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.

Фільмографія

• 2026Fantasy Life — Lenny
• 2024Bad Actors
• 2024Brooklyn, Minnesota — Producer
• 2023Астероїд-Сіті — Larkings Executive
• 2023Нам за 80 - Ми за Бредi — Mark
• 2022How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
• Розрив — Mark Wilkins
• 2021How Moving — Uncle Aaron
• The Chair — Elliot Rentz
• 2021«Французький вісник» від «Ліберті, Канзас Івнінґ Сан» — Uncle Nick
• Космічні сили — Ron (voice)
• Політик — Keaton Hobart
• 2018An L.A. Minute — Shelley
• Кондор — Reuel Abbott
• Острів літнього табору — Gerald (voice)
• 2018Острів собак — King (voice)
• 2018Чи зможете ви мені пробачити? — Executive Producer
• Wormwood — Dr. Harold A. Abramson
• 2016Eva Hesse — Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
• Graves — Secretary Burns, Director
• 2016I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House — Mr. Waxcap
• 2016Mascots — Sol Lumpkin
• 2015Hitchcock/Truffaut — Narrator (voice)
• Show Me a Hero — Leonard B. Sand
• 2014We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss — Director
• Брод Сіті — Arthur Wexler
• 2014Готель «Ґранд Будапешт» — M. Martin
• 2014Мисливці за скарбами — Pvt. Preston Savitz
• Family Tree — Melvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim
• 2013Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight — Lawyer (uncredited)
• Альфа Будинок — Senator Elliot Robeson, Director
• 2013Під маскою жиголо — Sol
• 2012Do You Like to Read? — The Narrator
• 2012Girl Most Likely — Maxwell
• 2012Thin Ice — Leonard Dahl
• Дівчата — Therapist
• 2012Королiвство повного мiсяця — The Narrator
• China, IL — (voice)
• 2011The Five Stages of Grief — Voice of Daniel's father
• Web Therapy — Ted Mitchell
• 2010F--k — Bob
• 2010Howl — Judge Clayton Horn
• 2009Georgia O'Keeffe — Director
• 2009Rage — Mr. White
• Гарна дружина — Gordon Higgs
• Медсестра Джекі — Director
• 2008Recount — Ben Ginsberg
• Swingtown — Director
• Web Therapy — Ted Mitchell
• 2007Dedication — Arthur Planck
• 2007Ліцензія на шлюб — Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
• 2007Смак життя — Therapist
• 2006Bernard and Doris — Director, Executive Producer
• 2006For Your Consideration — Philip Koontz
• 2006The Exonerated — Director, Executive Producer
• The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman — Producer
• 2006Дівчина з води — Harry Farber
• Hopeless Pictures
• 2005Trust the Man — Tobey's Therapist
• Американський тато! — Glen Hanover (voice)
• 2005Капоте — William Shawn
• 2004Marie and Bruce — Roger
• 2004Scene Stealers — Jonathan Crouch Esq.
• Tom Goes to the Mayor — Walt Pickle (voice)
• Антураж — Doctor
• 2003A Mighty Wind — Jonathan Steinbloom
• 2002Plan B — James Foster
• 2002Смокінг — Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
• Сутінкова зона — Director
• 2001Мажестік — Elvin Glyde
• 2001Мексиканець — Nayman
• 2001Світ примар — Enid's Dad
• 2001Ґосфорд Парк — Morris Weissman, Producer, Idea
• 2000Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger — Tex
• 2000Переможці шоу — Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
• 1999Cradle Will Rock — Harry Hopkins
• 1999Jakob the Liar — Kowalsky
• Now and Again — Director
• Strangers with Candy — Director
• 1999Swing Vote — Justice Eli MacCorckle
• 1999The Monster Hunter — Dr. William Powell
• 1999The Wedding Toast — Director, Producer
• 1999Three to Tango — Decker
• Західне крило — Ted Marcus
• 1998Giving Up the Ghost — Bob
• 1997Clockwatchers — Milton Lasky
• 1997Conversation with the Beast — Mr. Webster
• 1997Subway Stories — Director
• 1997The Definite Maybe — Wolfe Rollins
• 1997Waiting for Guffman — Lloyd Miller
• В'язниця «Оz» — Director
• 1997Розбираючи Гаррі — Richard
• 1996Pie in the Sky — Paul Entamen
• 1996The Late Shift — Warren Littlefield
• Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist — Bob (voice), Additional Writing
• 1995George Romero's Golden Tales 2 — Writer
• 1995George Romero's Golden Tales 3 — Director
• Legend — Director
• 1994City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold — Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
• 1994The Last Good Time — Director, Screenplay, Producer
• Друзі — Frank Sr.
• 1994Жадібність — Ed
• 1993Amos & Andrew — Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
• 1993My Boyfriend's Back — Director
• 1993Stephen King's Golden Tales — Writer
• 1993За любов або гроші — Ed Drinkwater
• 1992Bob Roberts — Cutting Edge Producer
• 1992Unnatural Pursuits — Lou Finkleberg
• Eerie, Indiana — Director
• 1991Маленька людина Тейт — Quizmaster
• 1990Alice — Sid Moscowitz
• 1990Tales from the Darkside — Director
• 1990The Face of Fear — Ira Preduski
• 1989Dead Bang — Elliott Webley
• 1989Parents — Director
• Сайнфелд — Russell Dalrymple
• Сімпсони — Narrator (voice)
• Monsters — Writer
• 1987End of the Line — Warren Gerber
• 1987Penn & Teller's Invisible Thread — Director
• Дивовижні історії — Jo-Jo Gillespie, Director
• 19842010: Рік у який ми встановили контакт — Dr. R. Chandra
• 1984Nothing Lasts Forever — Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
• Казки з темного боку — Writer
• Поліція Маямі — Ira Stone
• 1983The Brass Ring — Director
• 1983Trick or Treat — Director
• 1981Absence of Malice — Elliott Rosen
• 1981Prince of the City — Santimassino
• 1981Whose Life Is It Anyway? — Carter Hill
• 1980Altered States — Arthur Rosenberg
• 1978Girlfriends — Martin
• 1977Близькі контакти третього ступеня — David Laughlin
• 1975Report to the Commissioner — Joey Egan
• 1974The Bank Shot — Victor Karp
• Maude — Ambrose Riley, Director
• 1971Making It — Wilkie
• 1971Marriage: Year One — Bernie
• 1970The Strawberry Statement — Elliot
• 1970Пастка-22 — Capt. Orr
• Love, American Style — Nick
• 1969Me, Natalie — Morris
• Room 222
• 1969Опiвнiчний ковбой — The Young Student
• The Mod Squad
• Hank

Ток-шоу, премії та інші появи (21)

• 2023Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy — Self
• 2019Carl Laemmle — Himself
• James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction — Self
• 2017Спілберґ — Self
• 2016Mike Nichols: An American Master — Self
• 2016Starring Austin Pendleton — Self
• 2015Everything Is Copy — Self
• 2015Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom' — Self / The Narrator
• Події минулого тижня з Джоном Олівером — Self
• Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood — Self
• 2009The Windmill Movie — Self
• 2007Prince of the City: The Real Story — Self / Santimassino
• 2006Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film — Self
• 2004Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo — Self
• Джиммі Кіммел наживо! — Self - Guest
• 2002The Making of Gosford Park — Self
• 2001The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' — Self
• 1988Funny — Self
• 19842010 : The Odyssey Continues — Himself
• Fridays — Self
• The Mike Douglas Show — Self