Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Harold Tobolowsky (born May 30, 1951) is an American character actor and writer. 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 has a monthly audio podcast, The Tobolowsky Files, of autobiographical stories of his acting and personal life. He has also authored three books: The Dangerous Animals Club, Cautionary Tales, and My Adventures with God.

Early life and education Tobolowsky was born on May 30, 1951, in Dallas. He and his family are of Russian Jewish descent. Tobolowsky grew up creating imaginative games with his brother, and his story The Dangerous Animals Club paints a picture of how unsupervised children in the 20th century could amuse themselves. He showed talent at baseball, but a serious childhood illness ended his career as an athlete before it began. He graduated from Justin F. Kimball High School and Southern Methodist University. He received a master's degree from the University of Illinois in 1975.

Tobolowsky is a cousin of Dallas attorney Ira Tobolowsky, who was murdered in his home in 2016 by a disgruntled former litigant. George Tobolowsky, Ira's brother and Stephen's cousin, is a sculptor.

Career Tobolowsky has appeared in over 200 films, plus many television projects. He has also worked in the theater, directing and acting in plays in New York City, San Francisco and Los Angeles. He directed one film, Two Idiots in Hollywood, based on his play of the same name. He also co-wrote the film True Stories with David Byrne and Beth Henley. While writing True Stories, he told Byrne about his supposed psychic abilities, which inspired Byrne to write the song "Radio Head" for the film. Tobolowsky was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for the 2002 revival of Morning's at Seven.

On October 29, 2009, Tobolowsky started a new podcast on /Film called The Tobolowsky Files, where he tells stories, in a similar fashion to Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party (2005). The show was picked up by Public Radio International in 2012.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes1977 Keep My Grave Open Robert 1984 The Philadelphia Experiment Barney Swing Shift French deMille, Documentary Narrator 1986 Nobody's Fool Kirk 1987 Spaceballs Captain of the Guard 1988 Mississippi Burning Clayton Townley Two Idiots in Hollywood Prosecuting Attorney Also writer and director1989 Checking Out Pharmacist Breaking In District Attorney Great Balls of Fire! Jud Phillips In Country Pete 1990 Bird on a Wire Joe Weyburn Funny About Love Hugo Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael Mayor Bill Klepler Credited as Stephen Tobolowski The Grifters Jeweler Mirror, Mirror Mr. Anderson 1991 Wedlock Warden Holliday Thelma & Louise Max 1992 Basic Instinct Dr. Lamott Where the Day Takes You Charles Hero Wallace Memoirs of an Invisible Man Warren Singleton Single White Female Mitchell Myerson Roadside Prophets Ranger Bob Sneakers Dr. Werner Brandes 1993 Josh and S.A.M. Thom Whitney Calendar Girl Antonio Gallo The Pickle Mike Krakower Groundhog Day Ned Ryerson 1994 Trevor Father Jon My Father the Hero Mike Radioland Murders Max Applewhite 1995 Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde Oliver Mintz Murder in the First Mr. Henkin 1996 The Glimmer Man Christopher Maynard Power 98 Rick Harris Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco Bando (voice) 1997 Boys Life 2 Father John The Curse of Inferno Lonnie Martin Mr. Magoo Agent Chuck Stupak 1998 An Alan Smithee Film: Burn Hollywood Burn Bill Bardo Black Dog McClaren The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story Tabaqui (voice) Monsters At Large Mr. Phillips 2019 Fractured Dr. Berthram 2023 Candy Cane Lane Mr. Benedetto Poolman Stephen Toronkowski/Blanche 2025 Freakier Friday Mr. Elton Bates Mimics 2026 Freaks Part II

Television Year Title Role

Episode: "Here's Why You Should Never Wear High Heels to the Bank"

Featured on the track "Loser" (also released as a digital single) of the 2010 cast album Glee: The Music, Volume 3 Showstoppers Featured on the tracks "Loser" and "I Wanna Sex You Up" of the 2010 compilation downloadable cast album Glee: The Music, The Complete Season One

Stage appearances Selected stage appearances

Year Title Venue Role Notes1976 Meredith Monk Dance Company's Paris Royce Hall Man with a clipboard 1982 Beth Henley's The Wake of Jamie Foster Eugene O'Neill Theatre Leon 1985 Chekhov's The Three Sisters Los Angeles Theatre Center Baron Tuzenbach 1986 Michel de Ghelderode's Barabbus Los Angeles Theatre Center Pontius Pilate and The Watcher 1987 Tennessee Williams' The Glass Menagerie Los Angeles Theatre Center Gentleman caller 1989 Christopher Durang's The Marriage of Bette and Boo Los Angeles Theatre Center Father Donnally and The Doctor 2002 Paul Osborn's Mornings at Seven Lyceum Theater and Ahmanson Theatre Homer 2002 Shaw's Heartbreak House Theater 40 Capt. Shotover 2003 Sally Nemeth's Holy Days Theater 40 Gant 2019 Angela J. Davis' The Spanish Prayer Book Road Theater Los Angeles Alexander

Writing credits

Directing credits