Bob Balaban

Known for ActingBorn 1945-08-16 (age 80)Chicago, Illinois, USA

Robert Elmer Balaban, Born: August 16, 1945, Chicago, Illinois, U.S (Height: 5' 5" [1.65 m]). is an American actor, author, comedian, director, and producer. He is best known for his appearances in the Christopher Guest mockumentary comedies Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006), as well as his roles in the films Midnight Cowboy (1969), Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), 2010 (1984), Deconstructing Harry (1997), and Capote (2005). Balaban has also directed three feature films, in addition to numerous television episodes and films. He is also an author of children's novels. Balaban began his career in the 1960s, appearing in small roles in films and television shows. He made his breakthrough role in the 1969 film Midnight Cowboy, playing a young hustler who befriends an aging rodeo cowboy. In the 1970s, Balaban appeared in a number of popular films, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), Altered States (1980), and 2010 (1984). He also continued to work in television, appearing in recurring roles on the shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. In the 1990s, Balaban began a long and fruitful collaboration with filmmaker Christopher Guest. He appeared in all of Guest's mockumentary comedies, including Waiting for Guffman (1996), Best in Show (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), and For Your Consideration (2006). Balaban's performances in these films were widely praised, and he earned a reputation as one of the most reliable comedic actors in Hollywood. In addition to his work in film and television, Balaban has also directed three feature films: The Last Shot (1999), Bernie (2011), and A Little Help (2010). He is also a successful author of children's novels, and he has won several awards for his writing. Balaban is a respected and versatile actor who has enjoyed a long and successful career in the entertainment industry. He is known for his sharp wit, his impeccable comedic timing, and his ability to create memorable characters. He is a true Renaissance man, and he is sure to continue to entertain audiences for many years to come. Balaban has been nominated for numerous awards throughout his career. He has won two Primetime Emmy Awards, for his work on the television shows Lou Grant and Designing Women. He has also been nominated for two Tony Awards, for his performances in the Broadway plays The Norman Conquests and The Plough and the Stars. Balaban is a recipient of the American Film Institute's Lifetime Achievement Award. He is also a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Balaban is married to Lynn Grossman, and they have two children together. He is a resident of New York City.Read more

Movies & web series

Conversation with the Beast

2010 : The Odyssey Continues

Severance

Friends

The West Wing

Brooklyn, Minnesota

Seinfeld

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Oz

Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger

Isle of Dogs

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Summer Camp Island

The Simpsons

Funny

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

Moonrise Kingdom

Spielberg

The Good Wife

The Exonerated

Web Therapy

Strangers with Candy

Everything Is Copy

Eerie, Indiana

Entourage

Hitchcock/Truffaut

Miami Vice

Amazing Stories

Alpha House

Deconstructing Harry

Broad City

Condor

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun

Midnight Cowboy

Nurse Jackie

The Politician

Show Me a Hero

We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

The Twilight Zone

The Five Stages of Grief

Ghost World

The Windmill Movie

American Dad!

Scene Stealers

Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo

Tom Goes to the Mayor

Tales from the Darkside