Born
16 August 1945 (80)
Place of Birth
Chicago, Illinois, USA
Also known as
Robert Elmer Balaban, Robert Balaban
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...
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.
Fantasy Life
2026
Bad Actors
2024
Desperate Souls, Dark City and the Legend of Midnight Cowboy
2023
Asteroid City
2023
80 for Brady
2023
How Dare You Want More: The Short Film
2022
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
2021
How Moving
2021
Carl Laemmle
2019
An L.A. Minute
2018
Isle of Dogs
2018
Spielberg
2017
Mascots
2016
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
2016
Eva Hesse
2016
Starring Austin Pendleton
2016
Mike Nichols: An American Master
2016
Everything Is Copy
2015
Exploring the Set of 'Moonrise Kingdom'
2015
Hitchcock/Truffaut
2015
We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss
2014
The Grand Budapest Hotel
2014
The Monuments Men
2014
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight
2013
Fading Gigolo
2013
Girl Most Likely
2012
Do You Like to Read?
2012
Moonrise Kingdom
2012
Thin Ice
2012
The Five Stages of Grief
2011
Howl
2010
F--k
2010
Rage
2009
Georgia O'Keeffe
2009
The Windmill Movie
2009
Recount
2008
Dedication
2007
License to Wed
2007
No Reservations
2007
Prince of the City: The Real Story
2007