# David Paymer

David Emmanuel Paymer (born August 30, 1954) is an American actor and television director. He has been in films such as Mr. Saturday Night, Quiz Show, Searching for Bobby Fischer, City Slickers, Crazy People, State and Main, Payback, Get Shorty, Carpool, The American President, The Hurricane, Ocean's Thirteen, and Drag Me to Hell. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in 1992's Mr. Saturday Night.

## Early life

Paymer was born on August 30, 1954, in Oceanside, New York, the son of Sylvia, a travel agent, and Marvin Paymer, a pianist and musical director who originally worked in the scrap metal business. They divorced in 1973. Paymer is Jewish; his mother was born in Belgium and left for the United States to escape the Nazi occupation.
Paymer has a brother, Steve, and graduated from the University of Michigan with a Bachelor of Arts in theater and psychology. He is married to Liz Georges; they have two children.

## Career

Paymer's acting career began in 1979 with the film The In-Laws. He has appeared in over 90 films in his career. He has also appeared in many popular television shows, including Taxi, Happy Days, L.A. Law, Cheers, Ghost Whisperer, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Entourage , Diff'rent Strokes, The Good Wife, and Family Ties. He has had recurring roles on Cheers, Murphy Brown, and The Larry Sanders Show. He has also appeared in such films as Amistad, City Hall, RFK, and Into the West. He received an Academy Award nomination for Mr. Saturday Night. His voice-over work includes Sheldon in the Kids' WB cartoon series Channel Umptee-3, and neurotic Welsh Terrier Mel in Balto 3: Wings of Change.
Paymer has directed episodes of several popular television series, including Gilmore Girls, Grey's Anatomy, One Tree Hill, Melrose Place, Everwood, Brothers & Sisters, and Bunheads.

