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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.

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Highest rated movies

98% 81% Can You Ever Forgive Me? Watchlist 96% 77% Hitchcock/Truffaut Watchlist
93% 70% Girlfriends
Watchlist 93% 86% Moonrise Kingdom Watchlist
93% 82% Prince of the City
Watchlist
93% 84% Ghost World
Watchlist
93% 88% Best in Show
Watchlist
91% 91% Waiting for Guffman
Watchlist 91% 77% Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy Watchlist 90% 87% Isle of Dogs Watchlist
View All Bob Balaban photos

Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban 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 View more photos

Filmography

Movies

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round Letter to the Editor (Voice) - 2024
58% 89% 80 for Brady Mark (Character) $39.3M 2023
91% 77% 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
59% 23% 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% 77% Hitchcock/Truffaut Self $304.9K 2015
30% 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
24% 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
69% 51% Thin Ice Leonard Dahl (Character) $789.8K 2011
64% 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
78% 81% Recount Ben Ginsberg (Character) - 2008
No Score Yet 55% Bernard and Doris Director - 2008
40% 64% Dedication Arthur Patrick (Character) $91.2K 2007
43% 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
30% 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
86% 61% Clockwatchers Milton Lasky (Character) $444.4K 1997
No Score Yet 61% Subway Stories Director - 1997
74% 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% 46% 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% 44% Dead Bang Elliot Webly (Character) $7.4M 1989
64% 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
93% 82% Prince of the City Santimassino (Character) - 1981
81% 64% Absence of Malice Rosen (Character) - 1981
85% 71% Altered States Arthur Rosenberg (Character) - 1980
93% 70% Girlfriends Martin (Character) - 1978
90% 85% Close Encounters of the Third Kind David Laughlin (Character) $3.1M 1977
43% 63% 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
17% No Score Yet Making It Wilkie (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 76% Me, Natalie Morris (Character) - 1969

TV

Credit
86% 77% The Chair Professor Elliot Rentz (Character) 2021
85% 76% The Simpsons Narrator (Guest Voice) 2021
87% 79% Condor Reuel Abbott (Character) 2019-2020
51% 80% The Politician Keaton Hobart (Character) 2019-2020
84% 79% Animals. Unknown (Guest Voice) 2018
83% 85% James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction Director 2018
No Score Yet 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 42% 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% 77% 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% 86% 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% 95% 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% 89% Miami Vice Ira Stone (Guest Star) 1985-1986
No Score Yet 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)