Stephen Root

Stephen Root is an American actor and voice actor. Known for his extensive character actor roles in film and television, he gained attention for his roles as Jimmy James on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio (1995–1999), as Milton Waddams in the comedy film Office Space, and voiced Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland on the animated series King of the Hill (1997–2010, 2025–present).

Root has appeared in numerous Coen brothers films including O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000), The Ladykillers (2004), No Country for Old Men (2007), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and The Tragedy of Macbeth (2021). Other notable film roles include Dave (1993), Bicentennial Man (1999), Dodgeball (2004), Idiocracy (2006), Cedar Rapids (2011), Selma (2014), Trumbo (2015), Get Out (2017), and On the Basis of Sex (2018), as well as his voice roles in Ice Age (2002) and Finding Nemo (2003).

On television, he played supporting roles in Star Trek: The Next Generation (1991), True Blood (2008–2009), Boardwalk Empire (2012–2013), Fargo (2014), The Man in the High Castle (2016–2019), Perry Mason (2020), and Succession (2021–2023). He has received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series, in 2019 for the role of manipulative hitman handler Monroe Fuches in the HBO dark comedy crime series Barry (2018–2023) and in 2026 for the role of fisherman and outspoken superstitious Wyck Crawford in the Apple TV comedy horror series Widow's Bay (2026–present).

Early life and education Root was born in Sarasota, Florida, the son of Leona Estelle and Rolland Clair Root, a project superintendent and site manager on major civil engineering projects throughout the US and Mexico. Root has likened his childhood to that of an Army brat, as his family frequently relocated while his father supervised each construction project.

Root graduated from Vero Beach High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He received his Associate of Arts degree from the University of Florida and trained in the Bachelor in Fine Arts (BFA) acting program. The university recognized him as one of its distinguished alumni in 2008. Subsequently he was granted a BFA after completion of his final semester based on the quality and character of his acting career, having left college to pursue Broadway theater in his final semester.

Career Root began his career on stage in 1980. He made his Broadway acting debut in the play Journey's End, playing Second Lieutenant Trotter. He also appeared in All My Sons as Frank Lubey, and as Jon in the 2015 play Marjorie Prime.

Root made his feature film debut in the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II as a DEA agent. That same year, he acted in the psychological horror film Monkey Shines as Dean Burbage. He has a small role as a detective in the movie Ghost (1990), as well as roles in Dave (1993) and RoboCop 3 (1993).

Root has also had many guest appearances in television programs across several genres. He was Klingon Captain K'Vada in the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode "Unification" in 1991. He portrayed the role of an exterminator in the Home Improvement 1991 episode "Wild Kingdom." He played Raymond, a hunting store owner involved in illegal gun trading, in the 1993 In the Heat of the Night episode "A Love Lost." He guest-starred on Seinfeld as a bank manager in the 1996 episode "The Invitations", handling Kramer's hello greeting issue. In the CSI episode "Homebodies" from 2003, he played the father of a rape victim. He had a role in Frasier in the 2004 episode "Detour" as the father of the family helping Frasier when his car broke down.

In the 1993–1994 television season, Root appeared as a series regular as "R.O." on the Beau Bridges/Lloyd Bridges comedy/western series Harts of the West on CBS. He also had a regular role on the short-lived CBS series Ladies Man (1999-2000), which starred Sharon Lawrence soon after she left NYPD Blue.

Among his most recognized television roles are eccentric billionaire Jimmy James on the sitcom NewsRadio (1995–1999), and in a recurring role on the final two seasons of The West Wing (2005–2007) as Republican campaign consultant Bob Mayer. He appeared in many comedy films, particularly as the mumbling, quirky Milton Waddams in Mike Judge's Office Space (1999); and four nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. In 2020, he appeared as Maynard Barnes in the HBO series Perry Mason, and from 2021 to 2023, he played Ron Petkus in HBO's Succession.

Personal life Root married his first wife, Laura Joan Hase, with whom he has a son named Cody, in 1984. They divorced in August 1997. He married actress Romy Rosemont on December 14, 2008. They co-starred together in several television shows such as Fringe and Masters of Sex. They were due to appear on-screen together in the 2011 horror film Red State, but Rosemont was forced to pull out due to a scheduling conflict with Glee. The Country Bears Zeb Zoober (voice) Heads of State Arthur Hammond Playdate Gordon

