Quiz

Played the head of NBC in both Seinfeld (1989) and The Late Shift (1995).

For his part in "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" Balaban auditioned in French.

His 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 movie theater business in Chicago and in much of the Midwest. The Balaban boys built the 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.

His paternal grandparents were immigrant Russian Jewish grocery store owners in Chicago, while his mother's family were Jewish emigrants from Germany, Russia, and Romania.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1979 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for "The Inspector General."

Published a diary of his experiences working on the film Incontri ravvicinati del terzo tipo (1977).

Uncles 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 La caduta dell'impero romano (1964), which cost $20 million (approximately $115 million in 2003 dollars), Balaban was eased out of Paramount.

Made his Broadway debut in Neil Simons "Plaza Suite" in support of George C. Scott and Maureen Stapleton.

Father of Mariah Balaban (born 1977) and Hazel Balaban (born Februay 25, 1987).

Uncle 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".

As of 2023, he has appeared in 7 films along with Bill Murray: Niente dura per sempre (1984), Il prezzo della libertà (1999), Moonrise Kingdom - Una fuga d'amore (2012), Monuments Men (2014), Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), L'isola dei cani (2018) and The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021).

As of 2014, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Un uomo da marciapiede (1969), Gosford Park (2001) - which he produced and he was nominated himself - and Truman Capote - A sangue freddo (2005). Un uomo da marciapiede (1969) won in the category.

Was 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.

His first cousin, Judith Balaban Quine, is author of "The Bridemaids", a book about her friend, Grace Kelly.

Acted in the cast with Warren Littlefield in the Seinfeld season four episode "The Pilot," then went on to portray Warren Littlefield in the film The Late Shift three years later.

Studied drama at Herbert Berghof HB Studio in Greenwich Village, New York City.

He is described as a "mega-hunk" in A Star Is Born Again (2003).

He studied drama at HB Studio in Greenwich Village in New York City.

As of 2023, he has appeared in five films directed by Wes Anderson: Moonrise Kingdom - Una fuga d'amore (2012), Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), Hitchcock/Truffaut (2015), L'isola dei cani (2018) and The French Dispatch of the Liberty, Kansas Evening Sun (2021).

Cousin of director Burt Balaban and Judy Balaban. Nephew of Barney Balaban.

As of 2023, he has appeared in six films directed by Christopher Guest: Girl friends (1978), Sognando Broadway (1996), Campioni di razza (2000), A Mighty Wind (2003), For Your Consideration (2006) and Mascots (2016).