Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting
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.
TV Shows(107)
Nobody Wants This
Rabbi Cohen
2024
Frog and Toad
Dragonfly (voice)
2023
The Really Loud House
Walter Phillipini
2022
Minx
Conrad Ross
2022
Hacks
Henry Weeks
2021
Dicktown
John’s Dad
2020
Stars in the House
Self
2020
ThunderCats Roar
Driller (voice)
2020
Green Eggs and Ham
Chad (voice)
2019
Schooled
Earl Ball
2019
The Cool Kids
Leonard
2018
No Activity
(voice)
2017
White Famous
Stu Beggs
2017
One Day at a Time
Dr. Berkowitz
2017
Justice League Action
Professor Stein (voice)
2016
Bad Internet
James
2016
Fuller House
Mr. Gerald
2016
Dr. Ken
Joe
2015
We Bare Bears
Stephen ( voice)
2015
Another Period
Thomas Edison
2015
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
Alan Dolfe
2015
The Hotwives of Orlando
Phil
2014
Silicon Valley
Jack Barker
2014
Friends with Better Lives
Dr. Adleman
2014
The Goldbergs
Principal Ball
2013
The Mindy Project
Marc Shulman
2012
Pound Puppies
Mr. Geekman (voice)
2010
The Defenders
Judge Gelineau
2010
Justified
Jerry Barkley
2010
Community
Professor Peter Sheffield
2009
Archer
Robert (voice)
2009
Glee
Sandy Ryerson
2009
True Jackson, VP
Lars Balthazar
2008
Californication
Stu Beggs
2007
John from Cincinnati
2007
Raines
2007
The Sarah Silverman Program.
Bill Fantastimart
2007
Big Day
2006
Heroes
Bob Bishop
2006
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
2006
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Principal James Merrow
2006
Night Stalker
2005
Ghost Whisperer
Dr. Peltier
2005
The Closer
James Bloom
2005
Desperate Housewives
Bud Penrod
2004
Boston Legal
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
2004
Complete Savages
Mr. Frehley
2004
Entourage
Mayor of Beverly Hills
2004
Deadwood
Hugo Jarry
2004
Married to the Kellys
Henry Conway
2003
Las Vegas
Donny Rollins
2003
Oliver Beene
Ringmaster Bob
2003
Kingpin
2003
CSI: Miami
Don Haffman
2002
Do Over
2002
The Dead Zone
Jim Pratt
2002
Off Centre
2001
Reba
Judge
2001
According to Jim
Dr. Ted
2001
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Jim Halliwell
2001
The Lone Gunmen
2001
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Len Dunkel
2000
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Spencer Freiberg
2000
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Gil (voice)
2000
Malcolm in the Middle
Mr. Fisher
2000
Roswell
Julius Walters
1999
Snoops
Michael Bench
1999
The West Wing
Dr. Max Milkman
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Edwin Adelson
1999
Will & Grace
Ned Weathers
1998
Hercules
Numericles (voice)
1998
That '70s Show
Professor
1998
Any Day Now
1998
Two Guys and a Girl
Father Viteri
1998
The Practice
Clyde Burrows
1997
King of the Hill
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
1997
Mr. Rhodes
1996
The Pretender
Dr. Alan Trader
1996
Suddenly Susan
Dr. Gerken
1996
Arli$$
Craig Levitz
1996
The Home Court
Jeffrey Solomon
1995
Dweebs
1995
Murder One
1995
The Drew Carey Show
Councilman
1995
The Naked Truth
Vincent Hartford
1995
A Whole New Ballgame
Dr. Warner Brakefield
1995
Chicago Hope
Dr. Ted Joseph
1994
Blue Skies
Oak
1994
Against the Grain
Niles Hardeman
1993
Harts of the West
1993
Cafe Americain
Roger Livingston
1993
Mad About You
Principal Hocksacker
1992
Baby Talk
1991
Shannon's Deal
1990
The Simpsons
Merle (voice)
1989
Seinfeld
Tor Eckman
1989
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Alex
1987
Designing Women
1986
L.A. Law
Michael Segal
1986
227
1985
Crazy like a Fox
Hotel Clerk
1984
Cagney & Lacey
1982
Falcon Crest
Doctor
1981
Knots Landing
Steve Comiskey
1979
Alice
1976
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
1956
American Men
Sterling Moss
Movies(147)
Mary the Widow
Ed
2026
Woodstockers
Calvin
2026
Mimics
Melvin Reinhold
2026
Haul Out the Halloween
Ned Broadhead
2025
Freakier Friday
Mr. Elton Bates
2025
The Cowboy Killer
God
2025
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
Self
2025
Watching Walter
Walter
2024
Poolman
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
2024
Candy Cane Lane
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
2023
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up
Ned
2023
Love Virtually
Dr. Divine
2023
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
Self
2023
Haul Out the Holly
Ned
2022
Hollywood Signs
Self
2022
Fantastic Mr. Murray
Self - Interviewee
2019
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
2019
Fractured
Dr. Berthram
2019
Loners
Mr. Tessman
2019
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
Mr. Bentley
2019
Strange Nature
Mayor Paulson
2018
Monsters at Large
Mr. Phillips
2018
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
Andy Gunderson (voice)
2017
Mamaboy
Reverend Weld
2016
Six L.A. Love Stories
Professor John Dobler
2016
Welcome to the Men's Group
2016
Where is Rocky II?
