Bob Balaban Net Worth

Robert Elmer Balaban net worth is
$4 Million

Robert Elmer Balaban Wiki Biography

Robert Elmer Balaban was born on 16 August 1945, in Chicago, Illinois USA, of Jewish, German, Russian and Romanian descent. Bob is a director, actor, producer and author, best known for being the producer of the Academy Award nominated film “Gosford Park”. He also made an appearance in that film, but all of his efforts have helped put his net worth to where it is today.

How rich is Bob Balaban? As of mid-2017, sources estimate a net worth that is at $4 million, mostly earned through success in the film industry. He’s also made numerous television appearances and has directed episodes of various television shows. He’s also written several books, and all of these achievements ensured the position of his wealth.

Bob Balaban Net Worth $4 million

Bob grew up interested in films thanks to his father who owned several movie theatres. His uncles would found the Balaban and Katz Theatre circuit in Chicago, which would eventually expand to include more movie areas around the city. This later lead to a group of television stations and television franchises. He attended Colgate University and later transferred to New York University.

One of Balaban’s first opportunities was in the film “Midnight Cowboy”; he also made an appearance in the original off-Broadway play “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown”. He would continue to get more opportunities in the 1970s leading him to increase his net worth. He was part of the iconic film “Close Encounters of the Third Kind” which was released in 1977. Two years later, he was cast in the play “The Inspector General” which would earn him a Tony Award nomination. In the 1980s, he appeared in films such as “2010”, “Altered States” and “Absence of Malice”. After making a short appearance in “Miami Vice”, he then had a recurring role in the fourth season of “Seinfeld”, in which he played the fictional president of NBC, Russell Dalrymple. In 1999, he became a guest star in the popular series “Friends”.

Bob then worked on “Gosford Park”, producing the Academy Award nominated film for Best Picture. Afterwards, he made a guest appearance in “Entourage” before directing the film “Bernard and Doris”. In 2009, he worked on directing “Georgia O’Keeffe” which stars Jeremy Irons, which led him to direct episodes of “Nurse Jackie”. Thanks to his continued work, his net worth continued to build.

Afterwards, Bob ventured into writing, working on children’s novels featuring the bionic dog McGrowl. In 2011, he was cast in the play “8”, playing Judge Vaughn Walker – the play was done to raise money for charity. One of his latest projects is the short play “Milton Bradley” which played in 2016, also in support of a nonprofit organization.

For his personal life, it is known that Balaban married Lynn Grossman in 1977 and they have two children. His uncle Barney Balaban was the former president of Paramount Pictures. He was also related to Sam Katz, the former vice president of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer.


