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      Bob Balaban

      Bob Balaban

      Highest Rated: 98% Can You Ever Forgive Me? (2018)

      Lowest Rated: 13% My Boyfriend's Back (1993)

      Birthday: Aug 16, 1945

      Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, USA

      As a screen actor, Bob Balaban was often seen in character roles as buttoned up and usually bespectacled brains, with his deadpan performances in Christopher Guest films like "Waiting for Guffman" (1996) and "Best in Show" (2000) earning him a following with indie comedy fans. Many of those same fans, as well as ones who enjoyed his recurring role as the network executive who greenlights and then cancels Jerry and George's sitcom project on "Seinfeld" (NBC, 1989-1998), may not have known that Balaban also enjoyed a steady career behind the camera as a director of dark comedies for film and television. A foray into producing, alongside film great Robert Altman, resulted in the pair's Oscar-nominated best picture "Gosford Park" (2001), a period whodunit in which Balaban starred as a 1930s filmmaker. In 2008, his well-rounded career earned him widespread praise and award consideration for his acting in HBO's political drama "Recount" (2008) and for his directing "Bernard and Doris" (2008), the network's biopic about tobacco millionaire Doris Duke. Further accolades followed with his biopic "Georgia O'Keeffe" (Lifetime, 2010), proving that his creativity in front of and behind the camera knew no limits.

      Highest rated movies

      Close Encounters of the Third Kind
      Ghost World
      Best in Show
      Girlfriends
      Prince of the City
      Waiting for Guffman
      Capote Midnight Cowboy

      Photos

      CATCH-22, Bob Balaban, 1970 FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION, in director's chairs: Bob Balaban, Michael McKean, 2006. ©Warner Independent Pictures 2010, Bob Balaban, 1984, ©MGM. THE MONUMENTS MEN, British poster art, from left: George Clooney, John Goodman, Cate Blanchett, Hugh Bonneville, Bob Balaban, Jean Dujardin, Matt Damon, Bill Murray, 2014. ©Sony Pictures Releasing BANK SHOT, Joanna Cassidy, Sorrell Booke, George C. Scott, Frank McRae, Don Calfa, Bibi Osterwald, Bob Balaban, 1974. THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT, Booker Bradshaw, Bob Balaban, Bud Cort, Bruce Davison, Kim Darby, 1970 BANK SHOT, Bob Balaban, Joanna Cassidy, 1974 BANK SHOT, from left: George C. Scott, Bob Balaban, Frank McRae, 1974 BANK SHOT, Sorrell Booke, Bob Balaban (top), Frank McRae, George C. Scott, 1974 CATCH-22, Bob Balaban, Art Garfunkel, Alan Arkin, Martin Sheen, 1970 GIRL FRIENDS, Anita Skinner, Bob Balaban, Melanie Mayron, 1978, (c) Warner Brothers MIDNIGHT COWBOY, Bob Balaban, Jon Voight, 1969 BANK SHOT, George C. Scott, Joanna Cassidy, Bob Balaban, 1974 BANK SHOT, Sorrell Booke, George C. Scott, Joanna Cassidy, Ron Balaban, 1974. The Good Wife, Bob Balaban, 09/22/2009, ©CBS JAKOB THE LIAR, Bob Balaban, Armin Mueller-Stahl, Robin Williams, 1999 CLOSE ENCOUNTERS OF THE THIRD KIND, Francois Truffaut, Bob Balaban, 1977 THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT, from left: Bruce Davison, Bob Balaban, Isreal Horovitz, Michael Margotta, 1970 Jimmy Kimmel Live, from left: Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bob Balaban, Cate Blanchett, Bill Murray, George Clooney, 'Episode 20', Season 12, Ep. #20, 02/06/2014, ©ABC THE STRAWBERRY STATEMENT, shaking hands from left: Booker Bradshaw, Bruce Davison, rear from left: Bob Balaban, Bud Cort, Kim Darby (kneeling), 1970

