Stephen Tobolowsky

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

252

Gender

Male

Birthday

1951-05-30 (74 years old)

Place of Birth

Dallas, Texas, USA

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

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

    CSI: Crime Scene Investigation

  • Seinfeld

    Seinfeld

  • CSI: Miami

    CSI: Miami

  • Desperate Housewives

    Desperate Housewives

  • Law & Order: Criminal Intent

    Law & Order: Criminal Intent

  • King of the Hill

    King of the Hill

  • Malcolm in the Middle

    Malcolm in the Middle

  • The West Wing

    The West Wing

  • Freakier Friday

    Freakier Friday

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm

    Curb Your Enthusiasm

  • Archer

    Archer

  • The Closer

    The Closer

  • Ghost Whisperer

    Ghost Whisperer

  • Community

    Community

  • Boston Legal

    Boston Legal

  • Knots Landing

    Knots Landing

  • Tony Awards

    Tony Awards

  • Heroes

    Heroes

  • The Goldbergs

    The Goldbergs

  • Entourage

    Entourage

  • The Practice

    The Practice

  • Glee

    Glee

  • Californication

    Californication

  • That '70s Show

    That '70s Show

  • Falcon Crest

    Falcon Crest

  • The Drew Carey Show

    The Drew Carey Show

  • Las Vegas

    Las Vegas

  • We Bare Bears

    We Bare Bears

  • Justified

    Justified

  • Will & Grace

    Will & Grace

  • Chicago Hope

    Chicago Hope

  • Mad About You

    Mad About You

  • Hacks

    Hacks

  • According to Jim

    According to Jim

  • Alice

    Alice

  • The Mindy Project

    The Mindy Project

  • The Dead Zone

    The Dead Zone

  • The Pretender

    The Pretender

  • Deadwood

    Deadwood

  • Reba

    Reba

  • Silicon Valley

    Silicon Valley

  • Stars in the House

    Stars in the House

  • L.A. Law

    L.A. Law

  • Hercules

    Hercules

  • Cagney & Lacey

    Cagney & Lacey

  • Roswell

    Roswell

  • Freaky Friday

    Freaky Friday

  • Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

    Buzz Lightyear of Star Command

  • Pound Puppies

    Pound Puppies

  • Designing Women

    Designing Women

  • Groundhog Day

    Groundhog Day

  • Memento

    Memento

  • The New Adventures of Old Christine

    The New Adventures of Old Christine

  • Fuller House

    Fuller House

  • The Lorax

    The Lorax

  • 227

    227

  • Two Guys and a Girl

    Two Guys and a Girl

  • Minx

    Minx

  • Murder One

    Murder One

  • Murder One

    Murder One

  • Suddenly Susan

    Suddenly Susan

  • Green Eggs and Ham

    Green Eggs and Ham

  • Justice League Action

    Justice League Action

  • Nobody Wants This

    Nobody Wants This

  • Garfield

    Garfield

  • The Sarah Silverman Program.

    The Sarah Silverman Program.

  • Wild Hogs

    Wild Hogs

  • The Naked Truth

    The Naked Truth

  • Basic Instinct

    Basic Instinct

  • One Day at a Time

    One Day at a Time

  • Thelma & Louise

    Thelma & Louise

  • Sneakers

    Sneakers

  • The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

    The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd

  • Failure to Launch

    Failure to Launch

  • True Jackson, VP

    True Jackson, VP

  • Haul Out the Halloween

    Haul Out the Halloween

  • Crazy like a Fox

    Crazy like a Fox

  • Dr. Ken

    Dr. Ken

  • Bird on a Wire

    Bird on a Wire

  • The Defenders

    The Defenders

  • Robots

    Robots

  • Any Day Now

    Any Day Now

  • Spaceballs

    Spaceballs

  • Another Period

    Another Period

  • Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

    Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip

  • Mississippi Burning

    Mississippi Burning

  • Complete Savages

    Complete Savages

  • No Activity

    No Activity

  • ThunderCats Roar

    ThunderCats Roar

  • Frog and Toad

    Frog and Toad

  • Beethoven's Big Break

    Beethoven's Big Break

  • Keep My Grave Open

    Keep My Grave Open

  • The Really Loud House

    The Really Loud House

  • Strange Nature

    Strange Nature

  • National Security

    National Security

  • Black Dog

    Black Dog

  • Off Centre

    Off Centre

  • Do Over

    Do Over

  • The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween

    The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants: Hack-a-ween

  • Loveless in Los Angeles

    Loveless in Los Angeles

  • The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars

    The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars

  • Little Black Book

    Little Black Book

  • Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

    Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco

  • Roadside Prophets

    Roadside Prophets

  • Mr. Peabody & Sherman

    Mr. Peabody & Sherman

  • Swing Shift

    Swing Shift

  • Mirror Mirror

    Mirror Mirror

  • The Lone Gunmen

    The Lone Gunmen

  • John from Cincinnati

    John from Cincinnati

  • Buried

    Buried

  • Oliver Beene

    Oliver Beene

  • The Country Bears

    The Country Bears

  • Six L.A. Love Stories

    Six L.A. Love Stories

  • Don't Look Under the Bed

    Don't Look Under the Bed

  • Fractured

    Fractured

  • Josh & S.A.M.

    Josh & S.A.M.

  • Snoops

    Snoops

  • Checking Out

    Checking Out

  • Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

    Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous

  • The Valley of Light

    The Valley of Light

  • Romeo Is Bleeding

    Romeo Is Bleeding

  • The Grifters

    The Grifters

  • Pearblossom Hwy

    Pearblossom Hwy

  • Boxboarders!

    Boxboarders!

