Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting
Born: May 30, 1951 (age 75) · Dallas, Texas, USA
Highest Rated
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
Memento
2000
The Simpsons
1989
Groundhog Day
1993
Robots
2005
Malcolm in the Middle
2000
Basic Instinct
1992
Freaky Friday
2003
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
1999
Garfield
2004
The Lorax
2012
Thelma & Louise
1991
Spaceballs
1987
Photos (3)
Movies (136)
Memento
Sammy
Basic Instinct
Dr. Lamott
The Lorax
Uncle Ubb (voice)
Groundhog Day
Ned Ryerson
Robots
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
Spaceballs
Captain of the Guard
Freakier Friday
Mr. Elton Bates
Sneakers
Dr. Werner Brandes
Freaky Friday
Mr. Bates
Thelma & Louise
Max
Garfield
Happy Chapman
The Time Traveler's Wife
Dr. Kendrick
Mississippi Burning
Townley
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Principal Purdy (voice)
Buried
Alan Davenport (voice)
The Insider
Eric Kluster
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Tom Abernathy
Wild Hogs
Charley
Fractured
Dr. Berthram
The Grifters
Jeweler
Failure to Launch
Bud
National Security
Billy Narthax
Bird on a Wire
Joe Weyburn
Candy Cane Lane
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
Andy Gunderson (voice)
Murder in the First
Mr. Henkin
The Philadelphia Experiment
Barney
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Warren Singleton
The Glimmer Man
Christopher Maynard
Mr. Magoo
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
Freddy Got Fingered
Uncle Neil
Hero
Wallace
My Father the Hero
Mike
Great Balls of Fire!
Jud Phillips
View from the Top
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
Black Dog
McClaren
Single White Female
Mitch Myerson
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
Bando (voice)
Wedlock
Warden Holliday
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
Dr. Hugh Akston
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
George Ruddy
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
Poolman
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
Don't Look Under the Bed
Michael McCausland
You May Not Kiss the Bride
Plumber
The Country Bears
Norbert Barrington
Little Black Book
Carl
Blind Dating
Dr. Perkins
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Calculator (voice)
The Barber
Chief Hardaway
Where the Day Takes You
Charles
Hello Ladies: The Movie
Alan
The Curse of Inferno
Lonnie Martin
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Tabaqui (voice)
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
Bill Bardo
Beethoven's Big Break
Sal
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
Mayor Bill Klepler
Swing Shift
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
Haul Out the Holly
Ned
The Confirmation
Father Lyons
The Valley of Light
Littlefield
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
Oliver Mintz
Radioland Murders
Max Applewhite
Calendar Girl
Antonio
The Rainbow Tribe
Principal Sands
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up
Ned
Ritual
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
The Sasquatch Gang
Dalrymple
Mimics
Melvin Reinhold
The Day the World Ended
Ed Turner
In Country
Pete
Hard Breakers
Max
Christian Mingle
Douglas McCarver
Funny About Love
Hugo
Love Liza
Tom Bailey
On the Edge
Tom (wraparound segments)
Woodstockers
Calvin
One Man's Hero
Captain Gaine
The Prime Gig
Mick
Strange Nature
Mayor Paulson
Mary the Widow
Ed
Haul Out the Halloween
Ned Broadhead
The Last Ride
Ray
Debating Robert Lee
Debate Judge
Checking Out
Pharmacist
Freaks Part II
2026
Peep World
Ephraim
Roadside Prophets
Ranger Bob
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
Dewey Wise
Mirror Mirror
Mr. Anderson
Monsters at Large
Mr. Phillips
The Operator
Doc
To The Moon, Alice
Sitcom Producer
Roe vs. Wade
Darryl Horwath
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
Hail Mary
2011
Breaking In
District Attorney
Around the Fire
Doc
The Pickle
Mike Krakower
Trevor
Father Joe
Black River
Mayor Tom Thompson
The Cowboy Killer
God
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
Sergeant Phil Baranski
Cocaine and Blue Eyes
TV Clerk
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
Mr. Bentley
Bossa Nova
Trevor
Josh & S.A.M.
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
The Face is Familiar
2009
Mamaboy
Reverend Weld
Love Virtually
Dr. Divine
Welcome to the Men's Group
2016
Night Visitors
Taylor
Six L.A. Love Stories
Professor John Dobler
The Marla Hanson Story
Defense Attorney
Nobody's Fool
Kirk
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out
Harry Evers
Deadly Medicine
Ron Sutton
Loveless in Los Angeles
Jon
Power 98
Rick Harris
Par 6
T.T. Riley
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
B.J. McQueen
Two Idiots in Hollywood
Prosecuting Attorney
Loners
Mr. Tessman
Promise Me Tomorrow
Carl Venable
Stanley's Gig
Abe Cohen
Boxboarders!
dr.james
Living 'til the End
Dr. Shaw
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends
Andy
Where is Rocky II?
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
Keep My Grave Open
Robert
Waiting for Yvette
Alan
Pearblossom Hwy
Rick Lawler
Magnificat
Neighbor
Frankie and Johnny Are Married
Murray Mintz
Tagget
Al Hentz
Toy Story of Terror!