      Filmography

      Movies

      Credit
      58% 89% 80 for Brady Mark (Character) $39.3M 2023
      91% 76% Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Self $54.9K 2022
      98% 81% Can You Ever Forgive Me? Executive Producer $8.8M 2018
      22% 100% An L.A. Minute Shelly (Character) $2.8K 2018
      90% 87% Isle of Dogs King (Voice) $31.9M 2018
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Starring Austin Pendleton Self - 2016
      48% 36% Mascots Sol Lumpkin (Character) - 2016
      57% 24% I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House Mr. Waxcap (Character) - 2016
      81% 67% Eva Hesse Wilhelm Hesse (Voice) $114.1K 2016
      96% 76% Hitchcock/Truffaut Self $304.9K 2015
      31% 44% The Monuments Men Preston Savitz (Character) $78.0M 2014
      No Score Yet No Score Yet We the Economy: Globalization 1 -- Who Cares? You Do Director - 2014
      54% 41% Fading Gigolo Sol (Character) $3.8M 2013
      23% 33% Girl Most Likely Maxwell (Character) $1.4M 2012
      93% 86% Moonrise Kingdom Narrator $45.5M 2012
      86% 65% A Monster in Paris Pâté (Voice) - 2011
      70% 51% Thin Ice Leonard Dahl (Character) $789.8K 2011
      63% 58% Howl Judge Clayton Horn (Character) $617.3K 2010
      No Score Yet 42% Georgia O'Keeffe Director - 2009
      44% 40% Rage Mr. White (Character) - 2009
      79% 81% Recount Ben Ginsberg (Character) - 2008
      No Score Yet 55% Bernard and Doris Director - 2008
      40% 64% Dedication Arthur Patrick (Character) $91.2K 2007
      42% 62% No Reservations Therapist (Character) $43.1M 2007
      53% 43% For Your Consideration Philip Koontz (Character) $5.5M 2006
      25% 49% Lady in the Water Harry Farber (Character) $42.3M 2006
      No Score Yet 63% The Exonerated Director,
      Executive Producer
      - 2005
      29% 35% Trust the Man Tobey's Therapist (Character) $1.5M 2005
      89% 82% Capote William Shawn (Character) $28.7M 2005
      No Score Yet 26% Marie and Bruce Roger (Character) - 2004
      87% 75% A Mighty Wind Jonathan Steinbloom (Character) $17.5M 2003
      93% 84% Ghost World Dad (Character) $6.2M 2001
      87% 78% Gosford Park Morris Weissman (Character),
      Producer
      $41.3M 2001
      42% 60% The Majestic Majority Counsel Elvin Clyde (Character) $27.8M 2001
      54% 44% The Mexican Nayman (Character) $66.8M 2001
      No Score Yet 29% Plan B James Foster (Character) - 2001
      93% 88% Best in Show Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III (Character) $18.6M 2000
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Swing Vote Justice Eli MacCorckle (Character) - 1999
      29% 63% Jakob the Liar Kowalsky (Character) $5.0M 1999
      65% 71% Cradle Will Rock Harry Hopkins (Character) $2.9M 1999
      29% 48% Three to Tango Decker (Character) $10.5M 1999
      No Score Yet 44% Natural Selection Dr. William Powell (Character) - 1999
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Giving Up the Ghost Bob (Character) - 1998
      85% 61% Clockwatchers Milton Lasky (Character) $444.4K 1997
      No Score Yet 61% Subway Stories Director - 1997
      73% 82% Deconstructing Harry Richard (Character) $10.7M 1997
      No Score Yet No Score Yet The Definite Maybe Unknown (Character) - 1997
      No Score Yet 57% The Late Shift Warren Littlefield (Character) - 1996
      91% 91% Waiting for Guffman Lloyd Miller (Character) $2.9M 1996
      No Score Yet 42% Pie in the Sky Paul Entamen (Character) - 1995
      32% 48% Greedy Ed (Character) $12.4M 1994
      90% 78% The Last Good Time Director,
      Producer
      $49.7K 1994
      37% 45% For Love or Money Ed Drinkwater (Character) $10.4M 1993
      17% 31% Amos & Andrew Dr. R.A. "Roy" Fink (Character) $9.5M 1993
      13% 45% My Boyfriend's Back Director $3.2M 1993
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Amazing Stories: The Movie V Jo-Jo Gillespie (Character),
      Director
      - 1992
      No Score Yet 86% The Face of Fear Ira Preduski (Character) - 1990
      33% 43% Dead Bang Elliot Webly (Character) $7.4M 1989
      63% 54% Parents Director $464.2K 1989
      60% 41% End of the Line Warren Gerber (Character) - 1988
      67% 61% 2010 Dr. R. Chandra (Character) - 1984
      No Score Yet No Score Yet The Brass Ring Director - 1983
      92% 82% Prince of the City Santimassino (Character) - 1981
      81% 63% Absence of Malice Rosen (Character) - 1981
      86% 71% Altered States Arthur Rosenberg (Character) - 1980
      93% 70% Girlfriends Martin (Character) - 1978
      94% 85% Close Encounters of the Third Kind David Laughlin (Character) $3.1M 1977
      43% 58% Report to the Commissioner Joey Egan (Character) - 1975
      No Score Yet 28% Bank Shot Victor Karp (Character) - 1974
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Marriage: Year One Bernie (Character) - 1971
      No Score Yet 73% The Strawberry Statement Elliot (Character) - 1970
      81% 76% Catch-22 Capt. Orr (Character) - 1970
      89% 88% Midnight Cowboy The Young Student (Character) $201.0K 1969
      No Score Yet 74% Me, Natalie Morris (Character) - 1969