## Theater

He has appeared on the stage. In 2022, Paymer reprised his Mr. Saturday Night role thirty years later, appearing in the musical adaptation.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Roles | Notes |
| 1979 | The In-Laws | Cab Driver | |
| 1982 | Airplane II: The Sequel | Court Photographer | |
| 1984 | Best Defense | Kurly | |
| 1984 | Irreconcilable Differences | Alan Sluiser |
| 1985 | Perfect | Managing Editor | |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | Larry | |
| 1986 | Night of the Creeps | Young scientist | |
| 1987 | No Way Out | David | |
| 1988 | Rock 'n' Roll Mom | Boris | |
| 1989 | No Holds Barred | Unger | |
| 1990 | Crazy People | George | |
| 1991 | City Slickers | Ira Shalowitz | |
| 1992 | Mr. Saturday Night | Stan Young | Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture |
| 1993 | Searching for Bobby Fischer | Kalev | |
| 1993 | Heart and Souls | Hal the driver | |
| 1994 | City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | Ira Shalowitz | |
| 1994 | In Search of Dr. Seuss | Ad Man | |
| 1994 | Quiz Show | Dan Enright | |
| 1995 | Get Shorty | Leo Devoe | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 1995 | The American President | Leon Kodak | |
| 1995 | Nixon | Ron Ziegler | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
| 1996 | Unforgettable | Curtis Avery | |
| 1996 | City Hall | Abe Goodman | |
| 1996 | Carpool | Daniel Miller | |
| 1997 | The 6th Man | Coach Pederson | |
| 1997 | Gang Related | Elliot Goff | |
| 1997 | Amistad | John Forsyth | |
| 1998 | The Lesser Evil | George | |
| 1998 | Outside Ozona | Alan Defaux | |
| 1998 | Mighty Joe Young | Dr. Harry Ruben | |
| 1999 | Payback | Arthur Stegman | |
| 1999 | Chill Factor | Dr. Richard Long | |
| 1999 | Mumford | Dr. Ernest Delbanco | |
| 1999 | The Hurricane | Myron Bedlock | |
| 2000 | State and Main | Marty Rossen | Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast National Board of Review Award for Best Cast Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast |
| 2000 | Bait | Agent Wooly | |
| 2000 | Bounce | Prosecuting Attorney Mandel | Uncredited |
| 2000 | Enemies of Laughter | Paul Halpern | |
| 2001 | Focus | Mr. Finkelstein | |
| 2001 | Bartleby | The Boss | |
| 2002 | The Burial Society | Morry Zimmer | |
| 2003 | Alex & Emma | John Shaw | |
| 2004 | In Good Company | Morty | |
| 2004 | Spartan | TV News Anchor | Uncredited |
| 2004 | Balto III: Wings of Change | Mel | Voice |
| 2005 | Checking Out | Ted Applebaum | |
| 2005 | Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School | Rafael Horowitz | |
| 2005 | My Suicidal Sweetheart | Max, Sr. | |
| 2005 | School of Life | Matt Warner | |
| 2007 | Resurrecting the Champ | Whitley | |
| 2007 | Ocean's Thirteen | V.U.P. | |
| 2008 | Redbelt | Richard | |
| 2009 | Drag Me to Hell | Mr. Jacks | |
| 2011 | Twixt | Sam Malkin | |
| 2012 | The Five-Year Engagement | Pete Solomon | |
| 2014 | Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | Dixon Lewis | |
| 2014 | Two-Bit Waltz | The Lawyer | |
| 2016 | The Pickle Recipe | Uncle Morty | |
| 2017 | Lemon | Dr. Gold | |
| 2018 | Accident Man | Milton | |
| 2019 | The Sunlit Night | Levi | |
| 2019 | Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Jay Ross | |
| 2020 | Horse Girl | Doctor | |
| 2020 | Bad Therapy | Dr. Edward Kingsley | |
| 2024 | Bad Shabbos | Richard | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | ABC Afterschool Special | Ralph | Episode: "Make Believe Marriage" |
| 1980 | Barney Miller | Felix Morrissey | Episode: "Guns" |
| 1980 | Lou Grant | Roy | Episode: "Nightside" |
| 1981 | Happy Days | Dwayne | Episode: "If You Knew Rosa" |
| 1981 | House Calls | Johnny Vance | Episode: "No Balls, One Strike" |
| 1981 | This House Possessed | Pasternak | Television film |
| 1981 | Hart to Hart | Orderly | Episode: "Hart of Darkness" |
| 1982 | Cagney & Lacey | Vinnie | Episode: "You Call This Plain Clothes?" |
| 1982 | Open All Night | Punker | Episode: "Sitting Ducks" |
| 1982 | Taxi | Ned | Episode: "Alex the Gofer" |
| 1982 | Fame | The Salesman | Episode: "The Sell-Out" |
| 1983 | The Greatest American Hero | The Gatekeeper | Episode: "Wizards and Warlocks" |
| 1983 | Grace Kelly | Jay Kanter | Television film |
| 1983 | Gloria | Robber | Episode: "Gloria on the Couch" |
| 1983 | The Powers of Matthew Star | Dr. Benson | Episode: "Matthew Star D.O.A." |
| 1983 | The Jeffersons | David | Episode: "I Do, I Don't" |
| 1984 | Hill Street Blues | Attorney Michael Shapiro | Episode: "The Other Side of Oneness" |
| 1984 | Her Life as a Man | Ted | Television film |
| 1984–1986 | The Paper Chase | Myslesky | 6 episodes |
| 1984–1988 | Cagney & Lacey | Todd Feldberg | 10 episodes |
| 1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Dr. Fronan | Episode: "DOA: Delirious on Arrival" |
| 1985 | Hardcastle and McCormick | Patrick Burke | Episode: "The Yankee Clipper" |
| 1985 | Family Ties | Larry Harris | Episodes 58 & 66 "Oh Donna" & "Cold Storage" |
| 1985 | Cheers | Reporter | Episode: "King of the Hill" |
| 1985 | Love, Mary | David Lewis | Television film |
| 1986 | Diff'rent Strokes | Mr. Wallace | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Moonlighting | Camille's PR | Episode: "Camille" |
| 1986 | Cheers | Phil Schumacher | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Pleasures | Stanley | Television film |
| 1986–1987 | Downtown | Captain David Kiner | 14 episodes |
