Cast & creator
Stephen Tobolowsky
Best known for Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Simpsons
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.
Also known as: Stephen Tobolowski, Steven Tobolowsky, Стивен Тоболовски, Στίβεν Τομπολόβσκι, استیون توبولوسکی
154
film credits
110
television credits
259
1956–2026 · acting roles
6.4
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (264)
Showing 264 of 264 credits
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Edwin Adelson
1999Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
Mr. Kayman
1999
The Simpsons
Merle (voice)
1989
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Spencer Freiberg
2000
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Jim Halliwell
2001
Desperate Housewives
Bud Penrod
2004
CSI: Miami
Don Haffman
2002
Seinfeld
Tor Eckman
1989
The West Wing
Dr. Max Milkman
1999
King of the Hill
Dr. Benson / Burt Halverstrom (voice)
1997
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Len Dunkel
2000
Chicago Hope
Dr. Ted Joseph
1994Chicago Hope
Ted Joseph
1994
Heroes
Bob Bishop
2006
The Closer
James Bloom
2005
Ghost Whisperer
Dr. Peltier
2005
Knots Landing
Steve Comiskey
1979
The Practice
Clyde Burrows
1997
The Goldbergs
Principal Ball
2013
Glee
Sandy Ryerson
2009
Malcolm in the Middle
Mr. Fisher
2000
Las Vegas
Donny Rollins
2003
Falcon Crest
Doctor
1981
Will & Grace
Ned Weathers
1998
Entourage
Mayor of Beverly Hills
2004
L.A. Law
Michael Segal
1986
Archer
Robert (voice)
2009
Boston Legal
Dr. Alvin Azinabinacroft
2004
That '70s Show
Professor
1998
Tony Awards
Self - Nominee
1956
The Drew Carey Show
Councilman
1995
Mad About You
Principal Hocksacker
1992
Community
Professor Peter Sheffield
2009
Hacks
Henry Weeks
2021
Californication
Stu Beggs
2007
We Bare Bears
Stephen ( voice)
2015
The Mindy Project
Marc Shulman
2012
Silicon Valley
Jack Barker
2014
Justified
Jerry Barkley
2010
Alice
1976
Cagney & Lacey
1982
According to Jim
Dr. Ted
2001
The Dead Zone
Jim Pratt
2002
Arli$$
Craig Levitz
1996
The Pretender
Dr. Alan Trader
1996
Hercules
Numericles (voice)
1998
Buzz Lightyear of Star Command
Gil (voice)
2000
Roswell
Julius Walters
1999
Stars in the House
Self
2020
The Lorax
Uncle Ubb (voice)
2012
Fuller House
Mr. Gerald
2016
The New Adventures of Old Christine
Principal James Merrow
2006
Reba
Judge
2001
Deadwood
Hugo Jarry
2004
Murder One
1995Murder One
Dr. Andross
1995
Nobody Wants This
Rabbi Cohen
2024
Pound Puppies
Mr. Geekman (voice)
2010
Two Guys and a Girl
Father Viteri
1998
The Naked Truth
Vincent Hartford
1995
The Sarah Silverman Program
Bill Fantastimart
2007
Justice League Action
Professor Stein (voice)
2016
Basic Instinct
Dr. Lamott
1992
Freaky Friday
Mr. Bates
2003
Crazy like a Fox
Hotel Clerk
1984
Groundhog Day
Ned
1993
True Jackson, VP
Lars Balthazar
2008
227
1985
Dr. Ken
Joe
2015
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Alex
1987
Memento
Sammy
2000
Designing Women
1986
Green Eggs and Ham
Chad (voice)
2019
Minx
Conrad Ross
2022
Spaceballs
Captain of the Guard
1987
One Day at a Time
Dr. Berkowitz
2017
Another Period
Thomas Edison
2015
The Really Loud House
Walter Phillipini
2022
Suddenly Susan
Dr. Gerken
1996
The Defenders
Judge Gelineau
2010
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
2006
No Activity
(voice)
2017
Any Day Now
1998
Freakier Friday
Mr. Elton Bates
2025
ThunderCats Roar
Driller (voice)
2020
