Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting • Born 1951-05-30
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.
Filmography
256 credits
Memento
Movie • 2000
Sammy
Groundhog Day
Movie • 1993
Ned Ryerson
Basic Instinct
Movie • 1992
Dr. Lamott
Thelma & Louise
Movie • 1991
Max
Wedlock
Movie • 1991
Warden Holliday
Mississippi Burning
Movie • 1988
Townley
Bird on a Wire
Movie • 1990
Joe Weyburn
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Movie • 1992
Warren Singleton
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Movie • 1998
Calculator (voice)
Great Balls of Fire!
Movie • 1989
Jud Phillips
Radioland Murders
Movie • 1994
Max Applewhite
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
Movie • 1990
Mayor Bill Klepler
Murder in the First
Movie • 1995
Mr. Henkin
Garfield
Movie • 2004
Happy Chapman
The Insider
Movie • 1999
Eric Kluster
Mr. Magoo
Movie • 1997
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
Movie • 2023
Self
Buried
Movie • 2010
Alan Davenport (voice)
Single White Female
Movie • 1992
Mitch Myerson
Blind Dating
Movie • 2006
Dr. Perkins
Freddy Got Fingered
Movie • 2001
Uncle Neil
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
Movie • 2004
George Ruddy
The Pickle
Movie • 1993
Mike Krakower
Beethoven's Big Break
Movie • 2008
Sal
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
Movie • 1995
Oliver Mintz
Boxboarders!
Movie • 2007
dr.james
Black River
Movie • 2001
Mayor Tom Thompson
Love Liza
Movie • 2002
Tom Bailey
The Prime Gig
Movie • 2001
Mick
Funny About Love
Movie • 1990
Hugo
Where the Day Takes You
Movie • 1992
Charles
The Grifters
Movie • 1990
Jeweler
Josh & S.A.M.
Movie • 1993
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
Black Dog
Movie • 1998
McClaren
The Country Bears
Movie • 2002
Norbert Barrington
The Day the World Ended
Movie • 2001
Ed Turner
Don't Look Under the Bed
Movie • 1999
Michael McCausland
Deadly Medicine
Movie • 1991
Ron Sutton
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Movie • 2014
Principal Purdy (voice)
You May Not Kiss the Bride
Movie • 2011
Plumber
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
Movie • 2000
Dewey Wise
Living 'til the End
Movie • 2005
Dr. Shaw
The Lorax
Movie • 2012
Uncle Ubb (voice)
The Last Ride
Movie • 2012
Ray
Love Virtually
Movie • 2023
Dr. Divine
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
Movie • 2006
Self
Power 98
Movie • 1996
Rick Harris
Promise Me Tomorrow
Movie • 2006
Carl Venable
Trevor
Movie • 1994
Father Joe
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up
Movie • 2023
Ned
Par 6
Movie • 2002
T.T. Riley
Peep World
Movie • 2010
Ephraim
Hard Breakers
Movie • 2011
Max
On the Edge
Movie • 2001
Tom (wraparound segments)
The Face is Familiar
Movie • 2009
Night Visitors
Movie • 1996
Taylor
The Operator
Movie • 2000
Doc
Two Idiots in Hollywood
Movie • 1988
Prosecuting Attorney
Roe vs. Wade
Movie • 1989
Darryl Horwath
The Philadelphia Experiment
Movie • 1984
Barney
Frankie and Johnny Are Married
Movie • 2003
Murray Mintz
Sneakers
Movie • 1992
Dr. Werner Brandes
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
Movie • 2014
Dr. Hugh Akston
Candy Cane Lane
Movie • 2023
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
Tagget
Movie • 1991
Al Hentz
Hello Ladies: The Movie
Movie • 2014
Alan
Christian Mingle
Movie • 2014
Douglas McCarver
The Time Traveler's Wife
Movie • 2009
Dr. Kendrick
Haul Out the Holly
Movie • 2022
Ned
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends
Movie • 2014
Andy
The Barber
Movie • 2015
Chief Hardaway
The Primary Instinct
Movie • 2015
Himself
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey
Movie • 2003
Self
Failure to Launch
Movie • 2006
Bud
The Glimmer Man
Movie • 1996
Christopher Maynard
One Man's Hero
Movie • 1999
Captain Gaine
The Confirmation
Movie • 2016
Father Lyons
Hollywood Signs
Movie • 2022
Self
Bossa Nova
Movie • 2000
Trevor
Cocaine and Blue Eyes
Movie • 1983
TV Clerk
Last Flight Out
Movie • 1990
Doctor Timothy Brandon
Roadside Prophets
Movie • 1992
Ranger Bob
Stanley's Gig
Movie • 2000
Abe Cohen
Debating Robert Lee
Movie • 2004
Debate Judge
Poolman
Movie • 2024
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
Movie • 1996
Bando (voice)
Wild Hogs
Movie • 2007
Charley
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out
Movie • 2005
Harry Evers
The Valley of Light
Movie • 2007
Littlefield
National Security
Movie • 2003
Billy Narthax
Freaky Friday
Movie • 2003
Mr. Bates
Mirror Mirror
Movie • 1990
Mr. Anderson
Spaceballs
Movie • 1987
Captain of the Guard
Where is Rocky II?
