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David Paymer
Highest Rated: 100% Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993)
Lowest Rated: 10% Chill Factor (1999)
Birthday: Aug 30, 1954
Birthplace: Oceanside, New York, USA
For years, character actor David Paymer appeared in a multitude of film and television projects, though his name remained unrecognizable to most. But that all began to change with his breakthrough supporting performance in "Mr. Saturday Night" (1992), which earned his first Academy Award nomination. Ever since that time, Paymer delivered noted turns in several prominent features, including "Quiz Show" (1994), for which he earned perhaps his greatest critical acclaim and showed filmmakers the depths he could take a performance, particularly as a villain. He continued to land interesting roles, often in historical films like playing former White House press secretary Ron Ziegler in "Nixon" (1995), Secretary of State John Forsyth in "Amistad" (1997) and noted defense attorney Myron Beldock in "The Hurricane" (1999). His portrayal of a smarmy Hollywood producer who only thinks of money in David Mamet's satirical "State and Main" (2000) only boosted the actor's already elevated profile. Later in his career, Paymer began directing episodes of several popular shows, while continuing to appear in a variety of onscreen roles, proving that he was both versatile as well as talented.
Photos
Filmography
Movies
| Credit | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 32% | 61% | The Sunlit Night | Levi (Character) | - | 2019 |
| 51% | 74% | Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Jay Ross (Character) | $9.2M | 2019 |
| 83% | 63% | Accident Man | Milton (Character) | - | 2018 |
| 55% | 35% | Lemon | Dr. Gold (Character) | $29.1K | 2017 |
| 36% | 89% | The Pickle Recipe | Uncle Morty (Character) | - | 2016 |
| No Score Yet | 26% | Two-Bit Waltz | The Lawyer (Character) | $2.0K | 2014 |
| 64% | 51% | The Five-Year Engagement | Pete Solomon (Character) | $28.6M | 2012 |
| 30% | 19% | Twixt | Sam (Character) | - | 2011 |
| 45% | 36% | Bad Teacher | Dr. Vogel (Character) | $100.3M | 2011 |
| 92% | 62% | Drag Me to Hell | Mr. Jacks (Character) | $42.1M | 2009 |
| 61% | 60% | Resurrecting the Champ | Whitley (Character) | $3.2M | 2007 |
| 70% | 75% | Ocean's Thirteen | The V.U.P. (Character) | $117.1M | 2007 |
| No Score Yet | 70% | School of Life | Matt Warner (Character) | - | 2005 |
| No Score Yet | 77% | Warm Springs | Louis Howe (Character) | - | 2005 |
| 43% | 58% | Checking Out | Ted Applebaum (Character) | - | 2005 |
| No Score Yet | 39% | My Suicidal Sweetheart | Max Sr. (Character) | - | 2005 |
| 22% | 62% | Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing and Charm School | Rafael Horowitz (Character) | $247.1K | 2005 |
| No Score Yet | 62% | Balto III: Wings of Change | Mel (Voice) | - | 2004 |
| 82% | 54% | In Good Company | Morty (Character) | $45.5M | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Capital City | Unknown (Character) | - | 2004 |
| 11% | 41% | Alex & Emma | John Shaw (Character) | $14.2M | 2003 |
| No Score Yet | 54% | Joe and Max | Joe Jacobs (Character) | - | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | 42% | RFK | Unknown (Character) | - | 2002 |
| 50% | 23% | The Burial Society | Morry Zimmer (Character) | $20.6K | 2002 |
| 36% | 69% | Bartleby | The Boss (Character) | $141.4K | 2001 |
| 56% | 62% | Focus | FInkelstein (Character) | $719.8K | 2001 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Partners | Bob (Character) | - | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | 78% | For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story | Embassy interviewer (Character) | - | 2000 |
| 57% | No Score Yet | Enemies of Laughter | Paul Halpern (Character) | - | 2000 |
| 85% | 70% | State and Main | Marty Rossen (Character) | $6.9M | 2000 |
| 26% | 41% | Bait | Agent Wooly (Character) | - | 2000 |
| No Score Yet | 67% | Dash and Lilly | Arthur Kober (Character) | - | 1999 |
| 58% | 65% | Mumford | Dr. Ernest Delbanco (Character) | $4.6M | 1999 |
| 83% | 87% | The Hurricane | Myron Bedlock (Character) | $50.7M | 1999 |
| 10% | 30% | Chill Factor | Dr. Richard Long (Character) | $11.2M | 1999 |
| 56% | 69% | Payback | Arthur Stegman (Character) | $81.5M | 1999 |
| 54% | 40% | Mighty Joe Young | Harry Ruben (Character) | $50.6M | 1998 |
| 25% | 43% | Outside Ozona | Alan Defaux (Character) | $7.4K | 1998 |
| 60% | 73% | The Lesser Evil | George (Character) | - | 1998 |
| 23% | 58% | The 6th Man | Coach Pederson (Character) | $14.8M | 1997 |
| 78% | 79% | Amistad | Secretary Forsyth (Character) | - | 1997 |
| 50% | 65% | Gang Related | Elliot Goff (Character) | $5.9M | 1997 |
| 13% | 40% | Carpool | Daniel Miller (Character) | $3.3M | 1996 |
| 58% | 37% | City Hall | Abe Goodman (Character) | $20.0M | 1996 |
| 21% | 49% | Unforgettable | Curtis Avery (Character) | $2.5M | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | 74% | Crime of the Century | David Wilentz (Character) | - | 1996 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cagney & Lacey: Together Again | Deputy D.A. Feldberg (Character) | - | 1995 |
| 75% | 74% | Nixon | Ron Ziegler (Character) | $13.7M | 1995 |
| 91% | 77% | The American President | Leon Kodak (Character) | $59.0M | 1995 |
| 89% | 70% | Get Shorty | Leo Devoe (Character) | $68.8M | 1995 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Cagney & Lacey: The Return | Deputy Dist. Atty. Feldberg (Character) | - | 1994 |
