As of July 2026, Bob Balaban is best known for Seinfeld and The Good Wife. Find every show and movie Bob Balaban has starred in — and where to watch them — below.
Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban

Actor Born 1945 Chicago, Illinois, USA 12 TV Shows 8 Movies

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.

Bob Balaban's screen work to date leans strongly toward Drama and Comedy, a consistent thread across his credits so far.

Bob Balaban's most notable role to date came in The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), where he played M. Martin. He also appeared in Moonrise Kingdom (2012) as The Narrator. Most recently appeared in Isle of Dogs (2018) as King (voice).

Fans wanting to catch up on Bob Balaban's work can find exactly where his shows and movies are streaming below — and TV Butler Pro makes it effortless to keep track of them all. Just search the title, and Butler finds it instantly, tells you which service has it, and remembers what you've already watched.

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📺 Bob Balaban's TV Shows

Seinfeld
Russell Dalrymple
1989
The Good Wife
Gordon Higgs
2009
Severance
Mark Wilkins
2022
Miami Vice
Ira Stone
1984
The Mod Squad
1968
Broad City
Arthur Wexler
2014
Condor
Reuel Abbott
2018
Web Therapy
Ted Mitchell
2008
The Politician
Keaton Hobart
2019
Alpha House
Senator Elliot Robeson
2013
The Chair
Elliot Rentz
2021
Show Me a Hero
Leonard B. Sand
2015

🎬 Bob Balaban's Movies

The Grand Budapest Hotel
M. Martin
2014
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
David Laughlin
1977
Isle of Dogs
King (voice)
2018
Deconstructing Harry
Richard
1997
Catch-22
Capt. Orr
1970
The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun
Uncle Nick
2021
Moonrise Kingdom
The Narrator
2012
Asteroid City
Larkings Executive
2023

📝 Created / Written by Bob Balaban

Oz
Director
1997
Nurse Jackie
Director
2009
Maude
Director
1972
Tales from the Darkside
Writer
1984
Amazing Stories
Director
1985
The Twilight Zone
Director
2002
Monsters
Writer
1988
Eerie, Indiana
Director
1991

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