Movie • 2016
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
Say It Ain't Solo
Movie • 2012
Self
Magnificat
Movie • 2011
Neighbor
Hero
Movie • 1992
Wallace
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
Movie • 2017
Andy Gunderson (voice)
Butterfly in the Typewriter
Movie
The Abbot
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
Movie • 2000
B.J. McQueen
Mamaboy
Movie • 2016
Reverend Weld
Nobody's Fool
Movie • 1986
Kirk
Calendar Girl
Movie • 1993
Antonio
Keep My Grave Open
Movie • 1977
Robert
Little Black Book
Movie • 2004
Carl
Pearblossom Hwy
Movie • 2012
Rick Lawler
Monsters at Large
Movie • 2018
Mr. Phillips
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Movie • 2005
Tom Abernathy
In Country
Movie • 1989
Pete
Breaking In
Movie • 1989
District Attorney
Strange Nature
Movie • 2018
Mayor Paulson
The Marla Hanson Story
Movie • 1991
Defense Attorney
Fractured
Movie • 2019
Dr. Berthram
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
Movie • 2019
Mr. Bentley
Loners
Movie • 2019
Mr. Tessman
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
Movie • 2019
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
Fantastic Mr. Murray
Movie • 2019
Self - Interviewee
To the Moon, Alice
Movie • 1991
Sitcom Producer
The Curse of Inferno
Movie • 1996
Lonnie Martin
View from the Top
Movie • 2003
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
Ritual
Movie • 2002
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
The Sasquatch Gang
Movie • 2006
Dalrymple
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
Movie • 1991
Sergeant Phil Baranski
Toy Story of Terror!
Movie • 2013
Ron (voice)
Swing Shift
Movie • 1984
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
Robots
Movie • 2005
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Movie • 1998
Tabaqui (voice)
Around the Fire
Movie • 1998
Doc
Welcome to the Men's Group
Movie • 2016
Waiting for Yvette
Movie • 2008
Alan
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
Movie • 2010
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
Movie • 1998
Bill Bardo
My Father the Hero
Movie • 1994
Mike
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time
Movie • 2002
Self
The Rainbow Tribe
Movie • 2008
Principal Sands
Six L.A. Love Stories
Movie • 2016
Professor John Dobler
Checking Out
Movie • 1988
Pharmacist
Hail Mary
Movie • 2011
Watching Walter
Movie • 2024
Walter
Freakier Friday
Movie • 2025
Mr. Elton Bates
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
Movie • 2025
Self
Mimics
Movie • 2026
Melvin Reinhold
Loveless in Los Angeles
Movie • 2007
Jon
The Cowboy Killer
Movie • 2025
God
Haul Out the Halloween
Movie • 2025
Ned Broadhead
Woodstockers
Movie • 2026
Calvin
Mary the Widow
Movie • 2026
Ed
That '70s Show
TV • 1998
Professor
Two Guys and a Girl
TV • 1998
Father Viteri
Falcon Crest
TV • 1981
Doctor
Alice
TV • 1976
Mad About You
TV • 1992
Principal Hocksacker
Big Day
TV • 2006
Seinfeld
TV • 1989
Tor Eckman
Deadwood
TV • 2004
Hugo Jarry
Glee
TV • 2009
Sandy Ryerson
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Spencer Freiberg
Reba
TV • 2001
Judge
The Closer
TV • 2005
James Bloom
Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Bud Penrod
Designing Women
TV • 1986
John from Cincinnati
TV • 2007
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Michael Segal
Ghost Whisperer
TV • 2005
Dr. Peltier
CSI: Miami
TV • 2002
Don Haffman
Heroes
TV • 2006
Bob Bishop
Night Stalker
TV • 2005
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