Full NameBob Balaban
Net Worth$4 Million
Date Of BirthAugust 16, 1945
Place Of BirthChicago, Illinois, U.S.
Height5' 5" (1.65 m)
ProfessionActor, Director, Producer
EducationColgate University, New York University, HB Studio
NationalityAmerican
SpouseLynn Grossman
ChildrenHazel Balaban, Mariah Balaban
ParentsElmer Balaban, Eleanor Balaban
Twitterhttps://twitter.com/bobbalaban
IMDBhttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000837/
AwardsCritics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble, Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, BAFTA Award for Best British Film, Satellite Award for Best Ensemble – Motion Picture, Lucille Lortel Award for Alternative Theatrical Experience
NominationsAcademy Award for Best Picture, Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance, Golden Globe Award for Best Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy, Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie, Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play, Primetime...
MoviesThe Monuments Men, Moonrise Kingdom, Altered States, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Gosford Park, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Lady in the Water, Waiting for Guffman, A Mighty Wind, Best in Show, Midnight Cowboy, Capote, Bernard and Doris, For Your Consideration, Ghost World, Absence of Malice, No...
TV ShowsShow Me a Hero, Hopeless Pictures
#Quote
1[describing his Chicago youth] I was one of those kids who'd put on neighborhood puppet shows. I was a puppet fanatic. I was always putting on plays and enlisting my friends to help.
2There is an aphorism, well regarded by Freudian analysts and talent agents alike, that all people are half-actors. We can only expand that wisdom a bit and posit the following: all actors are half-directors.
3When I felt unsure of my abilities and terrified of the whole enterprise, I said to myself, 'You're an actor, right? So act like a director.'
4Yes, I try to do everything I can not to fail hideously.
5God, I'd love to do a big commercial movie that made a lot of money and whose plot was interesting, too.
#Fact
1Made his Broadway debut in Neil Simons "Plaza Suite" in support of George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton.
2For his part in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Balaban auditioned in French.
3As of 2014, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Midnight Cowboy (1969), Gosford Park (2001) - which he produced and he was nominated himself - and Capote (2005). Midnight Cowboy (1969) won in the category.
4His paternal grandparents were immigrant Russian Jewish grocery-store owners in Chicago, while his mother's family were Jewish immigrants from Germany, Russia, and Romania.
5He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.
6Father of Mariah Balaban (born 1977) and Hazel Balaban (born Februay 25, 1987).
7He is described as a "mega-hunk" in The Simpsons: A Star Is Born Again (2003).
8Was listed as a potential nominee on the 2007 Razzie Award nominating ballot. He was suggested in the Worst Supporting Actor category for his performance in the film Lady in the Water (2006), he failed to receive a nomination however.
9Uncle Barney Balaban, president of Paramount Pictures from 1936 to 1964, was one of the movie magnates who attended the Waldorf Conference in 1946, in which the blacklist against communists was implemented. A deeply religious man, when asked by his daughter about his complicity with the blacklist, Balaban told her, "I don't think it's okay. There's something about it that's okay, but there's something about it that's terrible, and I don't quite understand it all yet".
10Uncles Barney and A.J. Balaban owned ornate movie theaters with Sam Katz, the Balaban & Katz theater chain. Renamed Publix Theaters in 1925, it was acquired by Paramount Pictures. The theater chain became so important to Paramount'Inc. Sam Katz forced co-founder Adolph Zukor s fortunes that the company name was changed to Paramount-Publix in 1930. Paramount-Publix went bankrupt in 1933, and was reorganized as Paramount Pictures' to resign, but after Barney Balaban became Paramount president in 1936, he appointed Zukor chairman of the board. Barney Balaban was president of Paramount through the tumultuous years following the 1949 Supreme Court-mandated divestiture of movie production companies from their theater chains. President of Paramount for 28 years, Barney coined "Balaban's Law," which held that a film had to gross three times its negative cost to break even. After the failure of Samuel Bronston's The Fall of the Roman Empire (1964), which cost $20 million (approximately $115 million in 2003 dollars), Balaban was eased out of Paramount.
11Was nominated for Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for "The Inspector General."
12His first cousin, Judith Balaban Quine, is author of "The Bridemaids", a book about her friend, Grace Kelly.
13Published a diary of his experiences working on the film Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977).
14His mother, Elenore (Pottasch), acted under the surname Barry. His father, Elmer Balaban (1909-2001), was the last surviving of seven Balaban brothers, who dominated the theater business in Chicago and in much of the Midwest. The Balaban boys built city's first "supercolossal" theaters, the 700-seat Circle and the 2,000-seat Central Park. Bob's uncle, Barney Balaban, became chairman of Paramount Pictures in Hollywood and wanted to pass the torch to Elmer, but he declined. Elmer has been credited with devising an early version of pay-TV, based on a set-top box that would show first-run movies at home by accepting quarters.
15Played the head of NBC in both Seinfeld (1989) and The Late Shift (1996).
16Cousin of director Burt Balaban and Judy Balaban. Nephew of Barney Balaban.

