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David Paymer

Highest Rated: 100% Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)

Lowest Rated: 10% Chill Factor (1999)

Birthday: Aug 30, 1954

Birthplace: Oceanside, New York, USA

For years, character actor David Paymer appeared in a multitude of film and television projects, though his name remained unrecognizable to most. But that all began to change with his breakthrough supporting performance in "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992), which earned his first Academy Award nomination. Ever since that time, Paymer delivered noted turns in several prominent features, including "Quiz Show" (1994), for which he earned perhaps his greatest critical acclaim and showed filmmakers the depths he could take a performance, particularly as a villain. He continued to land interesting roles, often in historical films like playing former White House press secretary Ron Ziegler in "Nixon" (1995), Secretary of State John Forsyth in "Amistad" (1997) and noted defense attorney Myron Beldock in "The Hurricane" (1999). His portrayal of a smarmy Hollywood producer who only thinks of money in David Mamet's satirical "State and Main" (2000) only boosted the actor's already elevated profile. Later in his career, Paymer began directing episodes of several popular shows, while continuing to appear in a variety of onscreen roles, proving that he was both versatile as well as talented.

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Highest rated movies

100% 86% Searching for Bobby Fischer
Watchlist
97% 87% Quiz Show
Watchlist
92% 72% No Way Out
Watchlist
92% 62% Drag Me to Hell
Watchlist
91% 77% The American President
Watchlist
89% 65% City Slickers
Watchlist
89% 70% Get Shorty
Watchlist
89% 83% The In-Laws
Watchlist
86% Bad Shabbos
Watchlist
85% 70% State and Main
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
86% No Score Yet Bad Shabbos Richard (Character) - 2024
No Score Yet No Score Yet B'Twixt Now and Sunrise Sam Malkin (Character) - 2023
31% 62% The Sunlit Night Levi (Character) - 2019
50% 74% Where'd You Go, Bernadette Jay Ross (Character) $9.2M 2019
71% 64% Accident Man Milton (Character) - 2018
55% 35% Lemon Dr. Gold (Character) $29.1K 2017
36% 88% The Pickle Recipe Uncle Morty (Character) - 2016
No Score Yet 26% Two-Bit Waltz The Lawyer (Character) $2.0K 2014
64% 51% The Five-Year Engagement Pete Solomon (Character) $28.6M 2012
33% 19% Twixt Sam (Character) - 2011
45% 36% Bad Teacher Dr. Vogel (Character) $100.3M 2011
92% 62% Drag Me to Hell Mr. Jacks (Character) $42.1M 2009
61% 60% Resurrecting the Champ Whitley (Character) $3.2M 2007
70% 75% Ocean's Thirteen The V.U.P. (Character) $117.1M 2007
No Score Yet 70% School of Life Matt Warner (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 77% Warm Springs Louis Howe (Character) - 2005
43% 58% Checking Out Ted Applebaum (Character) - 2005
No Score Yet 39% My Suicidal Sweetheart Max Sr. (Character) - 2005
22% 62% Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School Rafael Horowitz (Character) $247.1K 2005
No Score Yet 62% Balto III: Wings of Change Mel (Voice) - 2004
83% 54% In Good Company Morty (Character) $45.5M 2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Capital City Unknown (Character) - 2004
11% 41% Alex & Emma John Shaw (Character) $14.2M 2003
No Score Yet 56% Joe and Max Joe Jacobs (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 42% RFK Unknown (Character) - 2002
50% 23% The Burial Society Morry Zimmer (Character) $20.6K 2002
36% 69% Bartleby The Boss (Character) $141.4K 2001
55% 62% Focus FInkelstein (Character) $719.8K 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Partners Bob (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 78% For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story Embassy interviewer (Character) - 2000
57% No Score Yet Enemies of Laughter Paul Halpern (Character) - 2000
85% 70% State and Main Marty Rossen (Character) $6.9M 2000
26% 41% Bait Agent Wooly (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 67% Dash and Lilly Arthur Kober (Character) - 1999
58% 65% Mumford Dr. Ernest Delbanco (Character) $4.6M 1999
83% 87% The Hurricane Myron Bedlock (Character) $50.7M 1999
10% 30% Chill Factor Dr. Richard Long (Character) $11.2M 1999
56% 69% Payback Arthur Stegman (Character) $81.5M 1999
54% 41% Mighty Joe Young Harry Ruben (Character) $50.6M 1998
25% 43% Outside Ozona Alan Defaux (Character) $7.4K 1998
60% 73% The Lesser Evil George (Character) - 1998
23% 58% The 6th Man Coach Pederson (Character) $14.8M 1997
78% 79% Amistad Secretary Forsyth (Character) - 1997
50% 65% Gang Related Elliot Goff (Character) $5.9M 1997
14% 40% Carpool Daniel Miller (Character) $3.3M 1996
60% 37% City Hall Abe Goodman (Character) $20.0M 1996
24% 49% Unforgettable Curtis Avery (Character) $2.5M 1996
No Score Yet 74% Crime of the Century David Wilentz (Character) - 1996
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cagney & Lacey: Together Again Deputy D.A. Feldberg (Character) - 1995
75% 74% Nixon Ron Ziegler (Character) $13.7M 1995
91% 77% The American President Leon Kodak (Character) $59.0M 1995
89% 70% Get Shorty Leo Devoe (Character) $68.8M 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet Cagney & Lacey: The Return Deputy Dist. Atty. Feldberg (Character) - 1994
No Score Yet 77% In Search of Dr. Seuss The Ad Man (Character) - 1994
97% 87% Quiz Show Dan Enright (Character) $24.8M 1994
15% 31% City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold Ira Shalowitz (Character) $43.4M 1994
58% 76% Heart and Souls Hal the Bus Driver (Character) $16.4M 1993
100% 86% Searching for Bobby Fischer Kalev (Character) $7.9M 1993
59% 38% Mr. Saturday Night Stan (Character) $12.6M 1992
89% 65% City Slickers Ira Shalowitz (Character) $119.8M 1991
35% 62% Crazy People George (Character) - 1990
10% 34% No Holds Barred Unger (Character) $16.1M 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Matlock: The Prisoner Lenny Marcus (Character) - 1989
92% 72% No Way Out David (Character) $31.7M 1987
13% 38% Howard the Duck Larry (Character) $15.0M 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Pleasures Stanley (Character) - 1986
60% 47% Irreconcilable Differences Alan Sluiser (Character) - 1984
42% 50% Airplane II: The Sequel Court Photographer (Character) - 1982
No Score Yet 60% This House Possessed Pasternak (Character) - 1981
89% 83% The In-Laws Cab Driver (Character) - 1979

