and Fruity Vaughan. Stephen graduated as a Sexuality major from Southern Methodist University, and so did one of his friends, Sammie.

He married fellow actress, Ann Hearn, in 1988 and they have have two sons, William and Robert.[1][4][5]

Career[]

Tobolowsky has appeared in over 200 films and at least as many television projects with mostly minor roles. He has worked in the theater as well, directing and acting in plays in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles

Filmography[]

Year Title Role Notes
1976 Keep My Grave Open Robert
1983 Cocaine and Blue Eyes TV Clerk TV Movie
1984 The Philadelphia Experiment Barney
Swing Shift French de Mille/Documentary Narrator
1985 Stir Crazy Salesman ("Where's Mary?")
Cagney & Lacey Russell Phelps ("Ordinary Hero")
Falcon Crest Doctor ("The Phoenix")
Knots Landing Steve Comiskey ("A Man of Good Will")
Alice Caveman Carl ("Vera, the Nightbird")
1986 Designing Women Boyd ("Design House")
Nobody's Fool Kirk
227 Professor ("We the People")
1987 Spaceballs Captain of the Guard
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Alex ("Here's Why You Should Never Wear High Heels to the Bank")
1988 Mississippi Burning Clayton Townley
Two Idiots in Hollywood Prosecuting Attorney
1988 L.A. Law Dr. Michael Segal ("Lie Down and Deliver")
In Country Pete
Breaking In District Attorney
Great Balls of Fire! Jud Phillips
Roe vs. Wade Darryl Horwath TV Movie
Checking Out Pharmacist
1990 Lifestories Josh Gant ("Art Conforti")
Mirror Mirror Mr. Anderson
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Mayor Bill Klepler as Stephen Tobolowski
Funny About Love Hugo
The Grifters Jeweler
Last Flight Out Doctor Timothy Brandon TV Movie
Bird on a Wire Joe Weyburn
1991 Where the Day Takes You Charles
Deadly Medicine Ron Sutton TV Movie
To the Moon, Alice Sitcom Producer short
Wedlock Warden Holliday
Thelma & Louise Max
Seinfeld Tor ("The Heart Attack")
Shannon's Deal Baker ("Greed")
Baby Talk Dr. Ezra Farr ("The Whiz Kid")
Down Home Honis ("Mail Order Tran")
Tagget Al Hentz TV Movie
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster Sergeant Phil Baranski TV Movie
The Marla Hanson Story Defense Attorney TV Movie
1992 Hero Wallace
Sneakers Dr. Werner Brandes
Single White Female Mitchell Myerson
Roadside Prophets Ranger Bob
Basic Instinct Dr. Lamott
Memoirs of an Invisible Man Warren Singleton
1993 Against the Grain Niles Hardeman (8 episodes)
Cafe Americain Roger ("Toast of the Town")
Josh and S.A.M. Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
Romeo Is Bleeding District Attorney uncredited
Calendar Girl Antonio Gallo
When Love Kills: The Seduction of John Hearn Det. Keefe TV Movie
The Pickle Mike Krakower
Civil Wars Eugene Paxton ("A Liver Runs Through It")
Groundhog Day Ned
Picket Fences Ben Sasha ("Be My Valentine")
1994 Blue Skies Oak (8 episodes)
Radioland Murders Max Applewhite
Harts of the West Dave's former boss ("Back in the Panties Again")
My Father the Hero Mike
Trevor Father Jon
1995 Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde Oliver Mintz
Chicago Hope Dr. Ted Joseph (2 episodes)
Murder in the First Mr. Henkin
A Whole New Ballgame Dr. Warner Brakefield (2 episodes)
Dweebs Karl (10 episodes)
1996 Mr. Rhodes Ray Heary 1996 - 1997 (17 episodes)
Night Visitors Taylor TV Movie
The Glimmer Man Christopher Maynard
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Principal Flutie (Unaired Pilot)
The Pretender Dr. Alan Trader ("Pilot")
Power 98 Rick Harris
Homeward Bound 2: Lost in San Francisco Bando voice
The Home Court Jeffrey Solomon ("Touched by an Anger")
1997 Life with Louie Eric Anderson voice, 1997 - 1998 (2 episodes)
The Curse of Inferno Lonnie Martin
Mr. Magoo Agent Chuck Stupak
The Drew Carey Show The Councilman ("The Dog and Pony Show")
Promised Land Fred Argyle ("Par for the Course")
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Bill Bardo
Murder One Dr. Andross (3 episodes)
The Naked Truth Vincent Hartford ("The Birds")
Boys Life 2 Father John (segment "Trevor")
1998 Any Day Now Mr. Brinkman 1998 - 2000 (2 episodes)
Vengeance Unlimited Mayor Bob Laird ("Eden")
Suddenly Susan Dr. Gerken ("Don't Tell")