TV • 2006
The Pretender
TV • 1996
Dr. Alan Trader
According to Jim
TV • 2001
Dr. Ted
King of the Hill
TV • 1997
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
227
TV • 1985
Las Vegas
TV • 2003
Donny Rollins
Malcolm in the Middle
TV • 2000
Mr. Fisher
Murder One
TV • 1995
Silicon Valley
TV • 2014
Jack Barker
Any Day Now
TV • 1998
Knots Landing
TV • 1979
Steve Comiskey
Off Centre
TV • 2001
The Practice
TV • 1997
Clyde Burrows
Cagney & Lacey
TV • 1982
Oliver Beene
TV • 2003
Ringmaster Bob
Roswell
TV • 1999
Julius Walters
Kingpin
TV • 2003
The Lone Gunmen
TV • 2001
The New Adventures of Old Christine
TV • 2006
Principal James Merrow
Raines
TV • 2007
Will & Grace
TV • 1998
Ned Weathers
Chicago Hope
TV • 1994
Dr. Ted Joseph
Married to the Kellys
TV • 2003
Henry Conway
Boston Legal
TV • 2004
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
TV • 2001
Jim Halliwell
We Bare Bears
TV • 2015
Stephen ( voice)
Do Over
TV • 2002
Baby Talk
TV • 1991
Dweebs
TV • 1995
Mr. Rhodes
TV • 1996
Shannon's Deal
TV • 1990
True Jackson, VP
TV • 2008
Lars Balthazar
Against the Grain
TV • 1993
Niles Hardeman
Harts of the West
TV • 1993
Blue Skies
TV • 1994
Oak
Complete Savages
TV • 2004
Mr. Frehley
Another Period
TV • 2015
Thomas Edison
Frog and Toad
TV • 2023
Dragonfly (voice)
Community
TV • 2009
Professor Peter Sheffield
The Hotwives of Orlando
TV • 2014
Phil
The Goldbergs
TV • 2013
Principal Ball
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
TV • 2015
Alan Dolfe
Fuller House
TV • 2016
Mr. Gerald
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV • 2000
Len Dunkel
The Mindy Project
TV • 2012
Marc Shulman
Dr. Ken
TV • 2015
Joe
Pound Puppies
TV • 2010
Mr. Geekman (voice)
The Really Loud House
TV • 2022
Walter Phillipini
Hercules
TV • 1998
Numericles (voice)
One Day at a Time
TV • 2017
Dr. Berkowitz
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Edwin Adelson
Dicktown
TV • 2020
John’s Dad
Californication
TV • 2007
Stu Beggs
Minx
TV • 2022
Conrad Ross
Green Eggs and Ham
TV • 2019
Chad (voice)
The West Wing
TV • 1999
Dr. Max Milkman
Crazy like a Fox
TV • 1984
Hotel Clerk
Justified
TV • 2010
Jerry Barkley
A Whole New Ballgame
TV • 1995
Dr. Warner Brakefield
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
TV • 2000
Gil (voice)
Bad Internet
TV • 2016
James
The Cool Kids
TV • 2018
Leonard
The Drew Carey Show
TV • 1995
Councilman
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
TV • 1987
Alex
Stars in the House
TV • 2020
Self
No Activity
TV • 2017
(voice)
ThunderCats Roar
TV • 2020
Driller (voice)
Friends with Better Lives
TV • 2014
Dr. Adleman
Schooled
TV • 2019
Earl Ball
The Naked Truth
TV • 1995
Vincent Hartford
The Sarah Silverman Program.
TV • 2007
Bill Fantastimart
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
TV • 1999
Mr. Kayman
Archer
TV • 2009
Robert (voice)
Suddenly Susan
TV • 1996
Dr. Gerken
Cafe Americain
TV • 1993
Roger Livingston
Justice League Action
TV • 2016
Professor Stein (voice)
The Defenders
TV • 2010
Judge Gelineau
Nobody Wants This
TV • 2024
Rabbi Cohen
White Famous
TV • 2017
Stu Beggs
The Dead Zone
TV • 2002
Jim Pratt
American Men
TV
Sterling Moss
Hacks
TV • 2021
Henry Weeks
Snoops
TV • 1999
Michael Bench
Murder One
TV • 1995
Dr. Andross
Entourage
TV • 2004
Mayor of Beverly Hills
The Home Court
TV • 1995
Jeffrey Solomon
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
Merle (voice)
Chicago Hope
TV • 1994
Ted Joseph
Arli$$
TV • 1996
Craig Levitz