Stephen Tobolowsky

75 years old 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.

Recent movies

# Name Character Rating
1 Freakier Friday (2025) Mr. Elton Bates 9
2 Poolman (2024) Stephen Toronkowski / Blanche 3
3 Haul Out the Holly: Lit Up (2023) Ned 5.3
4 Candy Cane Lane (2023) Mr. Benedetto (uncredited) 4.5
5 Haul Out the Holly (2022) Ned 6
6 Live in Front of a Studio Audience: Norman Lear's "All in the Family" and "The Jeffersons" (2019) Mr. Bentley 7
7 Loners (2019) Mr. Tessman -
8 The Spooky Tale of Captain Underpants Hack-a-ween (2019) Creepy Rattlechains (voice) 5
9 Fantastic Mr. Murray (2019) Self - Interviewee 7
10 Fractured (2019) Dr. Berthram 6.8
11 Strange Nature (2018) Mayor Paulson -
12 Monsters at Large (2018) Mr. Phillips 4
13 Scooby-Doo! Shaggy's Showdown (2017) Andy Gunderson (voice) 6.5
14 The Confirmation (2016) Father Lyons 6.8
15 The Barber (2015) Chief Hardaway 6
16 The Primary Instinct (2015) Director / Writer -
17 Hello Ladies: The Movie (2014) Alan 6
18 Hello Ladies: The Movie (2014) Alan 6
19 Atlas Shrugged: Part III (2014) Dr. Hugh Akston 3
20 Mr. Peabody & Sherman (2014) Principal Purdy (voice) 6.9
21 Guys and Girls Can't Be Friends (2014) Andy -
22 Christian Mingle (2014) Douglas McCarver 3
23 Toy Story of Terror! (2013) Ron (voice) 7.8
24 The Lorax (2012) Uncle Ubb (voice) 6.6
25 The Last Ride (2012) Ray -
26 Hard Breakers (2011) Max -
27 You May Not Kiss the Bride (2011) Plumber 6.4
28 Buried (2010) Alan Davenport (voice) 6.5
29 Peep World (2010) Ephraim 6
30 The Face is Familiar (2009) - -
31 The Time Traveler's Wife (2009) Dr. Kendrick 7.4
32 The Rainbow Tribe (2008) Principal Sands 8
33 Beethoven's Big Break (2008) Sal 5.7
34 Wild Hogs (2007) Charley 5.7
35 The Valley of Light (2007) Littlefield -
36 The Sasquatch Gang (2006) Dalrymple -
37 Blind Dating (2006) Dr. Perkins 5.8
38 Failure to Launch (2006) Bud 5.7
39 Living 'til the End (2005) Dr. Shaw -
40 Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous (2005) Tom Abernathy 5.4
41 Robots (2005) Bigmouth Executive / Forge (voice) 6.8
42 McBride: The Doctor is Out...Really Out (2005) Harry Evers 7
43 Win a Date with Tad Hamilton! (2004) George Ruddy 5.4
44 Garfield (2004) Happy Chapman 4.9
45 Little Black Book (2004) Carl 5.2
46 Thelma & Louise: The Last Journey (2003) Self -
47 National Security (2003) Billy Narthax 5.7
48 View from the Top (2003) Frank Thomas (uncredited) 5
49 Freaky Friday (2003) Mr. Bates 6.3
50 Love Liza (2002) Tom Bailey -
51 Par 6 (2002) T.T. Riley -
52 The Country Bears (2002) Norbert Barrington 5.5
53 Ritual (2002) Dr. Javitz (uncredited) 4
54 The Day the World Ended (2001) Ed Turner -
55 On the Edge (2001) Tom (wraparound segments) -
56 Freddy Got Fingered (2001) Uncle Neil 5.1
57 Sleep Easy, Hutch Rimes (2000) Dewey Wise -
58 Bossa Nova (2000) Trevor 5
59 Memento (2000)
Oscars 2002 		Sammy 8.2
60 The Operator (2000) Doc -
61 The Insider (1999)
Oscars 2000 		Eric Kluster 7.2
62 Don't Look Under the Bed (1999) Michael McCausland 4.5
63 An Alan Smithee Film: Burn, Hollywood, Burn (1998) Bill Bardo -
64 Around the Fire (1998) Doc 5
65 The Brave Little Toaster Goes to Mars (1998) Calculator (voice) 6
66 Black Dog (1998) McClaren 2
67 The Jungle Book: Mowgli's Story (1998) Tabaqui (voice) 6
68 Mr. Magoo (1997) Agent FBI Chuck Stupak 4.7
69 The Glimmer Man (1996) Christopher Maynard 4.8
70 Homeward Bound II: Lost in San Francisco (1996) Bando (voice) 7
71 Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde (1995) Oliver Mintz -
72 Murder in the First (1995) Mr. Henkin 7
73 Radioland Murders (1994) Max Applewhite -
74 My Father the Hero (1994) Mike 6.3
75 Calendar Girl (1993) Antonio 4
76 Groundhog Day (1993) Ned Ryerson 8
77 The Pickle (1993) Mike Krakower 7
78 Josh & S.A.M. (1993) Thomas 'Thom' Whitney -
79 Memoirs of an Invisible Man (1992) Warren Singleton 7.1
80 Basic Instinct (1992) Dr. Lamott 6.7
81 Where the Day Takes You (1992) Charles -
82 Hero (1992) Wallace 6.5
83 Single White Female (1992) Mitch Myerson 6.8
84 Roadside Prophets (1992) Ranger Bob 6
85 Sneakers (1992) Dr. Werner Brandes 7.5
86 The Marla Hanson Story (1991) Defense Attorney -
87 Thelma & Louise (1991) Max 7.4
88 Wedlock (1991) Warden Holliday 3
89 Mirror Mirror (1990) Mr. Anderson 9
90 The Grifters (1990) Jeweler 6.3
91 Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael (1990) Mayor Bill Klepler 6.5
92 Bird on a Wire (1990) Joe Weyburn 5.9
93 Funny About Love (1990) Hugo -
94 In Country (1989) Pete -
95 Breaking In (1989) District Attorney -
96 Great Balls of Fire! (1989) Jud Phillips 6.5
97 Mississippi Burning (1988) Townley 8.2
98 Two Idiots in Hollywood (1988) Director / Writer -
99 Checking Out (1988) Pharmacist -
100 Spaceballs (1987) Captain of the Guard 7.3
101 True Stories (1986) Director / Writer 6.5
102 Nobody's Fool (1986) Kirk 6
103 Swing Shift (1984) French deMille / Documentary Narrator 2
104 The Philadelphia Experiment (1984) Barney 6.5
105 Keep My Grave Open (1977) Robert -