The Wrecking Crew Detective Sergeant Karl Rennert Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Chet The Long Haul CJ's friend Post-production Television Year Title Role Notes 1989 Cross of Fire Beggs Television film 1990 Wiseguy Bishop Episode: "Dead Right" Roseanne Peter Lundy Episode: "Fender Bender" Luke Episode: "Bad Company" Head of the Class Mr. Birch Episode: "My Son the Primate" 1990–1991 Jake and the Fatman Sgt. Moynihan, Hastings 2 episodes 1990–1992 Night Court Mr. Willard, Spirit of Death 2 episodes 1990–1994 L.A. Law Atty. Brandon McCafferty 4 episodes 1991 Davis Rules Porter Episode: "Soap" Golden Years Major Moreland 6 episodes My Life and Times Ross Episode: "Our Wedding" Home Improvement Exterminator Episode: "Wild Kingdom" Sons and Daughters Stevey Episode: "Melanie" Sheriff Bobby Clinton Episode: "I Fought the Law" Star Trek: The Next Generation Captain K'Vada 2 episodes 1992 Kevin McDonald Television film Eerie, Indiana Mr. Chaney Episode: "Mr. Chaney" Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter Kevin McDonald Television film Murphy Brown John Brophy Episode: "Till Death or Next Thursday Do We Part" Civil Wars Mrs. Caldecott's Lawyer 2 episodes 1993 Northern Exposure Brother Timothy Episode: "Revelations" Mr. Tucker Episode: "You've Lost That Livin' Feeling" Quantum Leap John Tremaine Jr. Episode: "Goodbye Norma Jean - April 4, 1960" Class of '61 Edwin Stanton Television film The Blanche Taylor Moore Story Dr. Kirby Television film Sirens George Bailey Episode: "Looks Like Christmas" Blossom Louie 4 episodes In the Heat of the Night Raymond Mercer Episode: "A Love Lost" 1993–1994 Harts of the West R.O. Moon 15 episodes 1994 NYPD Blue IAB Sgt. Fulmer Episode: "Guns 'n Rosaries" Party of Five Football Coach Episode: "Good Sports" Sweet Justice Bowles 2 episodes Diagnosis: Murder Charlie Lane Episode: "The Last Laugh: Part 2" 1995 Chicago Hope Trumpet Playing Mental Patient Episode: "Love and Hope" Cybill Phil Asher Episode: "Starting on the Wrong Foot" Christy Clarence Sweetwater Episode: "To Have and to Hold" VR.5 F.A.A. Negotiator Episode: "Control Freak" In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice Jaan Laaman Television film 1995–1999 NewsRadio Jimmy James Main role; 97 episodes 1996 Seinfeld Mr. Lager Episode: "The Invitations" Graham Dunbar Television film Pandora's Clock Mark Hastings 2 episodes Ed Kirkman Television film 1997 Johnny Bravo Timmy's Dad, Announcer (voice) Episode: "Johnny Real Good" Blindspotting Rick Episode: "Bride or Die" 2021–2022 Blade Runner: Black Lotus Earl Grant (voice) English dub11 episodes 2021–2023 Succession Ron Petkus 2 episodes 2021–2024 Masters of the Universe Cringer / Battle Cat, Snout Spout (voice) Main role; 13 episodes Beavis and Butt-Head Gary (voice) Episode: "Meditation Sucks/Polling Place" Fired on Mars Mark (voice) 3 episodes Clone High Mr Big Corporation (voice) Episode: "Saved by the Knoll" Invincible Dr. Elias Brandyworth (voice) Episode: "Atom Eve" Adventure Time: Fionna and Cake Martin Mertens (voice) Episode: "The Star" Beacon 23 Solomon 4 episodes 2024 Star Trek: Lower Decks Lieutenant Gene Jakobowski (voice) Episode: "Starbase 80?!" 2024–2025 Krapopolis Salt (voice) 2 episodes It's Florida, ManFlorida Man (voice)12 episodes 2025 StuGo Dr. Rostrum (voice) Episode: "S.T.U.G.O." Bob's Burgers Jackson Woodall (voice) Episode: "Mr. Fischoeder's Opus" Resident Alien Ed Vanderspeigle Episode: "Daddy Issues" 2025–2026 Family Guy Professor O'Callaghan / Priest (voice) 2 episodes Rick and Morty Ronkonkomus Joe / Carl (voice) 2 episodes 2026 Strip Law Glem Blorchman (voice) Main role; 10 episodes The Terror: Devil in Silver Dr. Laurence Badger Main role; 4 episodes Regular Show: The Lost Tapes Jampft Grimpfton (voice) Episode: "Fix That Tape" 2026–presentWidow's BayWyck CrawfordMain role; 10 episodes

Theatre Year Title Role Playwright Venue NotesRef. 1980 Journey's End 2nd Lieutenant Trotter R.C. Sheriff Off-Broadway 1986 So Long on Lonely Street King Vaughnum III Sandra Deer Jack Lawrence Theatre Broadway 2018 Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series Barry (season one) 2019 Barry (season two) 2022 Barry (season three) 2023 Barry (season four) Primetime Emmy Award 2019 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Barry (episode: "berkman ﹥ block") 2026 Widow's Bay (season one) MTV Movie Awards 2005 Best On-Screen Team Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story