Stephen Tobolowsky
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
Actor
as The Abbot
as Mr. Bates
as Walter
as Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
as Rabbi Cohen
as Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
as Ned
as Dr. Divine
as Dragonfly (voice)
as Ned
as Self
as Walter Phillipini
as Conrad Ross
as John’s Dad
as Self
as Driller (voice)
as Self - Interviewee
as Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
as Dr. Berthram
as Mr. Tessman
as Chad (voice)
as Earl Ball
as Mayor Paulson
as Mr. Phillips
as Leonard
as Andy Gunderson (voice)
as (voice)
as Stu Beggs
as Dr. Berkowitz
as Reverend Weld
as Professor John Dobler
as Byron (segment: "Monument One")
as Father Lyons
as Professor Stein (voice)
as James
as Mr. Gerald
as Himself
as Chief Hardaway
as Joe
as Stephen ( voice)
as Thomas Edison
as Alan Dolfe
as Alan
as Douglas McCarver
as Dr. Hugh Akston
as Principal Purdy (voice)
as Andy
as Phil
as Jack Barker
as Dr. Adleman
as Ron (voice)
as Principal Ball
as Rick Lawler
as Ray
as Himself
as Uncle Ubb (voice)
as Marc Shulman
as Neighbor
as Max
as Plumber
as Alan Davenport (voice)
as Ephraim
as Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
as Mr. Geekman (voice)
as Judge Gelineau
as Jerry Barkley
as Dr. Kendrick
as Professor Peter Sheffield
as Robert (voice)
as Sandy Ryerson
as Sal
as Principal Sands
as Alan
as Lars Balthazar
as dr.james
as Charley
as Littlefield
as Stu Beggs
as Bill Fantastimart
as Dr. Perkins
as Bud
as Dalrymple
as Carl Venable
as Bob Bishop
as Principal James Merrow
as Dr. Shaw
as Harry Evers
as Tom Abernathy
as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
as Dr. Peltier
as James Bloom
as Debate Judge
as Carl
as Happy Chapman
as George Ruddy
as Bud Penrod
as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
as Mr. Frehley
as Hugo Jarry
as Murray Mintz
as Mr. Bates
as Frank Thomas (uncredited)
as Billy Narthax
as Tom Bailey
as Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
as Norbert Barrington
as T.T. Riley
as Don Haffman
as Ed Turner
as Mayor Tom Thompson
as Tom (wraparound segments)
as Mick
as Uncle Neil
as Dr. Ted
as Jim Halliwell
as Dewey Wise
as Sammy
as Abe Cohen
as B.J. McQueen
as Doc
as Trevor
as Len Dunkel
as Spencer Freiberg
as Gil (voice)
as Mr. Fisher
as Eric Kluster
as Michael McCausland
as Captain Gaine
as Julius Walters
as Dr. Max Milkman
as Edwin Adelson
as Mr. Kayman
as Tabaqui (voice)
as Doc
as Calculator (voice)
as McClaren
as Bill Bardo
as Ned Weathers
as Numericles (voice)
as Professor
as Father Viteri
as Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
as Principal Flutie
as Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
as Lonnie Martin
as Taylor
as Christopher Maynard
as Rick Harris
as Bando (voice)
as Dr. Alan Trader
as Dr. Gerken
as Oliver Mintz
as Mr. Henkin
as Councilman
as Vincent Hartford
as Dr. Warner Brakefield
as Max Applewhite
as Mike
as Father Joe
as Oak
as Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
as District Attorney (uncredited)
as Antonio
as Mike Krakower
as Ned Ryerson
as Niles Hardeman
as Roger Livingston
as Wallace
as Charles
as Dr. Werner Brandes
as Mitch Myerson
as Ranger Bob
as Dr. Lamott
as Warren Singleton
as Principal Hocksacker
as Ron Sutton
as Sitcom Producer
as Max
as Warden Holliday
as Al Hentz
as Sergeant Phil Baranski
as Defense Attorney
as Mr. Anderson
as Mayor Bill Klepler
as Hugo
as Jeweler
as Doctor Timothy Brandon
as Joe Weyburn
as District Attorney
as Pete
as Jud Phillips
as Darryl Horwath
as Tor Eckman
as Townley
as Pharmacist
as Prosecuting Attorney
as Captain of the Guard
as Kirk
as Dr. Michael Segal
as Barney
as French deMille / Documentary Narrator
as Hotel Clerk
as TV Clerk
as Doctor
as Steve Comiskey
as Robert
as Self - Nominee
Writer
Director
as Director
Producer
as Executive Producer