# Stuart Pankin

Stuart Pankin (born April 8, 1946) is an American actor. He is known for his role as anchor Bob Charles in Not Necessarily the News and as the voice of Earl Sinclair in Dinosaurs. Stuart is also known for his portrayal of Commander Edward Plank in the Zenon trilogy films, and Orthodox Jew Ben Heineman in Curb Your Enthusiasm, as well as making many guest appearances in many television shows and for lending his voice to various animated shows and films. Among his approximately three dozen films was Hollywood Knights. He also appeared in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves and Arachnophobia and as Jimmy in Fatal Attraction.

## Early life and education

Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 8, 1946. He attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.

## Career

Pankin has frequently performed at St. Vincent Summer Theatre. Pankin is known for his portrayal as anchor Bob Charles on HBO's Not Necessarily the News, as well for voicing Earl Sinclair in the family sitcom Dinosaurs. He is also known for playing the father Mike Dooley on the short-lived sitcom Nearly Departed. Pankin also played an Orthodox Jew in Curb Your Enthusiasm. Pankin made many guest appearances and lent his voice to animated shows, as well for appearing in numerous television commercials.
One of Pankin's earliest film appearances was as asthmatic musician/magician Dudley Laywicker in Hollywood Knights. Among his approximately three dozen film appearances, he starred in Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century, Zenon: The Zequel, and Zenon: Z3 as Commander Plank. He also appeared in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, as the brother of Wayne Szalinski, and also co-starred as a bossy, self-important lawman in the horror/comedy Arachnophobia.
Pankin also appeared as an absent-minded professor in a series of edutainment 3D films (Encounter in the Third Dimension and Misadventures in 3D), designed for large-screen IMAX theaters. He has been a spokesman in infomercials, including for the WalkFit Phase 4 Orthotics shoe insert.
Although Pankin is known for comedy roles and game show appearances (e.g., The $100,000 Pyramid), he has sometimes also taken dramatic roles, such as in the thriller Fatal Attraction.
Pankin also appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast on January 24, 2017.