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
2016
The Confirmation
Father Lyons
2016
The Primary Instinct
Himself
2015
The Barber
Chief Hardaway
2015
Hello Ladies: The Movie
Alan
2014
Christian Mingle
Douglas McCarver
2014
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
Dr. Hugh Akston
2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Principal Purdy (voice)
2014
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends
Andy
2014
Toy Story of Terror!
Ron (voice)
2013
Pearblossom Hwy
Rick Lawler
2012
The Last Ride
Ray
2012
Say It Ain't Solo
Self
2012
The Lorax
Uncle Ubb (voice)
2012
Magnificat
Neighbor
2011
Hail Mary
2011
Hard Breakers
Max
2011
You May Not Kiss the Bride
Plumber
2011
Buried
Alan Davenport (voice)
2010
Peep World
Ephraim
2010
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
2010
The Time Traveler's Wife
Dr. Kendrick
2009
The Face is Familiar
2009
Beethoven's Big Break
Sal
2008
The Rainbow Tribe
Principal Sands
2008
Waiting for Yvette
Alan
2008
Boxboarders!
dr.james
2007
Wild Hogs
Charley
2007
The Valley of Light
Littlefield
2007
Loveless in Los Angeles
Jon
2007
Blind Dating
Dr. Perkins
2006
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
Self
2006
Failure to Launch
Bud
2006
The Sasquatch Gang
Dalrymple
2006
Promise Me Tomorrow
Carl Venable
2006
Living 'til the End
Dr. Shaw
2005
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out
Harry Evers
2005
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Tom Abernathy
2005
Robots
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
2005
Debating Robert Lee
Debate Judge
2004
Little Black Book
Carl
2004
Garfield
Happy Chapman
2004
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
George Ruddy
2004
Frankie and Johnny Are Married
Murray Mintz
2003
Freaky Friday
Mr. Bates
2003
View from the Top
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
2003
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey
Self
2003
National Security
Billy Narthax
2003
Love Liza
Tom Bailey
2002
Ritual
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
2002
The Country Bears
Norbert Barrington
2002
Par 6
T.T. Riley
2002
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time
Self
2002
The Day the World Ended
Ed Turner
2001
Black River
Mayor Tom Thompson
2001
On the Edge
Tom (wraparound segments)
2001
The Prime Gig
Mick
2001
Freddy Got Fingered
Uncle Neil
2001
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
Dewey Wise
2000
Memento
Sammy
2000
Stanley's Gig
Abe Cohen
2000
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
B.J. McQueen
2000
The Operator
Doc
2000
Bossa Nova
Trevor
2000
The Insider
Eric Kluster
1999
Don't Look Under the Bed
Michael McCausland
1999
One Man's Hero
Captain Gaine
1999
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Tabaqui (voice)
1998
Around the Fire
Doc
1998
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Calculator (voice)
1998
Black Dog
McClaren
1998
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
Bill Bardo
1998
Mr. Magoo
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
1997
The Curse of Inferno
Lonnie Martin
1996
Night Visitors
Taylor
1996
The Glimmer Man
Christopher Maynard
1996
Power 98
Rick Harris
1996
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
Bando (voice)
1996
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
Oliver Mintz
1995
Murder in the First
Mr. Henkin
1995
Radioland Murders
Max Applewhite
1994
My Father the Hero
Mike
1994
Trevor
Father Joe
1994
Josh & S.A.M.
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
1993
Calendar Girl
Antonio
1993
The Pickle
Mike Krakower
1993
Groundhog Day
Ned Ryerson
1993
Hero
Wallace
1992
Where the Day Takes You
Charles
1992
Sneakers
Dr. Werner Brandes
1992
Single White Female
Mitch Myerson
1992
Roadside Prophets
Ranger Bob
1992
Basic Instinct
Dr. Lamott
1992
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Warren Singleton
1992
Deadly Medicine
Ron Sutton
1991
To the Moon, Alice
Sitcom Producer
1991
Thelma & Louise
Max
1991
Wedlock
Warden Holliday
1991
Tagget
Al Hentz
1991
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
Sergeant Phil Baranski
1991
The Marla Hanson Story
Defense Attorney
1991
Mirror Mirror
Mr. Anderson
1990
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
Mayor Bill Klepler
1990
Funny About Love
Hugo
1990
The Grifters
Jeweler
1990
Last Flight Out
Doctor Timothy Brandon
1990
Bird on a Wire
Joe Weyburn
1990
Breaking In
District Attorney
1989
In Country
Pete
1989
Great Balls of Fire!
Jud Phillips
1989
Roe vs. Wade
Darryl Horwath
1989
Mississippi Burning
Townley
1988
Checking Out
Pharmacist
1988
Two Idiots in Hollywood
Prosecuting Attorney
1988
Spaceballs
Captain of the Guard
1987
Nobody's Fool
Kirk
1986
The Philadelphia Experiment
Barney
1984
Swing Shift
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1984
Cocaine and Blue Eyes
TV Clerk
1983
Keep My Grave Open
Robert
1977
Butterfly in the Typewriter
The Abbot