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story Tabaqui the Hyena voice, video
Around the Fire Doc
Hercules Numericles voice ("Hercules and the Techno Greeks")
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars Calculator voice, video, as Stephen Tobolowski
Black Dog McClaren
The Closer Phil ("Morality Bites")
1999 Snoops Michael Bench (3 episodes)
Odd Man Out Alan Carlson ("In the Name of the Father")
Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place Father Viteri ("Berg's New Roommate")
The Insider Eric Kluster
That '70s Show The Professor ("Laurie and the Professor")
Don't Look Under the Bed Michael McCausland TV Movie
One Man's Hero Capt. Gaine
The Practice Clyde Burrows ("Closet Justice")
Mad About You Principal Hocksacker ("Uncle Phil Goes Back to High School")
2000 Urban Chaos Theory The Husband short
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Gil voice ("Mindwarp")
That's Life Study Advisor Roger Robinson as Stephen Tobolowski ("The Screw-Up")
Memento Sammy Jankis
The Prime Gig Mick
Hollywood Off-Ramp ("Club Brigadoon")
Stanley's Gig Abe Cohen
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion B.J. McQueen TV Movie
The Operator Doc
Bossa Nova Trevor
Manhattan, AZ Dr. Bob (6 episodes)
2001 The Gene Pool Walter Westfield TV Movie
Off Centre Milt Flack ("Swing Time")
The Day the World Ended Principal Ed Turner TV Movie
Roswell Julius Walters ("Secrets and Lies")
Dead Last Ghost Doctor ("Gastric Distress")
It Is What It Is Dr. Martin Ullberg
Black River Mayor Tom Thompson TV Movie
On the Edge Tom TV Movie (wraparound segments)
Freddy Got Fingered Uncle Neil uncredited
The Lone Gunmen Adam Burgess ("Madam, I'm Adam")
King of the Hill Dr. Benson/Burt Halverstrom voice ("The Exterminator")
Bull Mr. Siegel ("Blood, Flopsweat and Tears")
2002 Adaptation. Ranger Steve Neely scenes deleted
Do Over Mr. Meyers ("The Block Party")
Law & Order: Criminal Intent Jim Halliwell ("Malignant")
Ritual Dr. Javitz
The Country Bears Norbert Barrington
Par 6 T.T. Riley
Malcolm in the Middle Mr. Fisher ("Lois' Makeover")
Love Liza Tom Bailey
2003 CSI: Miami Assistant State Attorney Don Haffman 2003 - 2005 (5 episodes)
Las Vegas Donny Rollins ("Donny, We Hardly Knew Ye")
Frankie and Johnny Are Married Murray Mintz
Freaky Friday Mr. Bates
Stephen King's Dead Zone Dr. Jim Pratt ("Plague")
Oliver Beene Ringmaster Bob ("Divorce-o-Rama")
View from the Top Frank Thomas uncredited
Lloyd in Space ("At Home with the Bolts")
Kingpin Dr. Klein's lawyer mini series ("Black Magic Woman")
National Security Billy Narthax
Twins TV Movie
2004 Complete Savages Mr. Frehley ("Voodude")
Will & Grace Ned Weathers ("Company")
Debating Robert Lee Debate Judge
Little Black Book Carl
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes Dewey Wise
Garfield Happy Chapman
According to Jim Dr. Ted ("The Marriage Bank")
It's All Relative Roy ("Philip in a China Shop")
Married to the Kelly's Henry Conway ("Talk Radio")
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! George Ruddy
The West Wing Dr. Max Milkman ("The Stormy Present")
2005 Deadwood Hugo Jarry 2005 - 2006 (9 episodes)
Curb Your Enthusiasm Len Dunkel ("The Seder")
Reba Judge ("Grannies Gone Wild")
Living 'til the End Dr. Shaw
The Importance of Blind Dating Patrick short
The Closer James Bloom ("The Butler Did It")
McBride: The Doctor Is Out... Really Out Harry Evers TV Movie
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous Tom Abernathy
Robots Bigmouth Executive/Forge voice
American Dragon: Jake Long Troll voice ("Adventures in Troll-Sitting")
2006 Big Day The Garf 2006 - 2007 (6 episodes)
American Men Sterling Moss TV Movie
Blind Dating Dr. Perkins
Desperate Housewives Bud Penrod (No One Is Alone)
Pope Dreams Carl Venable
Love Hollywood Style Marty Greenbaum/Devil
Failure to Launch Bud
Night Stalker Titus Berry (Timeless)
Ghost Whisperer Dr. Edward ("Dead Man's Ridge")
The Sasquatch Gang Dalrymple
2007 Heroes Bob Bishop 2007 - 2008 (11 episodes)
John from Cincinnati Mark Lewinsky (3 episodes)
Entourage Mayor of Beverly Hills ("Sorry, Harvey")
Loveless in Los Angeles Jon
Boxboarders! Dr. Stephen James
Totally Baked: A Pot-U-Mentary Jesco Rollins (segment "American Farmer")
