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Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky

Birthday: 1951-05-30 | Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas, USA

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.

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Known For

Acting

Year
Title

Role

2026
Mimics

as    Melvin Reinhold

2025
Haul Out the Halloween

as    Ned Broadhead

2025
2024
Poolman

as    Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche

2023
Love Virtually

as    Dr. Divine

2023
2022
Haul Out the Holly

as    Ned

2022
Hollywood Signs

as    Self

2019
Fractured

as    Dr. Berthram

2019
Fantastic Mr. Murray

as    Self - Interviewee

2018
Strange Nature

as    Mayor Paulson

2018
Monsters at Large

as    Mr. Phillips

2017
One Day at a Time

as    Dr. Berkowitz

2016
The Confirmation

as    Father Lyons

2016
Six L.A. Love Stories

as    Professor John Dobler

2016
Mamaboy

as    Reverend Weld

2015
Big Time in Hollywood, Fl

as    Alan Dolfe

2015
The Barber

as    Chief Hardaway

2015
The Primary Instinct

as    Himself

2014
Atlas Shrugged: Part III

as    Dr. Hugh Akston

2014
Mr. Peabody & Sherman

as    Principal Purdy (voice)