
Bob Balaban
Born August 16, 1945 · 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.
Notable Appearances
Movies

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Isle of Dogs

The Tuxedo

Close Encounters of the Third Kind

Asteroid City

Moonrise Kingdom

The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun

No Reservations

80 for Brady

The Monuments Men

Lady in the Water

Midnight Cowboy

Gosford Park

The Majestic

2010

Best in Show

The Mexican

For Love or Money

License to Wed

Altered States

Little Man Tate

Catch-22

Deconstructing Harry

Fading Gigolo

Greedy

Jakob the Liar

Amos & Andrew

Ghost World

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

Capote

Prince of the City

Three to Tango

Cradle Will Rock

A Mighty Wind

Absence of Malice

Alice

For Your Consideration
TV Shows

Seinfeld

Jimmy Kimmel Live!

The West Wing

The Good Wife

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver

Love, American Style

Miami Vice

Entourage

Severance

Summer Camp Island

Amazing Stories

Broad City

Girls

Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist

The Mod Squad

Web Therapy

Maude

Space Force

Room 222

Tom Goes to the Mayor

China, IL

Fridays

Condor

Web Therapy

The Politician

Alpha House

Graves

James Cameron's Story of Science Fiction

Now and Again

Show Me a Hero

The Chair

Family Tree

Hank

Wormwood

Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood

Legend

Hopeless Pictures
More Movies

Thin Ice

Spielberg

Trust the Man

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House

Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight

Whose Life Is It Anyway?

Girl Most Likely

Pie in the Sky

End of the Line

Mike Nichols: An American Master

Waiting for Guffman

Scene Stealers

Howl

Me, Natalie

Bob Roberts

The Making of Gosford Park

Kramer vs. Kramer: Kenny to Cosmo

Report to the Commissioner

Clockwatchers

Dead Bang

Girlfriends

The Late Shift

Recount

Hitchcock/Truffaut

Mascots

Conversation with the Beast

Fantasy Life

Everything Is Copy

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'

An L.A. Minute

Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger

The Strawberry Statement

2010 : The Odyssey Continues

Marriage: Year One

The Bank Shot

The Face of Fear

Bad Actors

George Romero's Golden Tales 2

Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy

Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film

Marie and Bruce

Prince of the City: The Real Story

Nothing Lasts Forever

Swing Vote

Giving Up the Ghost

F--k

The Windmill Movie

Starring Austin Pendleton

Carl Laemmle

Dedication

The Five Stages of Grief

Plan B

Funny

Rage

How Dare You Want More: The Short Film

The Monster Hunter

Do You Like to Read?

The Definite Maybe

Unnatural Pursuits

Making It

Eva Hesse