      TV

      Credit
      86% 78% The Chair Professor Elliot Rentz (Character) 2021
      85% 76% The Simpsons Narrator (Guest Voice) 2021
      87% 77% Condor Reuel Abbott (Character) 2019-2020
      51% 80% The Politician Keaton Hobart (Character) 2019-2020
      84% 77% Animals. Unknown (Guest Voice) 2018
      83% 85% James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Director 2018
      98% 81% Last Week Tonight With John Oliver Crazy Walter (Guest Star),
      Guest
      2015-2016
      99% 87% Broad City Arthur Wexler (Guest Star) 2015-2016
      89% 75% Girls Dr. Rice (Guest Star) 2013-2015
      No Score Yet 36% Jimmy Kimmel Live! Guest 2014
      79% 80% Alpha House Director 2013
      81% 93% Family Tree Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim (Guest Star) 2013
      81% 88% Nurse Jackie Director 2011-2012
      93% 90% The Good Wife Gordon Higgs (Guest Star) 2011-2012
      43% 80% Swingtown Director 2008
      65% 82% Entourage Doctor (Guest Star) 2007
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Hopeless Pictures Director,
      Producer,
      Writer
      2005
      50% 73% The Twilight Zone Director 2002-2003
      79% No Score Yet The Education of Max Bickford Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Dead Last Director 2001
      100% No Score Yet Now and Again Unknown (Guest Star) 2000
      81% 95% The West Wing Ted Marcus (Guest Star) 2000
      78% 93% Friends Frank Buffay Sr. (Guest Star) 1999
      93% 96% Oz Director 1998
      60% No Score Yet Legend Unknown (Character) 1995
      89% 92% Seinfeld Russell Dalrymple (Guest Star) 1992-1993
      No Score Yet 82% Amazing Stories Unknown (Character),
      Director
      1985 1987
      71% 85% Miami Vice Ira Stone (Guest Star) 1985-1986
      100% No Score Yet Maude Unknown (Guest Star) 1976
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Mod Squad Walter (Character),
      Tony (Guest Star)
      1971-1972
      No Score Yet No Score Yet Room 222 Unknown (Guest Star) 1969
      No Score Yet No Score Yet EPIX FREE: Condor Reuel Abbott (Character)