CineScope
Bob Balaban picture

Bob Balaban

Acting
Known For

79 Years Old

Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels. Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood. In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing. Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come. Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars. Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.

Born

Chicago, Illinois, USA on 16th August 1945

All Credits

The Simpsons Image
The Simpsons
Narrator (voice)
American Dad! Image
American Dad!
Glen Hanover (voice)
Love, American Style Image
Love, American Style
Nick
Seinfeld Image
Seinfeld
Russell Dalrymple
Friends Image
Friends
Frank Sr.
The Good Wife Image
The Good Wife
Gordon Higgs
Severance Image
Severance
Mark Wilkins
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver Image
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Self
The Mod Squad Image
The Mod Squad
Broad City Image
Broad City
Arthur Wexler
Amazing Stories Image
Amazing Stories
Jo-Jo Gillespie
Web Therapy Image
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell
Miami Vice Image
Miami Vice
The West Wing Image
The West Wing
Ted Marcus
Summer Camp Island Image
Summer Camp Island
Gerald (voice)
Girls Image
Girls
Therapist
Space Force Image
Space Force
Ron (voice)
Hank Image
Hank
Show Me a Hero Image
Show Me a Hero
Leonard B. Sand
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist Image
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
Bob (voice)
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Image
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
Self
Room 222 Image
Room 222
Web Therapy Image
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell
Tom Goes to the Mayor Image
Tom Goes to the Mayor
Walt Pickle (voice)
The Chair Image
The Chair
Elliot Rentz
Condor Image
Condor
Reuel Abbott
Maude Image
Maude
Ambrose Riley
The Politician Image
The Politician
Keaton Hobart
Alpha House Image
Alpha House
Senator Elliot Robeson
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood Image
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
Self
China, IL Image
China, IL
(voice)
Legend Image
Legend
Wormwood Image
Wormwood
Dr. Harold A. Abramson
The Grand Budapest Hotel Image
The Grand Budapest Hotel
M. Martin
Hopeless Pictures Image
Hopeless Pictures
Asteroid City Image
Asteroid City
Larkings Executive
Isle of Dogs Image
Isle of Dogs
King (voice)
The French Dispatch Image
The French Dispatch
Uncle Nick
Moonrise Kingdom Image
Moonrise Kingdom
The Narrator
Close Encounters of the Third Kind Image
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
David Laughlin
The Tuxedo Image
The Tuxedo
Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
No Reservations Image
No Reservations
Therapist
The Monuments Men Image
The Monuments Men
Pvt. Preston Savitz
Midnight Cowboy Image
Midnight Cowboy
The Young Student
80 for Brady Image
80 for Brady
Mark
Now and Again Image
Now and Again
2010 Image
2010
Dr. R. Chandra
Capote Image
Capote
William Shawn
The Mexican Image
The Mexican
Bernie Nayman
Gosford Park Image
Gosford Park
Morris Weissman
Best in Show Image
Best in Show
Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Ghost World Image
Ghost World
Enid's Dad
Deconstructing Harry Image
Deconstructing Harry
Richard
Greedy Image
Greedy
Ed
License to Wed Image
License to Wed
Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
Altered States Image
Altered States
Arthur Rosenberg
The Majestic Image
The Majestic
Elvin Glyde
A Mighty Wind Image
A Mighty Wind
Jonathan Steinbloom
For Love or Money Image
For Love or Money
Ed Drinkwater
Absence of Malice Image
Absence of Malice
Elliott Rosen
Catch-22 Image
Catch-22
Capt. Orr
Lady in the Water Image
Lady in the Water
Harry Farber
Family Tree Image
Family Tree
Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim
Fading Gigolo Image
Fading Gigolo
Sol
Jakob the Liar Image
Jakob the Liar
Kowalsky
Alice Image
Alice
Sid Moscowitz
Little Man Tate Image
Little Man Tate
Quizmaster
Bob Roberts Image
Bob Roberts
Cutting Edge Producer
Waiting for Guffman Image
Waiting for Guffman
Lloyd Miller
Spielberg Image
Spielberg
Self
An L.A. Minute Image
An L.A. Minute
Shelley
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Image
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Image
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
Mr. Waxcap
Girl Most Likely Image
Girl Most Likely
Maxwell
For Your Consideration Image
For Your Consideration
Philip Koontz
Prince of the City Image
Prince of the City
Santimassino
Recount Image
Recount
Ben Ginsberg
Cradle Will Rock Image
Cradle Will Rock
Harry Hopkins
Three to Tango Image
Three to Tango
Decker
Do You Like to Read? Image
Do You Like to Read?
The Narrator
Plan B Image
Plan B
James Foster
Howl Image
Howl
Judge Clayton Horn
Mascots Image
Mascots
Sol Lumpkin
Amos & Andrew Image
Amos & Andrew
Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight Image
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Lawyer (uncredited)
Clockwatchers Image
Clockwatchers
Milton Lasky
The Bank Shot Image
The Bank Shot
Victor Karp
The Making of 'Gosford Park' Image
The Making of 'Gosford Park'
Self
Dead Bang Image
Dead Bang
Elliott Webley
Trust the Man Image
Trust the Man
Tobey's Therapist
The Late Shift Image
The Late Shift
Warren Littlefield
Whose Life Is It Anyway? Image
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Carter Hill
Thin Ice Image
Thin Ice
Leonard Dahl
Hitchcock/Truffaut Image
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Narrator (voice)
End of the Line Image
End of the Line
Warren Gerber
Swing Vote Image
Swing Vote
Justice Eli MacCorckle
Mike Nichols: An American Master Image
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Self
Rage Image
Rage
Mr. White
F--k Image
F--k
Bob
The Strawberry Statement Image
The Strawberry Statement
Elliot
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' Image
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Self
Girlfriends Image
Girlfriends
Martin
The Monster Hunter Image
The Monster Hunter
Dr. William Powell
No Image
Fantasy Life
Report to the Commissioner Image
Report to the Commissioner
Joey Egan
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' Image
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Self / The Narrator
Everything Is Copy Image
Everything Is Copy
Self
Me, Natalie Image
Me, Natalie
Morris
Marie and Bruce Image
Marie and Bruce
Roger
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Image
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Self
Nothing Lasts Forever Image
Nothing Lasts Forever
Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
Dedication Image
Dedication
Arthur Planck
Starring Austin Pendleton Image
Starring Austin Pendleton
Self
The Five Stages of Grief Image
The Five Stages of Grief
Voice of Daniel's father
Pie in the Sky Image
Pie in the Sky
Paul Entamen
Funny Image
Funny
Self
Carl Laemmle Image
Carl Laemmle
Himself
The Definite Maybe Image
The Definite Maybe
Wolfe Rollins
Eva Hesse Image
Eva Hesse
Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
The Face of Fear Image
The Face of Fear
Ira Preduski
2010 : The Odyssey Continues Image
2010 : The Odyssey Continues
Himself
The Windmill Movie Image
The Windmill Movie
Self
Making It Image
Making It
Wilkie
Prince of the City: The Real Story Image
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Self / Santimassino
Unnatural Pursuits Image
Unnatural Pursuits
Lou Finkleberg
George Romero's Golden Tales 2 Image
George Romero's Golden Tales 2
Conversation with the Beast Image
Conversation with the Beast
Mr. Webster
How Moving Image
How Moving
Uncle Aaron
Giving Up the Ghost Image
Giving Up the Ghost
Bob
No Image
Bad Actors
Marriage: Year One Image
Marriage: Year One
Bernie
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film Image
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film Image
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Self
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger Image
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Tex
Scene Stealers Image
Scene Stealers
Jonathan Crouch Esq.