TV

Credit
88% 68% St. Denis Medical Bob (Guest Star) 2024
88% 54% Room 104 Robert (Character) 2019
95% 88% Brooklyn Nine-Nine Dr. William Tate (Guest Star) 2019
90% 84% The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel Harry Drake (Guest Star) 2017-2018
93% 47% The Conners Gary (Guest Star) 2018
26% 84% Pure Genius Unknown (Guest Star) 2017
93% 90% The Good Wife Judge Richard Cuesta (Guest Star) 2009-2010 2012 2014-2016
81% 88% Hart of Dixie Director 2011-2015
61% 84% Franklin & Bash Director 2013
No Score Yet 62% Mistresses Director 2013
No Score Yet 90% The Mentalist Unknown (Guest Star),
Director
2011 2013
84% 85% The Carrie Diaries Director 2013
100% 94% Bunheads Director 2012-2013
No Score Yet 38% 90210 Director 2011
71% 82% No Ordinary Family Director 2010
65% 44% Hellcats Director 2010
78% 83% Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Stephen Elroy (Guest Star) 2010
No Score Yet 80% Medium Director 2010
71% 77% Life Unexpected Director 2010
94% 82% Men of a Certain Age Director 2010
60% 30% Melrose Place Director 2009
63% No Score Yet Privileged Director 2008-2009
79% 84% Brothers & Sisters Donald Dudley (Guest Star),
Director
2007-2009
85% 77% The Unit Director 2008
82% 88% My Name Is Earl Clark Clark (Guest Star) 2008
11% No Score Yet October Road Dr. Doug Levy (Guest Star),
Director
2007-2008
No Score Yet 88% Gilmore Girls Director 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet What About Brian Director 2007
No Score Yet 87% Ghost Whisperer Unknown (Guest Star) 2006
65% 82% Entourage Sammy Kane (Guest Star) 2006
19% No Score Yet Pepper Dennis Director 2006
No Score Yet 68% One Tree Hill Director 2004 2006
84% 72% Grey's Anatomy Director 2006
93% No Score Yet Everwood Director 2004-2005
88% No Score Yet Jack & Bobby Director 2005
60% No Score Yet Line of Fire Jonah Malloy (Character) 2003-2004
No Score Yet No Score Yet Century City Unknown (Guest Star) 2004
No Score Yet 75% Without a Trace Unknown (Guest Star) 2002
No Score Yet No Score Yet Night Visions Unknown (Character) 2001
100% 69% The Larry Sanders Show Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Commish Arnie (Guest Star) 1991-1992
No Score Yet No Score Yet Jake and the Fatman Unknown (Guest Star) 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet Matlock Unknown (Guest Star) 1989
No Score Yet No Score Yet Who's the Boss? Unknown (Guest Star) 1988
No Score Yet No Score Yet My Sister Sam Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet 21 Jump Street Mike Ferris (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diff'rent Strokes Unknown (Guest Star) 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Jeffersons David (Guest Star) 1983
No Score Yet 67% Taxi Ned (Guest Star) 1982
No Score Yet No Score Yet Hart to Hart Unknown (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Happy Days Dwayne (Guest Star) 1981
No Score Yet No Score Yet Barney Miller Felix Morrissey (Guest Star) 1980
No Score Yet No Score Yet Greatest American Hero The Gatekeeper (Guest Star)