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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Asteroid City | Larkings Executive | 2023-06-08 |
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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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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 | 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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I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House | Mr. Waxcap | 2016-09-10 |
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Mascots | Sol Lumpkin | 2016-10-11 |
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À la découverte du tournage de Moonrise Kingdom | Self / The Narrator | 2015-09-22 |
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Hitchcock/Truffaut | Narrator (voice) | 2015-09-04 |
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Everything Is Copy | Self | 2015-09-29 |
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The Grand Budapest Hotel | Monsieur 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 | 2013-10-04 |
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Moonrise Kingdom: Welcome to the Island of New Penzance | Self | 2012-10-16 |
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Do You Like to Read? | The Narrator | 2012-06-08 |
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Girl Most Likely | Maxwell | 2012-09-07 |
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Thin Ice | Leonard Dahl | 2012-02-17 |
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Moonrise Kingdom | The Narrator | 2012-05-16 |
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Un monstre à Paris | Pâté | 2011-10-12 |
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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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Dedication | Arthur Planck | 2007-08-24 |
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License to Wed | Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited) | 2007-07-04 |
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No Reservations | Therapist | 2007-06-15 |
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Prince of the City: The Real Story | 2007-01-01 | |
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Lady in the Water | Harry Farber | 2006-07-20 |
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Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film | Self | 2006-02-21 |
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For Your Consideration | Philip Koontz | 2006-11-17 |
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Capote | William Shawn | 2005-09-30 |
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Trust the Man | Tobey's Therapist | 2005-09-01 |
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Scene Stealers | Jonathan Crouch Esq. | 2004-03-04 |
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Marie and Bruce | Roger | 2004-01-19 |
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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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The Majestic | Elvin Glyde | 2001-12-21 |
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The Mexican | Bernie Nayman | 2001-03-01 |
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Gosford Park | Morris Weissman | 2001-11-07 |
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Ghost World | Enid's Dad | 2001-07-20 |
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The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' | Self | 2001-05-08 |
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Plan B | James Foster | 2001-01-01 |
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Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger | Tex | 2000-05-01 |
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Best in Show | Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III | 2000-09-29 |
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The Monster Hunter | Dr. William Powell | 1999-01-01 |
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Cradle Will Rock | Harry Hopkins | 1999-12-10 |
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Swing Vote | Justice Eli MacCorckle | 1999-04-19 |
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Jakob the Liar | Kowalsky | 1999-09-16 |
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Three to Tango | Decker | 1999-10-22 |
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Giving Up the Ghost | Bob | 1998-09-07 |
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Gespräch mit dem Biest | Mr. Webster | 1997-02-20 |
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Clockwatchers | Milton Lasky | 1997-06-12 |
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The Definite Maybe | Wolfe Rollins | 1997-07-04 |
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Deconstructing Harry | Richard | 1997-12-12 |
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Pie in the Sky | Paul Entamen | 1996-02-09 |
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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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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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Bob Roberts | Cutting Edge Producer | 1992-09-04 |
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Unnatural Pursuits | Lou Finkleberg | 1992-01-01 |
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Little Man Tate | Quizmaster | 1991-09-06 |
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The Face of Fear | Ira Preduski | 1990-09-30 |
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Alice | Sid Moscowitz | 1990-12-25 |
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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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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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Absence of Malice | Elliott Rosen | 1981-11-19 |
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Prince of the City | Santimassino | 1981-08-19 |
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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 |