All pictures

Actor

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Isle of Dogs2018filming voice
Condor2018TV Series pre-productionReuel Abbott
An L.A. Minute2017post-productionShelly
Graves2016TV SeriesSecretary Burns
Pitch2016TV SeriesFrank Reid
I Am the Pretty Thing That Lives in the House2016Mr. Waxcap
Mascots2016Sol Lumpkin
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver2016TV SeriesCrazy Walter
Broad City2015-2016TV SeriesArthur Wexler
Show Me a Hero2015TV Mini-SeriesJudge Leonard B. Sand
Girls2013-2015TV SeriesDr. Rice
Alpha House2014TV SeriesSenator Elliot Robeson
Approach the Bench2014TV SeriesJudge
The Grand Budapest Hotel2014M. Martin
The Monuments Men2014Preston Savitz
Fading Gigolo2013Sol
Family Tree2013TV SeriesMelvin Schmelff / Tumbleweed Tim
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight2013Lawyer (uncredited)
Santa Fe Thursday2012Short
Girl Most Likely2012Maxwell
Moonrise Kingdom: Animated Book Short2012Short
Moonrise Kingdom2012The Narrator
The Good Wife2011-2012TV SeriesGordon Higgs
The Five Stages of Grief2011ShortDaniel's Father (voice)
A Monster in Paris2011Pâté (English version, voice)
Web Therapy2011TV SeriesTed Mitchell
Thin Ice2011Leonard Dahl
F--K2010ShortBob
Howl2010Judge Clayton Horn
Rage2009/IMr. White
Web Therapy2008TV SeriesTed Mitchell
God & Co.2008TV Series short voice
Recount2008TV MovieBen Ginsberg
No Reservations2007Therapist
Entourage2007TV SeriesDoctor
License to Wed2007Jewelry Store Clerk (uncredited)
Dedication2007Arthur Planck
For Your Consideration2006Philip Koontz
Tom Goes to the Mayor2006TV SeriesWalt Pickle
Lady in the Water2006Harry Farber
Trust the Man2005Tobey's Therapist (uncredited)
Capote2005William Shawn
Hopeless Pictures2005TV SeriesSam
Scene Stealers2004Jonathan Crouch Esq.
Marie and Bruce2004Roger
A Mighty Wind2003Jonathan Steinbloom
The Burbs2002TV Movie
The Tuxedo2002Winton Chalmers (uncredited)
The Education of Max Bickford2002TV SeriesDr. Lowell Sherman
Gosford Park: Deleted Scenes2002Video shortMorris Weissman
The Majestic2001Elvin Clyde
Gosford Park2001Morris Weissman
Ghost World2001Enid's Dad
Plan B2001/IJames Foster
The Mexican2001Bernie Nayman
Tex, the Passive-Aggressive Gunslinger2000ShortTex
Best in Show2000Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
Now and Again2000TV SeriesFrederick Lizzard
The West Wing2000TV SeriesTed Marcus
Three to Tango1999Decker
Natural Selection1999Dr. William Powell
Jakob the Liar1999Kowalsky
Cradle Will Rock1999Harry Hopkins
Swing Vote1999TV MovieJustice Eli MacCorckle
Friends1999TV SeriesFrank Buffay Sr.
Giving Up the Ghost1998TV MovieBob
The Definite Maybe1997Wolfe Rollins
Deconstructing Harry1997Richard
Clockwatchers1997Milton Lasky
Conversation with the Beast1996Mr. Webster
Waiting for Guffman1996Lloyd Miller
The Late Shift1996TV MovieWarren Littlefield
Pie in the Sky1996Paul Entamen
Legend1995TV SeriesHarry Parver
Late Night with Conan O'Brien1995TV SeriesWarren Littlefield
City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold1994Dr. Jeffrey Sanborn (uncredited)
Greedy1994Ed
For Love or Money1993Ed Drinkwater
Seinfeld1992-1993TV SeriesRussell Dalrymple
Amos & Andrew1993Dr. R.A. 'Roy' Fink
Unnatural Pursuits1992TV SeriesLou Finkleberg
Bob Roberts1992Michael Janes
Little Man Tate1991Quizmaster (uncredited)
Alice1990Sid Moscowitz
The Face of Fear1990TV MovieIra Preduski
Dead Bang1989Elliot Webly
Invisible Thread1987TV Movie uncredited
End of the Line1987Warren Gerber
Amazing Stories1987TV SeriesJo-Jo Gillespie
Miami Vice1985-1986TV SeriesIra Stone
20101984Dr. R. Chandra
Nothing Lasts Forever1984Guy with sunglasses in espresso bar (uncredited)
Whose Life Is It Anyway?1981Carter Hill
Absence of Malice1981Rosen
Prince of the City1981Santimassino
Altered States1980Arthur Rosenberg
Girlfriends1978Martin
Close Encounters of the Third Kind1977David Laughlin
Maude1976TV SeriesAmbrose Riley
Report to the Commissioner1975Joey Egan (as Robert Balaban)
Bank Shot1974Victor Karp
Mod Squad1971-1972TV SeriesTony / Walter
Marriage: Year One1971TV MovieBernie
Making It1971Wilkie
Love, American Style1971TV SeriesNick (segment "Love and the Fuzz")
Catch-221970Capt. Orr
The Strawberry Statement1970Elliot - Organizer
Room 2221969TV SeriesGrady Garrett
Me, Natalie1969Morris
Midnight Cowboy1969The Young Student - New York
Hank1965TV SeriesHarvey Weatly