| 1987 | 21 Jump Street | Mike Ferris | Episode: "16 Blown to 35" |
| 1987 | Rags to Riches | Arnie | Episode: "Born to Ride" |
| 1987 | My Sister Sam | Bob | Episode: "And They Said It Would Never Last" |
| 1987 | Private Eye | Archie Hammond | Episode: "Blue Hotel" |
| 1987 | It's Garry Shandling's Show | Richard Kimble | Episode: "The Fugitive" |
| 1988 | St. Elsewhere | Mr. Bickle | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Simon & Simon | Brian Sadler | Episode: "Ain't Gonna Get It from Me, Jack" |
| 1988 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Boris | Episode: "Rock 'n Roll Mom" |
| 1988 | Who's the Boss? | Jack | Episode: "A Jack Story" |
| 1988 | A Year in the Life | Defense Attorney | Episode: "Fathers and Other Strangers"" |
| 1988 | Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color | Mr. Oliphant | Episode: "The Absent-Minded Professor" |
| 1988 | Duet | Andy | Episode: "One Man Out" |
| 1989 | Matlock | Lenny Marcus | Episode: "The Prisoner: Part 1" |
| 1989 | Hooperman | Leonard | Episode: "The Sure Thing" |
| 1990 | L.A. Law | Joey Paul | Episode: "Whatever Happened to Hannah?" |
| 1990 | Mancuso, F.B.I. | Lloyd | Episode: "Adamant Five" |
| 1990 | Cop Rock | Homeless Man | Episode: "Oli of Ol' Lay" |
| 1990–1991 | Murphy Brown | Dr. Bishop | 2 episodes |
| 1991 | Jake and the Fatman | Henry Stocker | Episode: "I'm Gonna Live Til I Die" |
| 1991 | Equal Justice | Stuey | Episode: "Sleeping with the Enemy" |
| 1991–1992 | The Commish | Arnie Metzger | 10 episodes |
| 1992–1998 | The Larry Sanders Show | Norman Litkey | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | Tales from the Crypt | Andy Conway | Episode: "Two for the Show" Nominated—CableACE Award for Actor in a Dramatic Series |
| 1994 | Cagney & Lacey: The Return | Feldberg | Television film |
| 1994–1995 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Murray | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Cagney & Lacey: Together Again | Feldberg | Television film |
| 1995 | Santo Bugito | The Professor, Centipede, Biker Bug | Voice, episode: "My Name Is Revenge" |
| 1996–1997 | Boston Common | Leonard Prince | 32 episodes |
| 1996 | Crime of the Century | David Wilentz | Television film Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film |
| 1997–1998 | Channel Umptee-3 | Sheldon S. Cargo | Voice, 13 episodes |
| 1998 | The New Batman Adventures | Frank | Voice, episode: "Torch Song" |
| 1998 | Godzilla: The Series | Dean Whitehead | Voice, episode: "Talkin' Trash" |
| 1998 | The Wild Thornberrys | Finch, Iguana | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Pinky, Elmyra & the Brain | Shad Equippo | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1999 | Dash and Lilly | Arthur Kober | Television film |
| 2000 | Rocket Power | Director | Voice, episode: "The Wrath of Don" |
| 2000 | For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story | Embassy interviewer | Television film |
| 2000 | Partners | Bob | Television film |
| 2001 | Night Visions | Jim Osgoode | Episode: "Neighborhood Watch" |
| 2002 | Without a Trace | Mr. Freedman | Episode: "Birthday Boy" |
| 2002 | Justice League | Chancellor | Voice, episode: "War World" |
| 2002 | Joe and Max | Joe Jacobs | Television film |
| 2002 | RFK | Dick Goodwin | Television film |
| 2003–2004 | Line of Fire | Jonah Malloy | 13 episodes Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama |
| 2004 | Static Shock | Mason Andrews | Voice, episode: "Hoop Squad" |
| 2004 | Century City | Miller Sisto | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2004 | Jack & Bobby | Adam Chasen | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | School of Life | Matt Warner | Television film |
| 2005 | Into the West | Daniel Royer | Episode: "Ghost Dance" |
| 2005 | Warm Springs | Louis Howe | Television film |
| 2006 | Entourage | Sammy Kane | Episode: "I Wanna Be Sedated" |
| 2006 | Ghost Whisperer | Adam Godfrey | Episode: "A Grave Matter" |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Donald Dudley | Episode: "All in the Family" |
| 2008 | October Road | Dr. Dough Levy | Episode: "Dancing Days Are Here Again"; also directed 4 episodes |
| 2008 | My Name Is Earl | Clark Clark | Episode: "Monkeys Take a Bath" |
| 2009–2016 | The Good Wife | Judge Richard Cuesta | 9 episodes |
| 2010 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Stephen Elroy | Episode: "Ace" |
| 2011 | The Mentalist | James Panzer | Episode: "Blinking Red Light" |
| 2013–2014 | Perception | Rueben Bauer | 4 episodes |
| 2017 | Pure Genius | Douglas Prescott | Episode: "Hero Worship" |
| 2017 | There's... Johnny! | Dr. Neuberger | Episode: "Take Me to Church" |
| 2017–2018 | I'm Dying Up Here | Ernie Falk | 5 episodes |
| 2017–2022 | The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Harry Drake | 5 episodes |
| 2018 | The Conners | Gary | Episode: "There Won't Be Blood" |
| 2019 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Dr. William Tate | Episode: "The Therapist" |
| 2019 | On Becoming a God in Central Florida | Buck Bridges | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Room 104 | Robert | Episode: "Night Shift" |
| 2020 | Star Trek: Picard | Dr. Benayoun | Episode: "Maps and Legends" |
| 2020 | Briarpatch | Jimmy Jr. | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Dave | Don | 4 episodes |
| 2021 | The Morning Show | Hannah's Father | Episode: "Ghosts" |
| 2022 | Minx | Myron | Episode: "You happened to me" |