Oliver Beene
Ringmaster Bob
2003
Off Centre
2001
Frog and Toad
Dragonfly (voice)
2023
Robots
Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice)
2005
Sneakers
Dr. Werner Brandes
1992
The Time Traveler's Wife
Dr. Kendrick
2009
Complete Savages
Mr. Frehley
2004
Failure to Launch
Bud
2006
Night Stalker
Titus Berry
2005
Thelma & Louise
Max
1991
The Cool Kids
Leonard
2018
Candy Cane Lane
Mr. Benedetto (uncredited)
2023
The Lone Gunmen
2001
Schooled
Earl Ball
2019
Garfield
Happy Chapman
2004
Mr. Peabody & Sherman
Principal Purdy (voice)
2014
John from Cincinnati
Mark Lewinsky
2007
The Insider
Eric Kluster
1999
Friends with Better Lives
Dr. Adleman
2014
Bird on a Wire
Joe Weyburn
1990
Married to the Kellys
Henry Conway
2003
Snoops
Michael Bench
1999
Bad Internet
James
2016
National Security
Billy Narthax
2003
Wild Hogs
Charley
2007
Do Over
2002
Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco
Bando (voice)
1996
Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous
Tom Abernathy
2005
Mississippi Burning
Townley
1988
View from the Top
Frank Thomas (uncredited)
2003
Raines
2007
Dicktown
John’s Dad
2020
The Home Court
Jeffrey Solomon
1995
Shannon's Deal
1990
White Famous
Stu Beggs
2017
Buried
Alan Davenport (voice)
2010
Murder in the First
Mr. Henkin
1995
Kingpin
2003
Harts of the West
1993
Mr. Rhodes
1996
Fractured
Dr. Berthram
2019
Big Day
2006
Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown
Andy Gunderson (voice)
2017
Little Black Book
Carl
2004
Cafe Americain
Roger Livingston
1993
Against the Grain
Niles Hardeman
1993
The Glimmer Man
Christopher Maynard
1996
Hero
Wallace
1992
The Hotwives of Orlando
Phil
2014
Single White Female
Mitch Myerson
1992A Whole New Ballgame
Dr. Warner Brakefield
1995
The Country Bears
Norbert Barrington
2002
Memoirs of an Invisible Man
Warren Singleton
1992
The Philadelphia Experiment
Barney
1984
My Father the Hero
Mike
1994
The Rainbow Tribe
Principal Sands
2008
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl
Alan Dolfe
2015
Freddy Got Fingered
Uncle Neil
2001
One Man's Hero
Captain Gaine
1999Blue Skies
Oak
1994
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
George Ruddy
2004
Radioland Murders
Max Applewhite
1994
Atlas Shrugged: Part III
Dr. Hugh Akston
2014
Great Balls of Fire!
Jud Phillips
1989
An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn
Bill Bardo
1998
Hello Ladies: The Movie
Alan
2014
Haul Out the Holly
Ned
2022
Don't Look Under the Bed
Michael McCausland
1999
The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars
Calculator (voice)
1998
The Grifters
Jeweler
1990
Beethoven's Big Break
Sal
2008
Mr. Magoo
Agent FBI Chuck Stupak
1997
Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde
Oliver Mintz
1995
You May Not Kiss the Bride
Plumber
2011
The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story
Tabaqui (voice)
1998
The Confirmation
Father Lyons
2016
Dweebs
Karl
1995
Black Dog
McClaren
1998
Butterfly in the Typewriter
The Abbot
The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween
Creepy Rattlechains (voice)
2019
The Valley of Light
Littlefield
2007
Poolman
Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche
2024
In Country
Pete
1989
Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael
Mayor Bill Klepler
1990
Where the Day Takes You
Charles
1992
Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up
Ned
2023
Josh & S.A.M.