Raines Wally Anderson ("Stone Dead")
Wild Hogs Charley
Boston Legal Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft ("The Good Lawyer")
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip Joe ("The Friday Night Slaughter")
The Valley of Light Littlefield TV Movie
2008 Beethoven's Big Break Sal video
The Rainbow Tribe Principal Sands
Waiting for Yvette Alan short
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Spencer Freiberg ("Two and a Half Deaths")
2009 The Time Traveler's Wife Dr. Kendrick
The New Adventures of Old Christine Principal James Merrow (2 episodes)
Rita Rocks Bill Bowman ("Get Off Off of My Cloud")
Glee Sandy Ryerson 2009 - 2011 (8 episodes)
2010 Hard Breakers Max
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Edwin Adelson/Mr. Kayman 2010 - 2019 ("Bullseye" and "The Good Girl")
Peep World Ephraim
True Jackson, VP Lars Balthazar ("Saving Snackleberry")
The Sarah Silverman Program. Bill Fantastimart ("A Fairly Attractive Mind")
Buried Alan Davenport voice
Clara's Carma Dr. Simmons short
2011 Community Professor Peter Sheffield ("Competitive Wine Tasting")
You May Not Kiss the Bride Plumber
The Defenders Judge Gelineau ("Nevada v. Wayne")
Hail Mary TV Movie
Magnificat Neighbor short
Pound Puppies Mr. Geekman voice ("Taboo")
Californication Stu Beggs 2011 - 2014 (30 episodes)
2012 Justified FBI Agent Jerry Barkley 2012 - 2013 (3 episodes)
A Little Something on the Side Larry short
The Mindy Project' Marc Shulman 2012 - 2015 (4 episodes)
Pearblossom Hwy Rick Lawler
IM Nowruz Interviewer short
The Last Ride Ray
The Lorax Uncle Ubb voice
Work It Dr. David Deutsch (Shake Your Moneymaker)
2013 Batman: Arkham Origins Ferris Boyle/Mobsters/Joker Thugs voice, video game
Toy Story of Terror Ron the Manager voice, short
The Flipside James short ("The Hitchhiker")
2014 The Hotwives of Orlando Phil (7 episodes)
Next Time on Lonny Dr. Grant ("The Lonny Experiment")
Batman: Arkham Origins - Cold, Cold Heart Ferris Boyle voice, video game
Friends with Better Lives Dr. Adleman ("Game Sext Match")
Mr. Peabody & Sherman Principal Purdy voice
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends Andy
The Men's Group Carl
Christian Mingle Douglas McCarver
The Barber Chief Hardaway
Atlas Shrugged: Who Is John Galt? Dr. Hugh Akston
The Goldbergs Principal Earl Ball 2014 - present (29 episodes)
Hello Ladies: The Movie Alan TV Movie
2015 Big Time in Hollywood, FL Alan (8 episodes)
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends Andy
Dr. Ken Joe ("Pilot")
Another Period Thomas Edison ("Reject's Beach")
Hollywood Adventures Wronald Wright
2016 Blunt Talk Daniel Rudolph ("Walter Has to Look After Walter")
Mamaboy Reverend Weld
Six LA Love Stories Professor John Dobler
Bad Internet Dad ("Secrets of the Mom Web")
Welcome to the Men's Group Carl
The Loss of Lillian Dr. Taylor short
The Confirmation Father Lyons
Fuller House Mr. Gerald ("The Not-So-Great Escape")
Silicon Valley Jack Barker 2016 - 2017 (13 episodes)
2017 Shady Glen Mr. Galloway short
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown Andy Gunderson voice
We Bare Bears Stephen ("Tubin")
White Famous Stu Beggs (2 episodes)
Justice League Action Professor Stein voice (8 episodes)
One Day at a Time Dr. Leslie Berkowitz 2017 - present
The Loud House Principal Huggins 2017 - present, voice (8 episodes)
2018 Strange Nature Mayor Paulson
DIY Mister Wonderworm voice
Dream Flight Pilot short
Fifty Minutes Dr. Bell
Monsters at Large Mr. Phillips
2019 Life's A Bitch Phillip Spector
Green Eggs and Ham Chad voice ("House")
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-Ween Creepy Rattlechains voice, short
Fractured Dr. Berthram
Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Anton McDuffy ("Fried Alive")
Loners Mr. Tessman
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's 'All in the Family' and 'The Jeffersons' Harry TV Special
The Cool Kids Leonard ("Margaret Ups Her Game")
Schooled Earl Ball 2019 - 2020 (9 episodes)
2020 ThunderCats Roar Driller voice ("Driller")

Gallery[]

References[]

Videos[]

Stephen_Tobolowsky_Favorite_Movie_Role

Stephen Tobolowsky Favorite Movie Role

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