#### Director

| Year | Title | Notes |
| 2004–2005 | Everwood | 4 episodes |
| 2004–2006 | One Tree Hill | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Jack & Bobby | Episode: "Stand by Me" |
| 2005 | Inconceivable | Episode: "Face Your Demon Semen" (unaired) |
| 2006 | Windfall | Episode: "Crash Into You" |
| 2006 | Grey's Anatomy | Episode: "Break on Through" |
| 2006 | Pepper Dennis | Episode: "Dennis, Bulgari, Big Losers at ACoRNS" |
| 2006, 2010 | Medium | 2 episodes |
| 2007 | Brothers & Sisters | Episode: "All in the Family" |
| 2007 | What About Brian | Episode: "What About the Exes..." |
| 2007 | Gilmore Girls | Episode: "Will You Be My Lorelai Gilmore?" |
| 2007 | Heartland | Episode: "Domino Effect" |
| 2007 | Side Order of Life | Episode: "Coming Out" |
| 2007–2009 | Brothers & Sisters | 4 episodes |
| 2008 | The Unit | Episode: "Inquisition" |
| 2008–2009 | Privileged | 4 episodes |
| 2009 | Melrose Place | Episode: "June" |
| 2009–2012 | Make It or Break It | 7 episodes |
| 2010 | Men of a Certain Age | Episode: "Powerless" |
| 2010 | Life Unexpected | Episode: "Bride Unbridled" |
| 2010 | Hellcats | Episode: "Nobody Loves Me But My Mother" |
| 2010 | No Ordinary Family | Episode: "No Ordinary Visitors" |
| 2011 | 90210 | Episode: "The Enchanted Donkey" |
| 2011–2015 | Hart of Dixie | 11 episodes |
| 2011–2015 | Switched at Birth | 6 episodes |
| 2012–2013 | Bunheads | 2 episodes |
| 2013 | The Carrie Diaries | Episode: "Endgame" |
| 2013 | Mistresses | Episode: "A Kiss Is Just a Kiss?" |
| 2013 | The Mentalist | Episode: "Red and Itchy" |
| 2013 | The Fosters | Episode: "Vigil" |
| 2013 | Franklin & Bash | Episode: "Shoot to Thrill" |
| 2016 | Recovery Road | Episode: "My Loose Thread" |
| 2016 | Lucifer | Episode: "Favorite Son" |