Thomas 'Thom' Whitney
1993American Men
Sterling Moss
Wedlock
Warden Holliday
1991
Blind Dating
Dr. Perkins
2007
Christian Mingle
Douglas McCarver
2014
The Barber
Chief Hardaway
2015
Calendar Girl
Antonio
1993
Hollywood Signs
Self
2022
Haul Out the Halloween
Ned Broadhead
2025
Funny About Love
Hugo
1990
Cocaine and Blue Eyes
TV Clerk
1983
Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes
Dewey Wise
2000
Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons"
Mr. Bentley
2019
Thelma & Louise: Born to Live
Self
2025
Six L.A. Love Stories
Professor John Dobler
2016
The Day the World Ended
Ed Turner
2001
Where is Rocky II?
Byron (segment: "Monument One")
2016
The Face is Familiar
2009
Groundhog Day: The Weight of Time
Self
2002
The Sasquatch Gang
Dalrymple
2006
Love Liza
Tom Bailey
2002
Swing Shift
French deMille / Documentary Narrator
1984
The Last Ride
Ray
2012
Boys On Film 4: Protect Me From What I Want
Father Joe (segment "Trevor")
2010
Ritual
Dr. Javitz (uncredited)
2002
Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned Mobster
Sergeant Phil Baranski
1991
On the Edge
Tom (wraparound segments)
2001
True Stories
Writer
1986
Peep World
Ephraim
2010
Roe vs. Wade
Darryl Horwath
1989
Two Idiots in Hollywood
Prosecuting Attorney
1988Two Idiots in Hollywood
Director
1988Two Idiots in Hollywood
Writer
1988
The Pickle
Mike Krakower
1993
The Prime Gig
Mick
2001
Hard Breakers
Max
2011
To The Moon, Alice
Sitcom Producer
1991
Fantastic Mr. Murray
Self - Interviewee
2019
Checking Out
Pharmacist
1988
The Marla Hanson Story
Defense Attorney
1991
Strange Nature
Mayor Paulson
2018
Monsters at Large
Mr. Phillips
2018
Woodstockers
Calvin
2026
Around the Fire
Doc
1998
Black River
Mayor Tom Thompson
2001Last Flight Out
Doctor Timothy Brandon
1990
Power 98
Rick Harris
1996
Frankie and Johnny Are Married
Murray Mintz
2003
Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey
Self
2003
Welcome to the Men's Group
2016
The Cowboy Killer
God
2026
Freaks Part II
2026
Nobody's Fool
Kirk
1986
Deadly Medicine
Ron Sutton
1991
Roadside Prophets
Ranger Bob
1992
Jimmie & Stevie Ray Vaughan: Brothers in Blues
Self
2023
Breaking In
District Attorney
1989
Mirror Mirror
Mr. Anderson
1990
Loveless in Los Angeles
Jon
2007
Living 'til the End
Dr. Shaw
2005
Debating Robert Lee
Debate Judge
2004Say It Ain't Solo
Self
2012
Stephen Tobolowsky's Birthday Party
Self
2006
The Curse of Inferno
Lonnie Martin
1996
Hail Mary
2011
Keep My Grave Open
Robert
1977
Mimics
Melvin Reinhold
2026
Night Visitors
Taylor
1996
Stanley's Gig
Abe Cohen
2000
Love Virtually
Dr. Divine
2023
Alien Fury: Countdown to Invasion
B.J. McQueen
2000
Trevor
Father Joe
1994
Loners
Mr. Tessman
2019
Mary the Widow
Ed
2026
Bossa Nova
Trevor
2000
McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out
Harry Evers
2005
Promise Me Tomorrow
Carl Venable
2006
Par 6
T.T. Riley
2002
Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends
Andy
2014
Waiting for Yvette
Alan
2008
The Operator
Doc
2000The Five Keys to Mastery
Self
2005
Boxboarders!
Dr. Stephen James
2007
Tagget
Al Hentz
1991
Mamaboy
Reverend Weld
2016
Magnificat
Neighbor
2011
Pearblossom Hwy
Rick Lawler
2012
The Primary Instinct
Himself
2015The Primary Instinct
Writer
2015The Primary Instinct
Executive Producer
2015Watching Walter
Walter
2024
Toy Story of Terror!
Ron (voice)
2013