1945-08-16 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.
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Fantasy Life | 2025-03-08 | |
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Bad Actors | 2024-01-01 | |
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80 for Brady | Mark | 2023-02-03 |
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Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy | Self | 2023-06-23 |
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Asteroid City | Larkings Executive | 2023-06-08 |
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How Dare You Want More: The Short Film | 2022-06-14 | |
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How Moving | Uncle Aaron | 2021-06-17 |
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The French Dispatch | Uncle Nick | 2021-10-21 |
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Carl Laemmle | Himself | 2019-01-15 |
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An L.A. Minute | Shelley | 2018-08-24 |
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Isle of Dogs | King (voice) | 2018-03-23 |
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Spielberg | Self | 2017-10-05 |
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Starring Austin Pendleton | Self | 2016-04-01 |
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Eva Hesse | Wilhelm Hesse (voice) | 2016-04-27 |
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Mike Nichols: An American Master | Self | 2016-01-29 |
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Mascots | Sol Lumpkin | 2016-10-11 |
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I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House | Mr. Waxcap | 2016-09-10 |
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Hitchcock/Truffaut | Narrator (voice) | 2015-09-05 |
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À la découverte du tournage de Moonrise Kingdom | Self / The Narrator | 2015-09-22 |
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Everything Is Copy | Self | 2015-09-29 |
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The Grand Budapest Hotel | M. Martin | 2014-02-26 |
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The Monuments Men | Pvt. Preston Savitz | 2014-01-24 |
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Fading Gigolo | Sol | 2013-09-07 |
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Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight | Lawyer (uncredited) | 2013-10-04 |
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Girl Most Likely | Maxwell | 2012-09-07 |
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Do You Like to Read? | The Narrator | 2012-06-08 |
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Moonrise Kingdom | The Narrator | 2012-05-16 |
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Thin Ice | Leonard Dahl | 2012-02-17 |
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The Five Stages of Grief | Voice of Daniel's father | 2011-01-01 |
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F--K | Bob | 2010-04-07 |
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Howl | Judge Clayton Horn | 2010-08-26 |
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The Windmill Movie | Self | 2009-06-17 |
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Rage | Mr. White | 2009-09-24 |
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Recount | Ben Ginsberg | 2008-05-25 |
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No Reservations | Therapist | 2007-06-15 |
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Dedication | Arthur Planck | 2007-08-24 |
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Prince of the City: The Real Story | Self / Santimassino | 2007-01-01 |
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License to Wed | Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited) | 2007-07-04 |
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Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film | Self | 2006-02-21 |
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Lady in the Water | Harry Farber | 2006-07-19 |
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For Your Consideration | Philip Koontz | 2006-11-17 |
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Trust the Man | Tobey's Therapist | 2005-09-01 |
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Capote | William Shawn | 2005-09-30 |
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Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo | Self | 2004-11-23 |
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Marie and Bruce | Roger | 2004-01-19 |
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Scene Stealers | Jonathan Crouch Esq. | 2004-03-04 |
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A Mighty Wind | Jonathan Steinbloom | 2003-04-16 |
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The Making of Gosford Park | Self | 2002-06-18 |
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The Tuxedo | Winton Chalmers (uncredited) | 2002-09-27 |
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Ghost World | Enid's Dad | 2001-07-20 |
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The Majestic | Elvin Glyde | 2001-12-21 |
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The Mexican | Bernie Nayman | 2001-03-01 |
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Plan B | James Foster | 2001-01-01 |
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The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' | Self | 2001-05-08 |
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Gosford Park | Morris Weissman | 2001-12-26 |
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Best in Show | Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III | 2000-09-29 |
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Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger | Tex | 2000-05-01 |
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Three to Tango | Decker | 1999-10-22 |
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Jakob the Liar | Kowalsky | 1999-09-16 |
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The Monster Hunter | Dr. William Powell | 1999-01-01 |
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Swing Vote | Justice Eli MacCorckle | 1999-04-19 |
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Cradle Will Rock | Harry Hopkins | 1999-12-10 |
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Giving Up the Ghost | Bob | 1998-09-07 |
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Clockwatchers | Milton Lasky | 1997-06-12 |
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Deconstructing Harry | Richard | 1997-12-12 |
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Gespräch mit dem Biest | Mr. Webster | 1997-02-20 |
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The Definite Maybe | Wolfe Rollins | 1997-07-04 |
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The Late Shift | Warren Littlefield | 1996-02-24 |
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Waiting for Guffman | Lloyd Miller | 1996-08-21 |
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Pie in the Sky | Paul Entamen | 1996-02-09 |
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George Romero's Golden Tales 2 | 1995-02-06 | |
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City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited) | 1994-06-10 |
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Greedy | Ed | 1994-03-04 |
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For Love or Money | Ed Drinkwater | 1993-10-01 |
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Amos & Andrew | Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink | 1993-03-05 |
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Unnatural Pursuits | Lou Finkleberg | 1992-01-01 |
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Bob Roberts | Cutting Edge Producer | 1992-09-04 |
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Little Man Tate | Quizmaster | 1991-09-06 |
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Alice | Sid Moscowitz | 1990-12-25 |
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The Face of Fear | Ira Preduski | 1990-09-30 |
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Dead Bang | Elliott Webley | 1989-03-24 |
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Funny | Self | 1988-04-01 |
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End of the Line | Warren Gerber | 1987-08-28 |
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2010 : The Odyssey Continues | Himself | 1984-01-01 |
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Nothing Lasts Forever | Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar | 1984-09-06 |
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2010 | Dr. R. Chandra | 1984-12-06 |
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Whose Life Is It Anyway? | Carter Hill | 1981-12-02 |
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Prince of the City | Santimassino | 1981-08-19 |
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Absence of Malice | Elliott Rosen | 1981-11-19 |
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Altered States | Arthur Rosenberg | 1980-12-25 |
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Girlfriends | Martin | 1978-08-11 |
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Close Encounters of the Third Kind | David Laughlin | 1977-12-14 |
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Report to the Commissioner | Joey Egan | 1975-02-05 |
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Bank Shot | Victor Karp | 1974-07-31 |
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Making It | Wilkie | 1971-03-21 |
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Marriage: Year One | Bernie | 1971-10-15 |
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The Strawberry Statement | Elliot | 1970-08-28 |
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Catch-22 | Capt. Orr | 1970-06-24 |
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Midnight Cowboy | The Young Student | 1969-05-25 |
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Me, Natalie | Morris | 1969-07-13 |