  • Night Stalker

    Night Stalker

  • Hero

    Hero

  • The Cool Kids

    The Cool Kids

  • Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes

    Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes

  • Schooled

    Schooled

  • Shannon's Deal

    Shannon's Deal

  • The Pickle

    The Pickle

  • Where is Rocky II?

    Where is Rocky II?

  • View from the Top

    View from the Top

  • Memoirs of an Invisible Man

    Memoirs of an Invisible Man

  • The Time Traveler's Wife

    The Time Traveler's Wife

  • Mr. Rhodes

    Mr. Rhodes

  • Haul Out the Holly

    Haul Out the Holly

  • The Philadelphia Experiment

    The Philadelphia Experiment

  • The Glimmer Man

    The Glimmer Man

  • Candy Cane Lane

    Candy Cane Lane

  • Bad Internet

    Bad Internet

  • Peep World

    Peep World

  • The Rainbow Tribe

    The Rainbow Tribe

  • Around the Fire

    Around the Fire

  • The Prime Gig

    The Prime Gig

  • Wedlock

    Wedlock

  • The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story

    The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story

  • Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey

    Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey

  • Friends with Better Lives

    Friends with Better Lives

  • Big Day

    Big Day

  • Power 98

    Power 98

  • My Father the Hero

    My Father the Hero

  • The Insider

    The Insider

  • Harts of the West

    Harts of the West

  • Cafe Americain

    Cafe Americain

  • Kingpin

    Kingpin

  • Married to the Kellys

    Married to the Kellys

  • Freddy Got Fingered

    Freddy Got Fingered

  • Great Balls of Fire!

    Great Balls of Fire!

  • Debating Robert Lee

    Debating Robert Lee

  • The Operator

    The Operator

  • On the Edge

    On the Edge

  • Mr. Magoo

    Mr. Magoo

  • Watching Walter

    Watching Walter

  • Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!

    Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!

  • Christian Mingle

    Christian Mingle

  • Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up

    Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up

  • Thelma & Louise: Born to Live

    Thelma & Louise: Born to Live

  • Dicktown

    Dicktown

  • Raines

    Raines

  • The Day the World Ended

    The Day the World Ended

  • Hollywood Signs

    Hollywood Signs

  • White Famous

    White Famous

  • Against the Grain

    Against the Grain

  • Where the Day Takes You

    Where the Day Takes You

  • Poolman

    Poolman

  • Butterfly in the Typewriter

    Butterfly in the Typewriter

  • An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn

    An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn

  • In Country

    In Country

  • The Confirmation

    The Confirmation

  • The Curse of Inferno

    The Curse of Inferno

  • Magnificat

    Magnificat

  • Tagget

    Tagget

  • A Whole New Ballgame

    A Whole New Ballgame

  • Par 6

    Par 6

  • Mimics

    Mimics

  • The Marla Hanson Story

    The Marla Hanson Story

  • Trevor

    Trevor

  • Single White Female

    Single White Female

  • The Barber

    The Barber

  • Murder in the First

    Murder in the First

  • Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown

    Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown

  • Hail Mary

    Hail Mary

  • Bossa Nova

    Bossa Nova

  • Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

    Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster

  • Ritual

    Ritual

  • Nobody's Fool

    Nobody's Fool

  • Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

    Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael

  • Big Time in Hollywood, Fl

    Big Time in Hollywood, Fl

  • Calendar Girl

    Calendar Girl

  • Atlas Shrugged: Part III

    Atlas Shrugged: Part III

  • Two Idiots in Hollywood

    Two Idiots in Hollywood

  • You May Not Kiss the Bride

    You May Not Kiss the Bride

  • The Sasquatch Gang

    The Sasquatch Gang

  • Promise Me Tomorrow

    Promise Me Tomorrow

  • Fantastic Mr. Murray

    Fantastic Mr. Murray

  • The Face is Familiar

    The Face is Familiar

  • The Hotwives of Orlando

    The Hotwives of Orlando

  • Love Liza

    Love Liza

  • Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde

    Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde

  • Hard Breakers

    Hard Breakers

  • Monsters at Large

    Monsters at Large

  • Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time

    Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time

  • Night Visitors

    Night Visitors

  • Blind Dating

    Blind Dating

  • Deadly Medicine

    Deadly Medicine

  • Stanley's Gig

    Stanley's Gig

  • Say It Ain't Solo

    Say It Ain't Solo

  • Cocaine and Blue Eyes

    Cocaine and Blue Eyes

  • Roe vs. Wade

    Roe vs. Wade

  • Dweebs

    Dweebs

  • Black River

    Black River

  • Waiting for Yvette

    Waiting for Yvette

  • Mamaboy

    Mamaboy

  • Love Virtually

    Love Virtually

  • Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion

    Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion

  • The Last Ride

    The Last Ride

  • Frankie and Johnny Are Married

    Frankie and Johnny Are Married

  • Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues

    Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues

  • One Man's Hero

    One Man's Hero

  • Blue Skies

    Blue Skies

  • Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want

    Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want

  • Breaking In

    Breaking In

  • Living 'til the End

    Living 'til the End

  • American Men

    American Men

  • Funny About Love

    Funny About Love

  • To the Moon, Alice

    To the Moon, Alice

  • Hello Ladies: The Movie

    Hello Ladies: The Movie

  • The Primary Instinct

    The Primary Instinct

  • Radioland Murders

    Radioland Murders

  • Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"

    Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"

  • Welcome to the Men's Group

    Welcome to the Men's Group

  • McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out

    McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out

  • Toy Story of Terror!

    Toy Story of Terror!

  • Last Flight Out

    Last Flight Out

  • Loners

    Loners

  • Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party

    Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party

  • The Cowboy Killer

    The Cowboy Killer

  • Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends

    Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends

  • Baby Talk

    Baby Talk