Ron (voice)
TV Shows (105)
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Edwin Adelson · 1 eps
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mr. Kayman · 1 eps
The Simpsons
Merle (voice) · 1 eps
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Spencer Freiberg · 1 eps
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Jim Halliwell · 1 eps
CSI: Miami
Don Haffman · 5 eps
Desperate Housewives
Bud Penrod · 1 eps
King of the Hill
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice) · 1 eps
The West Wing
Dr. Max Milkman · 1 eps
Seinfeld
Tor Eckman · 1 eps
The Closer
James Bloom · 1 eps
Heroes
Bob Bishop · 11 eps
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Len Dunkel · 1 eps
The Goldbergs
Principal Ball · 43 eps
Entourage
Mayor of Beverly Hills · 1 eps
Glee
Sandy Ryerson · 8 eps
Ghost Whisperer
Dr. Peltier · 1 eps
Boston Legal
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft · 1 eps
Malcolm in the Middle
Mr. Fisher · 1 eps
Chicago Hope
Dr. Ted Joseph
Chicago Hope
Ted Joseph · 2 eps
Las Vegas
Donny Rollins · 1 eps
That '70s Show
Professor · 1 eps
Alice
1 eps
Californication
Stu Beggs · 30 eps
The Drew Carey Show
Councilman · 1 eps
The Practice
Clyde Burrows · 1 eps
We Bare Bears
Stephen ( voice) · 1 eps
Falcon Crest
Doctor · 1 eps
Will & Grace
Ned Weathers · 1 eps
Hacks
Henry Weeks · 1 eps
L.A. Law
Michael Segal · 1 eps
Community
Professor Peter Sheffield · 1 eps
Justified
Jerry Barkley · 3 eps
Knots Landing
Steve Comiskey · 1 eps
The Mindy Project
Marc Shulman · 4 eps
Archer
Robert (voice) · 11 eps
Mad About You
Principal Hocksacker · 1 eps
According to Jim
Dr. Ted · 1 eps
Cagney & Lacey
1 eps
Silicon Valley
Jack Barker · 17 eps
Deadwood
Hugo Jarry · 9 eps
The Dead Zone
Jim Pratt · 1 eps
The Pretender
Dr. Alan Trader · 1 eps
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Gil (voice) · 1 eps
Hercules
Numericles (voice) · 1 eps
Arli$$
Craig Levitz · 1 eps
Designing Women
1 eps
Roswell
Julius Walters · 1 eps
Two Guys and a Girl
Father Viteri · 1 eps
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Principal James Merrow · 2 eps
Pound Puppies
Mr. Geekman (voice) · 1 eps
Green Eggs and Ham
Chad (voice) · 1 eps
Fuller House
Mr. Gerald · 1 eps
Reba
Judge · 1 eps
Justice League Action
Professor Stein (voice) · 8 eps
Murder One
2 eps
Murder One
Dr. Andross · 1 eps
Nobody Wants This
Rabbi Cohen · 6 eps
True Jackson, VP
Lars Balthazar · 1 eps
One Day at a Time
Dr. Berkowitz · 46 eps
Minx
Conrad Ross · 1 eps
Crazy like a Fox
Hotel Clerk · 1 eps
227
1 eps
The Sarah Silverman Program
Bill Fantastimart · 1 eps
Dr. Ken
Joe · 1 eps
No Activity
(voice) · 1 eps
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
1 eps
Suddenly Susan
Dr. Gerken · 1 eps
The Naked Truth
Vincent Hartford · 1 eps
Any Day Now
1 eps
Another Period
Thomas Edison · 1 eps
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Alex · 1 eps
The Really Loud House
Walter Phillipini · 2 eps
Frog and Toad
Dragonfly (voice) · 3 eps
Cafe Americain
Roger Livingston · 1 eps
Complete Savages
Mr. Frehley · 1 eps
Off Centre
1 eps
The Defenders
Judge Gelineau · 1 eps
The Lone Gunmen
1 eps
Schooled
Earl Ball · 4 eps
ThunderCats Roar
Driller (voice) · 1 eps
Oliver Beene
Ringmaster Bob · 1 eps
Night Stalker
Titus Berry · 1 eps
Married to the Kellys
Henry Conway · 1 eps
John from Cincinnati
Mark Lewinsky · 3 eps
Bad Internet
James · 1 eps
Friends with Better Lives
Dr. Adleman · 1 eps
The Cool Kids
Leonard · 1 eps
Snoops
Michael Bench · 3 eps
Dicktown
John’s Dad · 2 eps
Kingpin
1 eps
The Home Court
Jeffrey Solomon · 1 eps
White Famous
Stu Beggs · 2 eps
Raines
1 eps
Mr. Rhodes
19 eps
Shannon's Deal
1 eps
Do Over
1 eps
Harts of the West
1 eps
Against the Grain
Niles Hardeman · 8 eps
Big Day
5 eps
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
Alan Dolfe · 10 eps
The Hotwives of Orlando
Phil · 7 eps
Dweebs
Karl · 10 eps
Baby Talk
1 eps
Self / Appearances (10)
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee · 1 eps
Stars in the House
Self · 1 eps
Hollywood Signs
Self
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey
Self
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
Self
Fantastic Mr. Murray
Self - Interviewee
The Primary Instinct
Himself
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time
Self
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
Self
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
Self
