Alan Barinholtz

Alan Barinholtz (born April 23, 1951) is an American attorney and actor best known for appearing as Judge Alan Rosen in the reality hoax sitcom Jury Duty. On August 14, 2024, he and his son, Ike, became the first duo and the second celebrities overall to win the $1,000,000 top prize for their charity, the ASL Program at Los Encinos School, and the fifteenth overall million dollar winners on Who Wants to Be a Millionaire.

Early life and education Barinholtz grew up in Skokie, and attended Evanston High School. He majored in theater at Ohio State University. With years of experience in improvisation and standup, he dreamed of becoming an actor and performing musical comedy in New York City. After graduation, Barinholtz moved to New York City to work for a brief time before coming home to Chicago, where he tried a variety of jobs, first directing a children's theater group, and, later, doing phone sales.

While trying to figure out his next career move, Barinholtz met with a friend who was attending law school. Barinholtz was not interested in practicing law but thought a Juris Doctor would be great for business purposes. He was accepted to the Loyola University Chicago School of Law on the day his eldest son, actor Ike Barinholtz, was born. On his first day of law school, Barinholtz was so inspired by Dean Charles W. Murdock’s speech—that lawyers improved society—that he decided then and there to become a practicing attorney.

Barinholtz continued to perform improv on stage in Chicago when visited by his sons. To cast the role of Judge Alan Rosen, Jury Duty searched for a retired or semi-retired lawyer or judge with improv experience. During this time Barinholtz was visiting his sons in Los Angeles for Thanksgiving, and the trio had mutual friends who was the sister of the showrunner, who recommended him. From the encouragement of his sons, Barinholtz shot a one-minute audition tape, portraying a fictional judge and talking off the top of his head. Three weeks later, he got the formal offer, which he mulled over with his family. Barinholtz was initially concerned that obstacles such as moving from Chicago to Los Angeles and joining SAG would be too much. However, his sons encouraged him that he would be crazy to pass up this opportunity. In the wake of the show's success Barinholtz has said, "In my wildest dreams, I never imagined that it would take off the way it has taken off, For the life of me I don’t think anyone thought it would catch fire like it did."

Barinholtz has since landed an agent, joined SAG, and subsequently appeared in Apple TV’s Physical and in the NBC pilot St. Denis Medical. Together they have two sons, actors Ike and Jon.

Barinholtz is Jewish. His sons attended Bernard Zell Anshe Emet Day School, the Jewish school associated with a Conservative synagogue in Chicago, until eighth grade.

Barinholtz's mother, Miriam Feinstein Barinholtz, is a cousin of pianist Michael Feinstein.

In 2024, the University of Illinois College of Law's chapter of the American Constitution Society hosted Barinholtz as a speaker.

Filmography Television Year Title Role Notes 2018 The Oath Sheldon 2020–24 Who Wants to Be a Millionaire Self 2 episodes 2023 History of the World, Part II Barker 1 episode Physical Dr. Gilchrist 1 episode Jury Duty Judge Alan Rosen 8 episodes 2024 St. Denis Medical Mr. Schroeder 1 episode 2025 From Buckingham Palace David Lovejoy Post-productionRunning PointBernie Berger1 episodeThe StudioProjectionist1 episode

Film Year Title Role Notes TBA TBA Filming