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(251)
Edwin Adelson
1999
Mr. Kayman
1999
Spencer Freiberg
2000
Mr. Elton Bates
2025
Don Haffman
2002
Bud Penrod
2004
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
1997
Tor Eckman
1989
Jim Halliwell
2001
Mr. Fisher
2000
Dr. Peltier
2005
Len Dunkel
2000
Dr. Max Milkman
1999
Stu Beggs
2007
Professor Peter Sheffield
2009
James Bloom
2005
Mr. Bates
2003
Professor
1998
Donny Rollins
2003
Councilman
1995
Clyde Burrows
1997
Robert (voice)
2009
Mayor of Beverly Hills
2004
Principal Ball
2013
Self - Nominee
1956
Stephen ( voice)
2015
Bob Bishop
2006
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
2004
Steve Comiskey
1979
Ned Weathers
1998
1994
Sandy Ryerson
2009
Doctor
1981
Jerry Barkley
2010
1976
Henry Weeks
2021
Hugo Jarry
2004
Principal Hocksacker
1992
Jack Barker
2014
Dr. Michael Segal
1986
Dr. Ted
2001
Numericles (voice)
1998
Dr. Alan Trader
1996
1982
Marc Shulman
2012
Julius Walters
1999
Jim Pratt
2002
Sammy
2000
Judge
2001
Mr. Gerald
2016
Uncle Ubb (voice)
2012
1985
Mr. Geekman (voice)
2010
Dr. Lamott
1992
Father Viteri
1998
Professor Stein (voice)
2016
Bill Fantastimart
2007
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
2005
Happy Chapman
2004
Self
2020
Ned Ryerson
1993
Gil (voice)
2000
Dr. Berkowitz
2017
Dr. Werner Brandes
1992
Captain of the Guard
1987
Principal James Merrow
2006
1986
Max
1991
Rabbi Cohen
2024
Lars Balthazar
2008
Chad (voice)
2019
Vincent Hartford
1995
1995
Dr. Andross
1995
Conrad Ross
2022
Thomas Edison
2015
Hotel Clerk
1984
Dragonfly (voice)
2023
Principal Purdy (voice)
2014
Dr. Gerken
1996
Dr. Berthram
2019
1998
Walter Phillipini
2022
Joe
2015
Charley
2007
Judge Gelineau
2010
2001
Tom Abernathy
2005
(voice)
2017
Townley
1988
Dr. Kendrick
2009
Alex
1987
2006
2003
Joe Weyburn
1990
Alan Davenport (voice)
2010
Driller (voice)
2020
Barney
1984
Billy Narthax
2003
Earl Ball
2019
Bud
2006
Eric Kluster
1999
Wallace
1992
Mitch Myerson
1992
Leonard
2018
God
2025
Christopher Maynard
1996
District Attorney (uncredited)
1993
George Ruddy
2004
1990
Carl
2004
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
2023
Mr. Henkin
1995
Uncle Neil
2001
2007
Warren Singleton
1992
Andy Gunderson (voice)
2017
2002
Michael Bench
1999
McClaren
1998
Mr. Frehley
2004
James
2016
Sal
2008
2005
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
1997
2001
1993
Self
2003
2007
Dr. Adleman
2014
Murray Mintz
2003
Jeweler
1990
Mr. Tessman
2019
Stu Beggs
2017
Ephraim
2010
Norbert Barrington
2002
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
2003
Littlefield
2007
Bando (voice)
1996
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1984
Plumber
2011
Henry Conway
2003
Dr. Perkins
2006
Bill Bardo
1998
John’s Dad
2020
Mick
2001
Tabaqui (voice)
1998
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
2024
Father Lyons
2016
2006
Roger Livingston
1993
Dr. Hugh Akston
2014
Calculator (voice)
1998
Michael McCausland
1999
Jud Phillips
1989
Mr. Phillips
2018
Trevor
2000
Mayor Bill Klepler
1990
Niles Hardeman
1993
Tom (wraparound segments)
2001
Max
2011
Prosecuting Attorney
1988
Captain Gaine
1999
Mike
1994
2003
Defense Attorney
1991
Charles
1992
Darryl Horwath
1989
Kirk
1986
Douglas McCarver
2014
Warden Holliday
1991
B.J. McQueen
2000
Jon
2007
Dewey Wise
2000
Alan
2014
Dalrymple
2006
Alan Dolfe
2015
Tom Bailey
2002
2016
Oliver Mintz
1995
Dr. Divine
2023
TV Clerk
1983
Pete
1989
Abe Cohen
2000
Doctor Timothy Brandon
1990
Himself
2012
Pharmacist
1988
Self
2022
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
2002
Mr. Bentley
2019
Mr. Anderson
1990
Debate Judge
2004
Neighbor
2011
Taylor
1996
Mike Krakower
1993
Mayor Paulson
2018
Hugo
1990
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
2019
Ed Turner
2001
Antonio
1993
T.T. Riley
2002
Sterling Moss
Professor John Dobler
2016
Dr. Warner Brakefield
1995
Doc
2000
Chief Hardaway
2015
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
1993
Reverend Weld
2016
Max Applewhite
1994
Ned
2023
1995
Ned
2022
The Abbot
dr.james
2007
Carl Venable
2006
Rick Harris
1996
Sitcom Producer
1991
1996
Self
2023
Doc
1998
Self
2025
Phil
2014
Lonnie Martin
1996
Principal Sands
2008
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
2010
Sergeant Phil Baranski
1991
Oak
1994
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
2016
Mayor Tom Thompson
2001
Father Joe
1994
Dr. Shaw
2005
2011
Rick Lawler
2012
Self
2002
Self - Interviewee
2019
Harry Evers
2005
Alan
2008
2009
Ron Sutton
1991
District Attorney
1989
Ranger Bob
1992
Ray
2012
Robert
1977
Self
2006
Andy
2014
Himself
2015
Melvin Reinhold
Walter
2024
Al Hentz
1991
Ron (voice)
2013
1991
