The quintessential character actor, Stephen Tobolowsky has appeared in more than 100 movies and more than 200 television shows in his career (USA TODAY recently noted that he was the ninth most frequently seen actor in film today). Along the way his roles have spanned almost all aspects of being a working actor, from the big-budget and Oscar Award-worthy (as head of the Ku Klux Klan in Mississippi Burning), to the cult phenomenon (Groundhog Day), to the buzzworthy (Glee). But despite a lifetime devotion to the craft of acting that also includes a classical theater training and a Tony Award nomination, you probably wouldn't recognize him if you saw him on the street. He lives in Los Angeles.
He played Principal Flutie in the unaired "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" pilot episode.
Attended Kimball High School. High School Debate champ.
Turned down the role of Al on "Home Improvement" .
Attended Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, with actress Patricia Richardson and playwright Beth Henley during late 1960s and early 1970s.
Once held hostage at gunpoint at a supermarket in Snyder Plaza in Dallas.
Was almost murdered twice in one week in Hartford, Connecticut by different people. As he admitted, "Thats unusual." The first instance occurred when he was in a pub with Beth Henley. After a brawl with a man who was attacking Henley, he was held at gunpoint at the pub. Later that week, when he and Henley went to a pizza parlor next to the pub, where he was stabbed. Fortunately, the knife only partly penetrated his belt buckle.
Surfing channels in Vancouver recently, he watched himself getting older and balder in old episodes of "Seinfeld" , the film Thelma & Louise and the made-for-TV movie The Marla Hanson Story .
One of the actors heroes is his late aunt, Hermine Tobolowsky, known as the "mother of the Texas Equal Rights Amendment".
Was nominated for a Tony award in 2002 as Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role in the revival of "Mornings At Seven".
Edwin Tobolowsky is his third cousin.
His name is pronounced tow-buh-law-skee.
Was the lead singer in the first band formed by guitar legend Stevie Ray Vaughan. They went to school together in Dallas. Not true. Please change to: In 1970, Tobolowsky recorded two songs on an album of Dallas garage bands called "A New Hi." Stevie Ray Vaughan played lead guitar with them. It was Stevies first studio recording.
To develop a plotline for the 1986 film True Stories he and rocker David Byrne once stared wordlessly for two hours at Byrnes wall. On the wall were hundreds of pencil drawings of ideas for the film by Byrne. That very night, he wrote a thirty-page treatment for the film and was soon hired as a writer.
His aunt was the head librarian at Ben Franklin Junior High School in Dallas (now Hillcrest High School) for many years.
Broke his neck in five places while horseback riding in Iceland underneath an active volcano after the wind picked he and the horse up off the ground and blew them off the road. He was required to wear a neck brace for three and a half months and maintains that the experience has taught him to cherish every day.
Very good friends with cinematographer/director Robert Brinkmann.
Played two characters with the last name "Ryerson". "Ned Ryerson" in Groundhog Day (movie) and "Sandy Ryerson" in "Glee" .
Inducted into the Texas Film Hall of Fame on March 7, 2013 in Austin, Texas.
Has a form of ESP he calls "hearing tones". While working with David Byrne on his film "True Stories", he told Byrne about his gift, who was inspired to write the song "Radio Head" about him. The band Radiohead took its name from this song.
There was a part on Broadway. . . wow still hurts to talk about it. I flew,to New York on my own dime. I had no career. But there was this part. I,knew the playwright. He told me the role was perfect for me. I worked,on the audition like crazy. . . I went in and killed on the audition. It,was great. I got congrats from a lot of people. I was told I would be,called back for final auditions in three weeks. I said I would be,there. It meant me buying another plane ticket but I believed in myself,and the play. I worked on the part for the next three weeks. . . then four,weeks. . . then five. . . no phone call. Finally someone saw me with the,script and asked what I was doing. I explained with some pride that I,was going back to New York for a final call back on a Broadway show.
