Stephen Tobolowsky
Acting
🎂 1951-05-30
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.
Cast credits(247)
Stephen ( voice)
2015
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
1997
Edwin Adelson
1999
Mr. Kayman
1999
Dr. Peltier
2005
Len Dunkel
2000
Jim Halliwell
2001
Spencer Freiberg
2000
Professor
1998
Tor Eckman
1989
Don Haffman
2002
Sandy Ryerson
2009
Marc Shulman
2012
Clyde Burrows
1997
Bud Penrod
2004
Robert (voice)
2009
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
2004
Principal Ball
2013
Chad (voice)
2019
Professor Peter Sheffield
2009
Jim Pratt
2002
Jerry Barkley
2010
Bob Bishop
2006
1976
Self
2020
Mr. Fisher
2000
Dr. Ted
2001
Principal Hocksacker
1992
Dr. Michael Segal
1986
2003
Jack Barker
2014
Gil (voice)
2000
Stu Beggs
2007
Bill Fantastimart
2007
Mr. Gerald
2016
Walter Phillipini
2022
Steve Comiskey
1979
Dr. Max Milkman
1999
Doctor
1981
Hotel Clerk
1984
Henry Weeks
2021
Mr. Geekman (voice)
2010
2003
Self - Nominee
1956
Hugo Jarry
2004
Ned Weathers
1998
1996
2001
Professor Stein (voice)
2016
Dr. Alan Trader
1996
Leonard
2018
2001
Rabbi Cohen
2024
Earl Ball
2019
Councilman
1995
Dragonfly (voice)
2023
Numericles (voice)
1998
Dr. Berkowitz
2017
1990
Father Viteri
1998
Conrad Ross
2022
1986
Thomas Edison
2015
James Bloom
2005
Principal James Merrow
2006
2006
1994
James
2016
2001
1985
Joe
2015
2003
John’s Dad
2020
2002
Judge Gelineau
2010
Lars Balthazar
2008
Niles Hardeman
1993
Julius Walters
1999
(voice)
2017
1998
Roger Livingston
1993
2005
Dr. Adleman
2014
Vincent Hartford
1995
Dr. Warner Brakefield
1995
1982
Captain of the Guard
1987
Sammy
2000
Phil
2014
Uncle Ubb (voice)
2012
Dr. Werner Brandes
1992
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
2005
Alex
1987
1995
Dr. Lamott
1992
Happy Chapman
2004
Ned Ryerson
1993
Dr. Berthram
2019
Max
1991
Michael Bench
1999
1993
Alan Dolfe
2015
Dr. Gerken
1996
Mr. Bates
2003
2007
Townley
1988
Mr. Bates
2025
Mr. Frehley
2004
2007
Oak
1994
Principal Purdy (voice)
2014
Bud
2006
Dr. Kendrick
2009
1995
Tom Abernathy
2005
Charley
2007
Alan Davenport (voice)
2010
2003
Driller (voice)
2020
Joe Weyburn
1990
Eric Kluster
1999
Andy Gunderson (voice)
2017
Billy Narthax
2003
Mr. Henkin
1995
Stu Beggs
2017
Mitch Myerson
1992
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
2023
Wallace
1992
Carl
2004
Bando (voice)
1996
Christopher Maynard
1996
Jeweler
1990
Barney
1984
McClaren
1998
2006
Uncle Neil
2001
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
1997
Tabaqui (voice)
1998
Jud Phillips
1989
Warden Holliday
1991
Mayor Bill Klepler
1990
Warren Singleton
1992
District Attorney (uncredited)
1993
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
2003
Dr. Perkins
2006
Norbert Barrington
2002
Father Lyons
2016
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
2024
Dr. Hugh Akston
2014
Mike
1994
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1984
George Ruddy
2004
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
2002
Max Applewhite
1994
Pete
1989
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
2019
Ned
2022
Sal
2008
Dalrymple
2006
Plumber
2011
Charles
1992
Mick
2001
Littlefield
2007
Mr. Anderson
1990
Tom Bailey
2002
Oliver Mintz
1995
Michael McCausland
1999
Self - Interviewee
2019
Sterling Moss
Mayor Paulson
2018
TV Clerk
1983
Reverend Weld
2016
Douglas McCarver
2014
Calculator (voice)
1998
Mr. Tessman
2019
Max
2011
Alan
2014
Mike Krakower
1993
Tom (wraparound segments)
2001
Mr. Bentley
2019
Principal Sands
2008
Bill Bardo
1998
Lonnie Martin
1996
Ned
2023
Self
2003
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
1993
Professor John Dobler
2016
Captain Gaine
1999
Dr. Divine
2023
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
2010
Antonio
1993
1991
B.J. McQueen
2000
Mr. Phillips
2018
Darryl Horwath
1989
2009
Ephraim
2010
Hugo
1990
Himself
2012
Defense Attorney
1991
Self
2002
Sergeant Phil Baranski
1991
District Attorney
1989
Mayor Tom Thompson
2001
Father Joe
1994
Self
2022
Melvin Reinhold
Ranger Bob
1992
Ray
2012
Ed Turner
2001
Kirk
1986
Self
2023
Pharmacist
1988
Walter
2024
Chief Hardaway
2015
Self
2025
Doc
2000
Taylor
1996
The Abbot
T.T. Riley
2002
Debate Judge
2004
Himself
2015
Prosecuting Attorney
1988
Abe Cohen
2000
Sitcom Producer
1991
Al Hentz
1991
Doc
1998
Murray Mintz
2003
2016
Rick Harris
1996
Ron Sutton
1991
Neighbor
2011
Doctor Timothy Brandon
1990
Trevor
2000
Harry Evers
2005
Dewey Wise
2000
Robert
1977
Carl Venable
2006
Andy
2014
Self
2006
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
2016
Rick Lawler
2012
dr.james
2007
Dr. Shaw
2005
Alan
2008
Ron (voice)
2013
2011