Director

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Justice ServedDocumentary post-production
Graves2016TV Series 2 episodes
Fishkill2016TV Movie
Alpha House2013-2014TV Series 3 episodes
We the Economy: 20 Short Films You Can't Afford to Miss2014Documentary
Nurse Jackie2011-2012TV Series 4 episodes
Georgia O'Keeffe2009TV Movie
Swingtown2008TV Series 1 episode
Bernard and Doris2006
Hopeless Pictures2005TV Series
The Exonerated2005TV Movie
The First Amendment Project: No Joking2004TV Movie documentary
The Twilight Zone2002-2003TV Series 2 episodes
Dead Last2001TV Series 2 episodes
Deadline2000TV Series 1 episode
Now and Again2000TV Series 1 episode
Strangers with Candy1999TV Series 1 episode
The Wedding Toast1999Short
Oz1998TV Series 1 episode
SUBWAYStories: Tales from the Underground1997TV Movie segment "5: 24, The"
Directors on Directors1997TV Series documentary
Legend1995TV Series 1 episode
The Last Good Time1994
My Boyfriend's Back1993
Eerie, Indiana1991-1992TV Series 3 episodes
Parents1989
Invisible Thread1987TV Movie
Amazing Stories1985TV Series 1 episode
The Brass Ring1983TV Movie
Tales from the Darkside1983TV Series 1 episode

Producer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Can You Ever Forgive Me?2018executive producer post-production
Justice ServedDocumentary producer post-production
Beautiful Hills of Brooklyn2008Short executive producer
Bernard and Doris2006executive producer
The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman2006TV Series executive producer
Celebrity Charades2005TV Series executive producer
The Exonerated2005TV Movie executive producer
Lost in the Snow2002Video short producer
The Burbs2002TV Movie executive producer
Gosford Park2001producer
The Wedding Toast1999Short producer
The Definite Maybe1997executive producer
The Last Good Time1994producer

Writer

TitleYearStatusCharacter
The First Amendment Project: No Joking2004TV Movie documentary
The Burbs2002TV Movie
Gosford Park2001based upon an idea by
The Last Good Time1994screenplay
Monsters1989TV Series writer - 1 episode
Tales from the Darkside1988TV Series writer - 1 episode
Maude1977TV Series story by - 1 episode

Miscellaneous

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Gosford Park2001idea
Tales from the Darkside1988TV Series production consultant - 1 episode

Soundtrack

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Deconstructing Harry1997performer: "When the Red Red Robin Comes Bob Bob Bobbin' Along" 1926

Thanks

TitleYearStatusCharacter
Leaves of Grass2009the director wishes to thank
Prince of the City: The Real Story2007Video documentary short special thanks
Satan's Playground2006special thanks
After Midnight: Reflecting on a Classic 35 Years Later2006Video short special thanks
Celebrating Schlesinger2006Video short special thanks
Controversy and Acclaim2006Video short special thanks
Headspace2005the producers would like to thank
Wigstock: The Movie1995Documentary thanks

Self

TitleYearStatusCharacter
A Look Inside Moonrise Kingdom2012Video shortHimself
Nimrod in Cannes2012TV Mini-SeriesHimself
Moguls & Movie Stars: A History of Hollywood2010TV Mini-Series documentaryHimself - Actor, Director
The Windmill Movie2008DocumentaryHimself
Recount: A Conversation between Bob Balaban and the real Ben Ginsberg2008Video documentary shortHimself
Recount: A Conversation between Bob Balaban and the Real Ben Ginsberg2008Video documentary shortHimself
Recount: The True Inside Story of the 2000 Presidential Election2008Video documentary shortHimself
Biography2007TV Series documentaryHimself
Prince of the City: The Real Story2007Video documentary shortHimself / Santimassino
Reflections of Lady in the Water2006Video documentary short
Celebrating Schlesinger2006Video shortHimself
Controversy and Acclaim2006Video shortHimself - 'The Young Student'
Bob Builds His Dream House2006TV SeriesHimself
Seinfeld: Jason + Larry = George2005Video documentary shortHimself
A Comic's Climb at the USCAF2005TV Movie documentaryHimself
Seinfeld: Inside Look2005TV Series documentary shortHimself
The First Amendment Project: No Joking2004TV Movie documentaryHimself
IFP Gotham Awards 20042004TV SpecialHimself - Host
Gerald L'Ecuyer: A Filmmaker's Journey2004TV MovieHimself
I Love the '70s2003TV Series documentaryHimself
Working in the Theatre2003TV Series documentaryHimself
Day for Night: Truffaut in the USA2003Video documentary shortHimself
This Is Your Life2002TV Series documentaryHimself
Late Night with Conan O'Brien2002TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Anatomy of a Scene2002TV Series documentaryHimself
The Making of Gosford Park2002TV Short documentaryHimself - Producer
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'2001Video documentaryHimself
HBO First Look2001TV Series documentary shortElvin Clyde / Himself
Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist1999TV SeriesHimself
The Directors1997TV Series documentaryHimself
Funny1988DocumentaryHimself
2010: The Odyssey Continues1984Documentary shortHimself (uncredited)
In Our Hands1984DocumentaryHimself
The Making of 'Absence of Malice'1982TV Movie documentaryHimself
Today1981TV SeriesHimself - Guest
The 33rd Annual Tony Awards1979TV SpecialHimself - Nominee
The Mike Douglas Show1978TV SeriesHimself
The Making of 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind'1977TV Movie documentaryHimself
The Irv Kupcinet Show1971TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Eva Hesse2016DocumentaryWilhelm Hesse (voice)
Starring Austin Pendleton2016Documentary shortHimself
American Masters2016TV Series documentary
The 1st Annual Carney Awards2015Himself
Everything Is Copy2015DocumentaryHimself
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver2015TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Le grand journal de Canal+2014TV Series documentaryHimself
Vivement dimanche prochain2014TV SeriesHimself
Made in Hollywood2012-2014TV SeriesHimself
Good Morning America2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Reel Junkie2014TV SeriesHimself
Jimmy Kimmel Live!2014TV SeriesHimself - Guest
Up Close with Carrie Keagan2014TV SeriesHimself
Good Day L.A.2014TV SeriesHimself
Overheard2012TV SeriesHimself - Interviewee

