Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban

Biography: 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.

Place of Birth: Not available

Birthday: August 16, 1945

Deathday: N/A

Popularity:

10.722

Known For

80 for Brady
80 for Brady

2023-02-03

Ghost World
Ghost World

2001-07-20

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind

1977-12-14

Jakob the Liar
Jakob the Liar

1999-09-16

Midnight Cowboy
Midnight Cowboy

1969-05-25

Conversation with the Beast
Conversation with the Beast

1997-02-20

Deconstructing Harry
Deconstructing Harry

1997-12-12

No Reservations
No Reservations

2007-06-15

2010
2010

1984-12-06

Dead Bang
Dead Bang

1989-03-24

Gosford Park
Gosford Park

2001-11-07

The Late Shift
The Late Shift

1996-02-24

The Majestic
The Majestic

2001-12-21

Little Man Tate
Little Man Tate

1991-09-06

Altered States
Altered States

1980-12-25

The Mexican
The Mexican

2001-03-01

Whose Life Is It Anyway?
Whose Life Is It Anyway?

1981-12-02

For Love or Money
For Love or Money

1993-10-01

Carl Laemmle
Carl Laemmle

2019-01-15

Rage
Rage

2009-09-24

Lady in the Water
Lady in the Water

2006-07-20

Scene Stealers
Scene Stealers

2004-03-04

Best in Show
Best in Show

2000-09-29

Dedication
Dedication

2007-08-24

Recount
Recount

2008-05-25

The Windmill Movie
The Windmill Movie

2009-06-17

Report to the Commissioner
Report to the Commissioner

1975-02-05

For Your Consideration
For Your Consideration

2006-11-17

Howl
Howl

2010-08-26

Waiting for Guffman
Waiting for Guffman

1996-08-21

Funny
Funny

1988-04-01

End of the Line
End of the Line

1987-08-28

Absence of Malice
Absence of Malice

1981-11-19

The Strawberry Statement
The Strawberry Statement

1970-08-28

Girl Most Likely
Girl Most Likely

2012-09-07

Clockwatchers
Clockwatchers

1997-06-12

Asteroid City
Asteroid City

2023-06-08

Unnatural Pursuits
Unnatural Pursuits

1992-01-01

The Grand Budapest Hotel
The Grand Budapest Hotel

2014-02-26

The Monster Hunter
The Monster Hunter

1999-01-01

The Monuments Men
The Monuments Men

2014-01-24

An L.A. Minute
An L.A. Minute

2018-08-24

Me, Natalie
Me, Natalie

1969-07-13

Making It
Making It

1971-03-21

Fading Gigolo
Fading Gigolo

2013-09-07

How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film

2022-06-14

Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom

2012-05-16

Girlfriends
Girlfriends

1978-08-11

Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'

2015-09-22

Nothing Lasts Forever
Nothing Lasts Forever

1984-09-06

City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold

1994-06-10

Giving Up the Ghost
Giving Up the Ghost

1998-09-07

Swing Vote
Swing Vote

1999-04-19

A Mighty Wind
A Mighty Wind

2003-04-16

Trust the Man
Trust the Man

2005-09-01

A Monster in Paris
A Monster in Paris

2011-10-12

The Definite Maybe
The Definite Maybe

1997-07-04

Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy

2023-06-23

Thin Ice
Thin Ice

2012-02-17

Three to Tango
Three to Tango

1999-10-22

Greedy
Greedy

1994-03-04

Mascots
Mascots

2016-10-11

The Bank Shot
The Bank Shot

1974-07-31

Marriage: Year One
Marriage: Year One

1971-10-15

Cradle Will Rock
Cradle Will Rock

1999-12-10

Pie in the Sky
Pie in the Sky

1996-02-09

Eva Hesse
Eva Hesse

2016-04-27

The Five Stages of Grief
The Five Stages of Grief

2011-01-01

Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs

2018-03-23

Catch-22
Catch-22

1970-06-24

The Face of Fear
The Face of Fear

1990-09-30

I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House

2016-09-10

George Romero's Golden Tales 2
George Romero's Golden Tales 2

1999-10-25

Prince of the City
Prince of the City

1981-08-19

Mike Nichols: An American Master
Mike Nichols: An American Master

2016-01-29

Bob Roberts
Bob Roberts

1992-09-04

The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'

2001-05-08

Spielberg
Spielberg

2017-10-05

Everything Is Copy
Everything Is Copy

2015-09-29

Capote
Capote

2005-09-30

The Tuxedo
The Tuxedo

2002-09-27

Amos & Andrew
Amos & Andrew

1993-03-05

Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film
Controversy and Acclaim: The Timelessness of a Groundbreaking Film

2006-02-21

Plan B
Plan B

2001-01-01

Starring Austin Pendleton
Starring Austin Pendleton

2016-04-01

Hitchcock/Truffaut
Hitchcock/Truffaut

2015-09-04

Marie and Bruce
Marie and Bruce

2004-01-19

Do You Like to Read?
Do You Like to Read?

2012-06-08

The French Dispatch
The French Dispatch

2021-10-21

License to Wed
License to Wed

2007-07-04

F--k
F--k

2010-04-07

Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger
Tex, the Passive/Aggressive Gunslinger

2000-05-01

Alice
Alice

1990-12-25

The Making of 'Gosford Park'
The Making of 'Gosford Park'

2002-06-18

Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight

2013-10-04

How Moving
How Moving

2021-06-17

Prince of the City: The Real Story
Prince of the City: The Real Story

2007-01-01

Fantasy Life
Fantasy Life

2025-03-08