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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.
as Lenny
as Larkings Executive
as Mark
as Uncle Aaron
as Himself
as Shelley
as King (voice)
as Self
as Sol Lumpkin
as Mr. Waxcap
as Wilhelm Hesse (voice)
as Self
as Self
as Self / The Narrator
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as Sol
as M. Martin
as Pvt. Preston Savitz
as Lawyer (uncredited)
as Maxwell
as The Narrator
as The Narrator
as Leonard Dahl
as Voice of Daniel's father
as Judge Clayton Horn
as Bob
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as Ben Ginsberg
as Arthur Planck
as Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
as Therapist
as Self / Santimassino
as Philip Koontz
as Harry Farber
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as Tobey's Therapist
as Jonathan Crouch Esq.
as Roger
as Jonathan Steinbloom
as Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
as Self
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as Morris Weissman
as Elvin Glyde
as Enid's Dad
as Nayman
as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
as Harry Hopkins
as Decker
as Kowalsky
as Justice Eli MacCorckle
as Dr. William Powell
as Bob
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as Wolfe Rollins
as Milton Lasky
as Mr. Webster
as Lloyd Miller
as Warren Littlefield
as Paul Entamen
as Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
as Ed
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as Dr. R. A. (Roy) Fink
as Cutting Edge Producer
as Lou Finkleberg
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as Ira Preduski
as Elliott Webley
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as Guy with Sunglasses in Espresso Bar
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as Martin
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as Joey Egan
as Victor Karp
as Bernie
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as Morris
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