Archive Footage

Won Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2013COFCA AwardCentral Ohio Film Critics AssociationBest EnsembleMoonrise Kingdom (2012)
2004FFCC AwardFlorida Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Ensemble CastA Mighty Wind (2003)
2002Alexander Korda Award for Best British FilmBAFTA AwardsGosford Park (2001)
2002Critics Choice AwardBroadcast Film Critics Association AwardsBest Acting EnsembleGosford Park (2001)
2002FFCC AwardFlorida Film Critics Circle AwardsBest Ensemble CastGosford Park (2001)
2002OFCS AwardOnline Film Critics Society AwardsBest EnsembleGosford Park (2001)
2002Special Achievement AwardSatellite AwardsOutstanding Motion Picture EnsembleGosford Park (2001)
2002ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by the Cast of a Theatrical Motion PictureGosford Park (2001)
1995Prix TournageAvignon Film FestivalUSAThe Last Good Time (1994)
1994Audience AwardHamptons International Film FestivalMost Popular FilmThe Last Good Time (1994)

Nominated Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2012Gotham Independent Film AwardGotham AwardsBest Ensemble PerformanceMoonrise Kingdom (2012)
2010Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic SpecialGeorgia O'Keeffe (2009)
2010DGA AwardDirectors Guild of America, USAOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/Mini-SeriesGeorgia O'Keeffe (2009)
2009DGA AwardDirectors Guild of America, USAOutstanding Directorial Achievement in Movies for Television/MiniseriesBernard and Doris (2006)
2009PGA AwardPGA AwardsOutstanding Producer of Long-Form TelevisionBernard and Doris (2006)
2008Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic SpecialBernard and Doris (2006)
2008Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a MovieRecount (2008)
2008Primetime EmmyPrimetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Made for Television MovieBernard and Doris (2006)
2006Gotham Independent Film AwardGotham AwardsBest Ensemble PerformanceFor Your Consideration (2006)
2006ActorScreen Actors Guild AwardsOutstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureCapote (2005)
2004Gold Derby AwardGold Derby AwardsEnsemble CastA Mighty Wind (2003)
2004PFCS AwardPhoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Ensemble ActingA Mighty Wind (2003)
2002OscarAcademy Awards, USABest PictureGosford Park (2001)
2002Best Foreign Film AwardAustralian Film InstituteGosford Park (2001)
2002PFCS AwardPhoenix Film Critics Society AwardsBest Acting EnsembleGosford Park (2001)
1995Grand Special PrizeDeauville Film FestivalThe Last Good Time (1994)

2nd Place Awards

YearAwardCeremonyNominationMovie
2012SEFCA AwardSoutheastern Film Critics Association AwardsBest EnsembleMoonrise Kingdom (2012)
2001ACCAAwards Circuit Community AwardsBest Cast EnsembleGosford Park (2001)

Known for movies


ncG1vNJzZmimlanEsL7Toaeoq6RjvLOzjpumm2WSlrmirsCnZKedpGLEsL7ToWY%3D