Stephen Harold Tobolowsky (born May 30, 1951) is an incredibly prolific character actor, having appeared in over 200 movies and TV episodes. In fact, once in a hotel room he flipped through channels to find himself on every channel at various ages.
Stephen is perhaps best known for playing Ned Ryerson in the Bill Murray classic Groundhog Day. Although a versatile actor, he has a tendency to play jerks, incompetent villains, annoying suits or other Obstructive Bureaucrat types. In reality Stephen is a witty and affable fellow with a self-deprecating sense of humour.
He's also a highly gifted storyteller, and has a storytelling Podcast called The Tobolowsky Files
where he regales us with tales of life, love and the entertainment industry. These podcasts detail his emotional journeys through every aspect of Hollywood, while also recounting his personal relationships with friends, girlfriends, family and faith. They are often hilarious, heartwarming and tearjerking. You have been warned.
He is married to actress Ann Hearn and they have two children.
Film Roles
- 1984: The Philadelphia Experiment as Barney
- 1987: Spaceballs as Captain of the Guard
- 1988: Mississippi Burning as Clayton Townley
- 1989: Great Balls of Fire! as Jud Phillips
- 1990: Bird on a Wire as Joe Weyburn
- 1990: The Grifters as Jeweler
- 1991: Thelma & Louise as Max
- 1992: Basic Instinct as Dr. Lamott
- 1992: Single White Female as Mitchell Myerson
- 1992: Sneakers as Werner Brandes
- 1993: Groundhog Day as Ned Ryerson
- 1994: Trevor as Father Joe
- 1997: Mr. Magoo as Agent Chuck Stupak
- 1998: Black Dog as FBI Agent Allen Ford
- 2000: Memento as Sammy Jankis
- 2002: The Country Bears as Norbert Barrington
- 2002: Adaptation. as Ranger Steve Neely
- 2003: Freaky Friday as Mr. Bates
- 2004: Garfield as Happy Chapman
- 2005: Robots as Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
- 2007: Wild Hogs as Charley
- 2009: The Time Traveler's Wife as Dr. Kendrick
- 2010: Buried as Alan Davenport
- 2012: The Lorax as Uncle Ubb (voice)
- 2013: Toy Story of Terror as Ron the Manager (voice)
- 2014: Mr. Peabody & Sherman as Principal Purdy (voice)
- 2017: Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown as Andy Gunderson (voice)
- 2023: Candy Cane Lane as Mr. Benedetto
Television Roles
- 2001: The Lone Gunmen as Adam Burgess
- 2003–05: CSI: Miami as Assistant State Attorney Don Haffman
- 2005: American Dragon: Jake Long as Troll (voice)
- 2005: The Closer as James Bloom
- 2005: Reba as Judge
- 2005: Curb Your Enthusiasm as Len Dunkel
- 2005–06: Deadwood as Hugo Jarry
- 2006: Ghost Whisperer as Dr. Peltier
- 2006: Night Stalker as Titus Berry
- 2006: Desperate Housewives as Bud Penrod
- 2007: Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip as Joe
- 2007: Boston Legal as Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
- 2007: Entourage as Mayor of Beverly Hills
- 2007: John from Cincinnati as Mark Lewinsky
- 2007–08: Heroes as Bob Bishop
- 2008: CSI as Spencer Freiberg
- 2009: The New Adventures of Old Christine as Principal James Merrow
- 2009–11: Glee as Sandy Ryerson
- 2010: The Sarah Silverman Program as Bill Fantastimart
- 2010: True Jackson, VP as Lars Balthazar
- 2011: The Defenders (2010) as Judge Gelineau
- 2011: Community as Professor Peter Sheffield
- 2011–14: Californication as Stu Beggs
- 2012: The Mindy Project as Marc Shulman
- 2012–13: Justified as FBI Agent Jerry Barkley
- 2014–23: The Goldbergs as Principal Earl Ball
- 2016–17: Silicon Valley as Jack Barker
- 2016: Justice League Action as Professor Stein (voice)
- 2016-: The Loud House
- 2016-: The Loud House as Principal Huggins (voice)
- 2023: The Really Loud House as Walter Phillipini
- 2017–20: One Day at a Time (2017) as Dr. Leslie Berkowitz
Video Game Roles
- 2014: Batman: Arkham Origins — Cold Cold Heart as Ferris Boyle / Mobsters / Joker Thugs (voice)
