Bob Balaban

Bob Balaban

Director & Actor (b. 1945)
i How is this score calculated?

The ThumbScore for Bob Balaban (69.5%) is the average audience approval rating across 22 films. Each movie's ThumbScore represents the percentage of real audiences who rated it positively. A higher score means more of Bob's films are well-received by everyday viewers.

22
Movies
69.5%
Avg ThumbScore
Drama
Top Genre

Frequent Collaborators

Christopher Guest (4)Bill Murray (3)Woody Allen (3)Edward Norton (2)Wes Anderson (2)

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.

Born 1945-08-16 in Chicago, Illinois, USA.

On ThumbScore, Bob Balaban appears in 22 films with an average audience score of 69.5%, most frequently in the Drama genre.

Sources: TMDB

Filmography & Ratings

Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
1977
๐Ÿ‘ 87%
Ghost World
Ghost World
2001
๐Ÿ‘ 86%
Isle of Dogs
Isle of Dogs
2018
๐Ÿ‘ 83%
Altered States
Altered States
1980
๐Ÿ‘ 83%
Moonrise Kingdom
Moonrise Kingdom
2012
๐Ÿ‘ 82%
Deconstructing Harry
Deconstructing Harry
1997
๐Ÿ‘ 80%
Parents
Parents
1989
๐Ÿ‘ 77%
Bernard and Doris
Bernard and Doris
2006
๐Ÿ‘ 75%
The Monuments Men
The Monuments Men
2014
๐Ÿ‘ 74%
Capote
Capote
2005
๐Ÿ‘ 74%
Gosford Park
Gosford Park
2001
๐Ÿ‘ 74%
Best in Show
Best in Show
2000
๐Ÿ‘ 71%
Howl
Howl
2010
๐Ÿ‘ 71%
Fading Gigolo
Fading Gigolo
2013
๐Ÿ‘ 69%
No Reservations
No Reservations
2007
๐Ÿ‘ 68%
2010
2010
1984
๐Ÿ‘ 67%
The Majestic
The Majestic
2001
๐Ÿ‘ 62%
Mascots
Mascots
2016
๐Ÿ‘ 59%
The Mexican
The Mexican
2001
๐Ÿ‘ 55%
Lady in the Water
Lady in the Water
2006
๐Ÿ‘ 48%
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House
2016
๐Ÿ‘ 40%
Fantasy Life
Fantasy Life
2026
No Score
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