Bob Balaban
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Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels. Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood. In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing. Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come. Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars. Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.
Known for
Credits
The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)
as M. Martin
Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977)
as David Laughlin
Moonrise Kingdom (2012)
as The Narrator
Midnight Cowboy (1969)
as The Young Student
2010 (1984)
as Dr. R. Chandra
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021)
as Uncle Nick
Isle of Dogs (2018)
as King (voice)
Catch-22 (1970)
as Capt. Orr
Asteroid City (2023)
as Larkings Executive
The Tuxedo (2002)
as Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
as Richard
No Reservations (2007)
as Therapist
The Monuments Men (2014)
as Pvt. Preston Savitz
Gosford Park (2001)
as Morris Weissman
Lady in the Water (2006)
as Harry Farber
Scene Stealers (2004)
as Jonathan Crouch Esq.
For Love or Money (1993)
as Ed Drinkwater
Best in Show (2000)
as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Fading Gigolo (2013)
as Sol
The Majestic (2001)
as Elvin Glyde
Capote (2005)
as William Shawn
Conversation with the Beast (1997)
as Mr. Webster
Absence of Malice (1981)
as Elliott Rosen
Little Man Tate (1991)
as Quizmaster
Girlfriends (1978)
as Martin
Spielberg (2017)
as Self
Greedy (1994)
as Ed
Thin Ice (2012)
as Leonard Dahl
A Mighty Wind (2003)
as Jonathan Steinbloom
For Your Consideration (2006)
as Philip Koontz
80 for Brady (2023)
as Mark
The Mexican (2001)
as Bernie Nayman
Ghost World (2001)
as Enid's Dad
Girl Most Likely (2012)
as Maxwell
Waiting for Guffman (1997)
as Lloyd Miller
Cradle Will Rock (1999)
as Harry Hopkins
Me, Natalie (1969)
as Morris
Prince of the City (1981)
as Santimassino
Three to Tango (1999)
as Decker
Alice (1990)
as Sid Moscowitz
Amos & Andrew (1993)
as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo (2004)
as Self
Altered States (1980)
as Arthur Rosenberg
Marriage: Year One (1971)
as Bernie
Trust the Man (2005)
as Tobey's Therapist
Recount (2008)
as Ben Ginsberg
Everything Is Copy (2015)
as Self
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House (2016)
as Mr. Waxcap
Dead Bang (1989)
as Elliott Webley
License to Wed (2007)
as Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold (1994)
as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015)
as Narrator (voice)
Howl (2010)
as Judge Clayton Horn
Clockwatchers (1997)
as Milton Lasky
The Strawberry Statement (1970)
as Elliot
Mike Nichols: An American Master (2016)
as Self
End of the Line (1987)
as Warren Gerber
Fantasy Life (2026)
as Lenny
Carl Laemmle (2019)
as Himself
Jakob the Liar (1999)
as Kowalsky
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight (2013)
as Lawyer (uncredited)
Nothing Lasts Forever (1984)
as Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
The Monster Hunter (1999)
as Dr. William Powell
F--k (2010)
as Bob
The Making of Gosford Park (2002)
as Self
Mascots (2016)
as Sol Lumpkin
The Windmill Movie (2009)
as Self
Report to the Commissioner (1975)
as Joey Egan
The Bank Shot (1974)
as Victor Karp
Pie in the Sky (1996)
as Paul Entamen
Bob Roberts (1992)
as Cutting Edge Producer
Whose Life Is It Anyway? (1981)
as Carter Hill
Plan B (2002)
as James Foster
Starring Austin Pendleton (2016)
as Self
The Five Stages of Grief (2011)
as Voice of Daniel's father
Dedication (2007)
as Arthur Planck
The Late Shift (1996)
as Warren Littlefield
2010 : The Odyssey Continues (1984)
as Himself
Bad Actors (2024)
Actor
Giving Up the Ghost (1998)
as Bob
George Romero's Golden Tales 2 (1995)
Actor
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' (2015)
as Self / The Narrator
Rage (2009)
as Mr. White
Prince of the City: The Real Story (2007)
as Self / Santimassino
Swing Vote (1999)
as Justice Eli MacCorckle
Unnatural Pursuits (1992)
as Lou Finkleberg
An L.A. Minute (2018)
as Shelley
Funny (1988)
as Self
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' (2001)
as Self
The Definite Maybe (1997)
as Wolfe Rollins
Do You Like to Read? (2012)
as The Narrator
The Face of Fear (1990)
as Ira Preduski
Making It (1971)
as Wilkie
Marie and Bruce (2004)
as Roger
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film (2006)
as Self
Eva Hesse (2016)
as Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger (2000)
as Tex
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy (2023)
as Self
How Moving (2021)
as Uncle Aaron
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film (2022)
Actor