Bob Balaban
- Known for
- Acting
- Born
- August 16, 1945 (age 81)
- Birthplace
- Chicago, Illinois, USA
Biography
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.
Known For
Photos
Filmography
Handle with Care
Movie
Fantasy Life
Movie · as Lenny
Bad Actors
Movie
80 for Brady
Movie · as Mark
Asteroid City
Movie · as Larkings Executive
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Movie · as Self
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
Movie
Severance
TV · as Mark Wilkins · 2 eps
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
Movie · as Uncle Nick
How Moving
Movie · as Uncle Aaron
The Chair
TV · as Elliot Rentz · 6 eps
Space Force
TV · as Ron (voice) · 1 ep
Carl Laemmle
Movie · as Himself
The Politician
TV · as Keaton Hobart · 8 eps
An L.A. Minute
Movie · as Shelley
Isle of Dogs
Movie · as King (voice)
Condor
TV · as Reuel Abbott · 20 eps
Summer Camp Island
TV · as Gerald (voice) · 1 ep
James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Spielberg
Movie · as Self
Wormwood
TV · as Dr. Harold A. Abramson · 3 eps
Mascots
Movie · as Sol Lumpkin
Eva Hesse
Movie · as Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
Movie · as Mr. Waxcap
Mike Nichols: An American Master
Movie · as Self
Starring Austin Pendleton
Movie · as Self
Graves
TV · as Secretary Burns · 1 ep
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Movie · as Self / The Narrator
Everything Is Copy
Movie · as Self
Hitchcock/Truffaut
Movie · as Narrator (voice)
Show Me a Hero
TV · as Leonard B. Sand · 6 eps
The Grand Budapest Hotel
Movie · as M. Martin
The Monuments Men
Movie · as Pvt. Preston Savitz
Fading Gigolo
Movie · as Sol
Broad City
TV · as Arthur Wexler · 3 eps
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Girl Most Likely
Movie · as Maxwell
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Movie · as Lawyer (uncredited)
Alpha House
TV · as Senator Elliot Robeson · 2 eps
Family Tree
TV · as Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim · 1 ep
Moonrise Kingdom
Movie · as The Narrator
Thin Ice
Movie · as Leonard Dahl
Do You Like to Read?
Movie · as The Narrator
Girls
TV · as Therapist · 1 ep
The Five Stages of Grief
Movie · as Voice of Daniel's father
Web Therapy
TV · as Ted Mitchell · 1 ep
China, IL
TV · as (voice) · 1 ep
Howl
Movie · as Judge Clayton Horn
F--k
Movie · as Bob
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood
TV · as Self · 7 eps
Rage
Movie · as Mr. White
The Windmill Movie
Movie · as Self
The Good Wife
TV · as Gordon Higgs · 2 eps
Recount
Movie · as Ben Ginsberg
Web Therapy
TV · as Ted Mitchell · 3 eps
No Reservations
Movie · as Therapist
Dedication
Movie · as Arthur Planck
License to Wed
Movie · as Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
Prince of the City: The Real Story
Movie · as Self / Santimassino
Lady in the Water
Movie · as Harry Farber
For Your Consideration
Movie · as Philip Koontz
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Movie · as Self
Trust the Man
Movie · as Tobey's Therapist
Capote
Movie · as William Shawn
Hopeless Pictures
TV · 8 eps
American Dad!
TV · as Glen Hanover (voice) · 1 ep
Scene Stealers
Movie · as Jonathan Crouch Esq.
Marie and Bruce
Movie · as Roger
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo
Movie · as Self
Tom Goes to the Mayor
TV · as Walt Pickle (voice) · 1 ep
Entourage
TV · as Doctor · 1 ep
A Mighty Wind
Movie · as Jonathan Steinbloom
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV · as Self - Guest · 1 ep
The Tuxedo
Movie · as Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
Plan B
Movie · as James Foster
The Making of Gosford Park
Movie · as Self
Ghost World
Movie · as Enid's Dad
Gosford Park
Movie · as Morris Weissman
The Majestic
Movie · as Elvin Glyde
The Mexican
Movie · as Nayman
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
Movie · as Self
Best in Show
Movie · as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Movie · as Tex
Jakob the Liar
Movie · as Kowalsky
The Monster Hunter
Movie · as Dr. William Powell
Swing Vote
Movie · as Justice Eli MacCorckle
Three to Tango
Movie · as Decker
Cradle Will Rock
Movie · as Harry Hopkins
Now and Again
TV · 1 ep
The West Wing
TV · as Ted Marcus · 1 ep
Giving Up the Ghost
Movie · as Bob
Conversation with the Beast
Movie · as Mr. Webster
Deconstructing Harry
Movie · as Richard
Waiting for Guffman
Movie · as Lloyd Miller
Clockwatchers
Movie · as Milton Lasky
The Definite Maybe
Movie · as Wolfe Rollins
The Late Shift
Movie · as Warren Littlefield
Pie in the Sky
Movie · as Paul Entamen
Golden Tales 2
Movie
Legend
TV · 1 ep
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist
TV · as Bob (voice) · 1 ep
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
Movie · as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
Greedy
Movie · as Ed
Friends
TV · as Frank Sr. · 1 ep
For Love or Money
Movie · as Ed Drinkwater
Amos & Andrew
Movie · as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
Unnatural Pursuits
Movie · as Lou Finkleberg
Bob Roberts
Movie · as Cutting Edge Producer
Little Man Tate
Movie · as Quizmaster
The Face of Fear
Movie · as Ira Preduski
Alice
Movie · as Sid Moscowitz
Dead Bang
Movie · as Elliott Webley
The Simpsons
TV · as Narrator (voice) · 1 ep
Seinfeld
TV · as Russell Dalrymple · 6 eps
Funny
Movie · as Self
End of the Line
Movie · as Warren Gerber
Amazing Stories
TV · as Jo-Jo Gillespie · 1 ep
2010
Movie · as Dr. R. Chandra
Nothing Lasts Forever
Movie · as Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
2010 : The Odyssey Continues
Movie · as Himself
Miami Vice
TV · as Ira Stone · 2 eps
Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Movie · as Carter Hill
Absence of Malice
Movie · as Elliott Rosen
Prince of the City
Movie · as Santimassino
Altered States
Movie · as Arthur Rosenberg
Fridays
TV · as Self · 1 ep
Girlfriends
Movie · as Martin
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Movie · as David Laughlin
Report to the Commissioner
Movie · as Joey Egan
The Bank Shot
Movie · as Victor Karp
Maude
TV · as Ambrose Riley · 1 ep
Making It
Movie · as Wilkie
Marriage: Year One
Movie · as Bernie
The Strawberry Statement
Movie · as Elliot
Catch-22
Movie · as Capt. Orr
Midnight Cowboy
Movie · as The Young Student
Me, Natalie
Movie · as Morris
Room 222
TV · 1 ep
Love, American Style
TV · as Nick · 1 ep
The Mod Squad
TV · 2 eps
Hank
TV · 1 ep
The Mike Douglas Show
TV · as Self · 1 ep