| No Score Yet | 77% | In Search of Dr. Seuss | The Ad Man (Character) | - | 1994 |
| 97% | 87% | Quiz Show | Dan Enright (Character) | $24.8M | 1994 |
| 15% | 31% | City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | Ira Shalowitz (Character) | $43.4M | 1994 |
| 55% | 76% | Heart and Souls | Hal the Bus Driver (Character) | $16.4M | 1993 |
| 100% | 86% | Searching for Bobby Fischer | Kalev (Character) | $7.9M | 1993 |
| 59% | 38% | Mr. Saturday Night | Stan (Character) | $12.6M | 1992 |
| 89% | 64% | City Slickers | Ira Shalowitz (Character) | $119.8M | 1991 |
| 35% | 62% | Crazy People | George (Character) | - | 1990 |
| 10% | 34% | No Holds Barred | Unger (Character) | $16.1M | 1989 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock: The Prisoner | Lenny Marcus (Character) | - | 1989 |
| 92% | 72% | No Way Out | David (Character) | $31.7M | 1987 |
| 13% | 38% | Howard the Duck | Larry (Character) | $15.0M | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Pleasures | Stanley (Character) | - | 1986 |
| 60% | 47% | Irreconcilable Differences | Alan Sluiser (Character) | - | 1984 |
| 42% | 50% | Airplane II: The Sequel | Court Photographer (Character) | - | 1982 |
| No Score Yet | 60% | This House Possessed | Pasternak (Character) | - | 1981 |
| 90% | 83% | The In-Laws | Cab Driver (Character) | - | 1979 |
TV
| Credit | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 88% | 55% | Room 104 | Robert (Character) | 2019 |
| 95% | 88% | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Dr. William Tate (Guest Star) | 2019 |
| 90% | 84% | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Harry Drake (Guest Star) | 2017-2018 |
| 93% | 48% | The Conners | Gary (Guest Star) | 2018 |
| 26% | 84% | Pure Genius | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2017 |
| 93% | 90% | The Good Wife | Judge Richard Cuesta (Guest Star) | 2009-2010 2012 2014-2016 |
| 81% | 88% | Hart of Dixie | Director | 2011-2015 |
| 61% | 84% | Franklin & Bash | Director | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | 62% | Mistresses | Director | 2013 |
| No Score Yet | 89% | The Mentalist |
Unknown (Guest Star), Director |
2011 2013 |
| 84% | 85% | The Carrie Diaries | Director | 2013 |
| 100% | 93% | Bunheads | Director | 2012-2013 |
| No Score Yet | 39% | 90210 | Director | 2011 |
| 71% | 81% | No Ordinary Family | Director | 2010 |
| 65% | 44% | Hellcats | Director | 2010 |
| 78% | 81% | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Stephen Elroy (Guest Star) | 2010 |
| No Score Yet | 75% | Medium | Director | 2010 |
| 71% | 74% | Life Unexpected | Director | 2010 |
| 94% | 82% | Men of a Certain Age | Director | 2010 |
| 60% | 30% | Melrose Place | Director | 2009 |
| 63% | No Score Yet | Privileged | Director | 2008-2009 |
| 79% | 84% | Brothers & Sisters |
Donald Dudley (Guest Star), Director |
2007-2009 |
| 85% | 72% | The Unit | Director | 2008 |
| 82% | 88% | My Name Is Earl | Clark Clark (Guest Star) | 2008 |
| 11% | No Score Yet | October Road |
Dr. Doug Levy (Guest Star), Director |
2007-2008 |
| No Score Yet | 88% | Gilmore Girls | Director | 2007 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | What About Brian | Director | 2007 |
| No Score Yet | 87% | Ghost Whisperer | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2006 |
| 65% | 82% | Entourage | Sammy Kane (Guest Star) | 2006 |
| 19% | No Score Yet | Pepper Dennis | Director | 2006 |
| No Score Yet | 68% | One Tree Hill | Director | 2004 2006 |
| 84% | 73% | Grey's Anatomy | Director | 2006 |
| 93% | No Score Yet | Everwood | Director | 2004-2005 |
| 88% | No Score Yet | Jack & Bobby | Director | 2005 |
| 60% | No Score Yet | Line of Fire | Jonah Malloy (Character) | 2003-2004 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Century City | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2004 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Without a Trace | Unknown (Guest Star) | 2002 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Night Visions | Unknown (Character) | 2001 |
| 100% | 66% | The Larry Sanders Show | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1998 |
| 82% | 97% | Tales From the Crypt | Unknown (Character) | 1993 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Commish | Arnie (Guest Star) | 1991-1992 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Jake and the Fatman | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1991 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Matlock | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1989 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Who's the Boss? | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1988 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | My Sister Sam | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1987 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | 21 Jump Street | Mike Ferris (Guest Star) | 1987 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Diff'rent Strokes | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1986 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | The Jeffersons | David (Guest Star) | 1983 |
| No Score Yet | 62% | Taxi | Ned (Guest Star) | 1982 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Hart to Hart | Unknown (Guest Star) | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Happy Days | Dwayne (Guest Star) | 1981 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Barney Miller | Felix Morrissey (Guest Star) | 1980 |
| No Score Yet | No Score Yet | Greatest American Hero | The Gatekeeper (Guest Star) |