## Personal life

Pankin has been married to actress Joy Pankin since 1974; together they have a son, Andy.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1976 | Next Stop, Greenwich Village | Man at Party | |
| 1979 | Scavenger Hunt | Duane | |
| 1980 | The Hollywood Knights | Dudley Laywicker | |
| 1980 | Hangar 18 | Sam Tate | |
| 1981 | Earthbound | Sweeney | |
| 1981 | An Eye for an Eye | Nicky LaBelle | |
| 1984 | Irreconcilable Differences | Ronnie | |
| 1985 | The Dirt Bike Kid | Mr. Hodgkins | |
| 1987 | Fatal Attraction | Jimmy | |
| 1988 | Love at Stake | Judge Samuel John | |
| 1989 | Second Sight | Dr. Preston Pickett | |
| 1990 | Arachnophobia | Sheriff Lloyd Parsons | |
| 1991 | Mannequin Two: On the Move | Mr. James | |
| 1991 | Life Stinks | Pritchard | |
| 1994 | The Silence of the Hams | Pete Putrid | |
| 1994 | Squanto: A Warrior's Tale | Brother Timothy | |
| 1994 | I Love Trouble | Society Photographer | |
| 1994 | Beanstalk | The Giant | |
| 1995 | Congo | Boyd | |
| 1996 | Big Bully | Gerry | |
| 1996 | Napoleon | Perenti Lizard, Father Penguin | Voice |
| 1996 | Striptease | Alan Mordecai | |
| 1997 | Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves | Gordon Szalinski | Direct-to-video |
| 1999 | Encounter in the Third Dimension | The Professor, M.A.X. | Voice |
| 1999 | Baby Huey's Great Easter Adventure | Empire | Direct-to-video |
| 2000 | Aladdin and the Adventures of All Time | King Henry VIII | Voice, direct-to-video |
| 2001 | D4G | Stuart Dofman | |
| 2002 | Now You Know | Mr. Victim | |
| 2003 | Misadventures in 3D | The Professor, M.A.X. | Short film |
| 2007 | An Accidental Christmas | Saul | |
| 2008 | A Woman in the West | Dr. Sedgewick | Short film |
| 2008 | Public Interest | Charles Waterford | |
| 2009 | Dude, Where's My Bar? | Moe Green | Short film |
| 2011 | Hopelessly In June | Francaise Flowers | |
| 2011 | The Artist | Director #1 | |
| 2014 | Conjuring Orson | Eli Klein | Short film |
| 2014 | Fat Zombie | Dr. Alastair Kruger | Short film |
| 2015 | The Binding | Dr. Plank | |
| 2017 | I Might Be Famous | Pat Wonders | |
| 2017 | Anywhere, U.S.A. | Frank Hanson | Short film |
| 2019 | American Christmas | Jim | |
| 2020 | Our Almost Completely Story | Buster | |
| 2021 | The Great Family | Mikeman Mike | Short film |
| 2022 | Our Almost Completely Story | Buster | |
| TBA | Kickback, V | Councilman Bottom | Pre-production |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | Free to Be... You & Me | Man in the maternity ward | Television film |
| 1977 | The San Pedro Bums | Stuf | Television film |
| 1977 | The San Pedro Beach Bums | Stuf | 10 episodes |
| 1978–1980 | Barney Miller | Alex Fleischer, Anthony Moreau | 2 episodes |
| 1979–1980 | B.J. and the Bear | Harvey Krepler, Mushroom | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | House Calls | Huggins | Episode: "Bombing Out" |
| 1981 | CHiPs | Louis | Episode: "Ponch's Angels" |
| 1981 | Benson | The Plumber | Episode: "Stress" |
| 1982 | No Soap, Radio | Tuttle | 5 episodes |
| 1982 | Strike Force | Unknown role | Episode: "Deadly Chemicals" |
| 1982 | The Powers of Matthew Star | Bill Chambers | Episode: "The Accused" |
| 1982–1984 | Matt Houston | Farley Ward, Minister | 2 episodes |
| 1982–1985 | Trapper John, M.D. | August Havermeyer | 3 episodes |
| 1983–1990 | Not Necessarily the News | Bob Charles | 46 episodes |
| 1984–1987 | Mickey Spillane's Mike Hammer | Counterfeiter, Labbo | 2 episodes |
| 1985 | Fame | Harry Burke | Episode: "Wishes" |
| 1985 | Three's a Crowd | Alex Cummings | Episode: "A Star Is Born" |
| 1985 | It's a Living | Jerry Wilson | Episode: "I Write the Songs" |
| 1985 | Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Teller in red jacket | Episode: "Sour Grapes" |
| 1985–1991 | Night Court | Mr. Shoope, Dr. Adelman, Dr. Charles Melnick | 3 episodes |
| 1986–1991 | The $100,000 Pyramid | Himself | 45 episodes |
| 1986 | The Golden Girls | Jacques De Courville | Episode: "Vacation" |
| 1986 | Bamboozle | Himself | |
| 1987 | Family Ties | Marv | Episode: "The Visit" |
| 1987 | The New Hollywood Squares | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 1987 | Second Chance | Teacher | 1 episode |
| 1987–1988 | Super Password | Himself | 20 episodes |
| 1988–1989 | Hooperman | The Devil, Clyde | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | Who's the Baby | Himself | Television film |
| 1988 | The 9th Annual CableACE Awards | Himself | |
| 1988 | The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards | Himself | |
| 1989 | Nearly Departed | Mike Dooley | 6 episodes |
| 1989 | Who's the Boss? | Doug Shaffer | Episode: "It's Somebody's Birthday" |
| 1989–1990 | Falcon Crest | Jace Sampson | 8 episodes |
| 1989–1990 | It's Garry Shandling's Show | Lucas Death, Garry's Brain | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Stingray | Morgan | Episode: "That Terrible Swift Sword" |
| 1991–1994 | Dinosaurs | Earl Sinclair | Voice, 65 episodes |
| 1991 | Knots Landing | Benny Appleman | 9 episodes |
| 1991 | Charlie Hoover | Ed | Episode: "Roll One for Ed" |
| 1991 | Shannon's Deal | Ted McCarthy | Episode: "First Amendment" |
| 1991 | The Chuck Woolery Show | Himself | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Whoops! | Santa Claus | Episode: "Say It Ain't So, Santa" |
| 1993 | The Commish | Mike Amador | Episode: "The Set-Up" |
| 1993 | Family Matters | Honest Bob | Episode: "Car Wars" |
| 1993 | Bonkers | Mammoth Mammoth, Pops Klock | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1993 | Class of '96 | Barry | Episode: "Parents Weekend" |
| 1994 | Father and Scout | Aaron | Television film |
| 1994 | Batman: The Animated Series | Condiment King | Voice, episode: "Make 'Em Laugh" |
| 1994 | Adventures in Wonderland | Scalawag Jones | Episode: "The Color of Wobucks" |
| 1994 | Aladdin | Sultan Pasta Al-Dente | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 1995 | Sisters | Junior | Episode: "A Lullaby to My Father" |
| 1995 | Down, Out & Dangerous | Calvin Burrows | Television film |
| 1995 | University Hospital | Arnie Nicholson | Episode: "Dark Side of the Moon" |
| 1996 | Bone Chillers | Mr. Batrachian | Episode: "Teacher Creature" |
| 1996 | Deadly Games | Dr. Jerry Abernathy | Episode: "Dr. Kramer" |
| 1996 | Duckman | Additional voices | Episode: "Apocalypse Not" |
| 1996 | The Mask: Animated Series | Buzz Stingman / Stinger | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1996 | Quack Pack | Green I Monster of Jealousy | Voice, episode: "Snow Place to Hide" |
| 1996–1997 | Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher | Kurt Fust | 22 episodes |
| 1996–1997 | Life with Louie | Flanngan | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Cow and Chicken | Chicken Walla, Mailman, Sergeant | Voice, episode: "Cow Instincts, Don't It?" |
| 1997 | The Angry Beavers | Destructo, Mailman | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Clancy, News Anchor | Voice, episode: "The Great Escape" |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Mr. Handy | Episode: "They Eat Horses, Don't They?" |
| 1998 | Like Father, Like Santa | Snipes | Television film |
| 1998 | Animaniacs | Ed | Voice, episode: "The Carpool" |
| 1998 | Babylon 5: The River of Souls | James Riley | Television film |
| 1998 | Oh Yeah! Cartoons | Possum | Voice, episode: "Apex Cartoon Props & Novelties" |
| 1998–1999 | Hercules | Additional voices | 3 episodes |
| 1998–2001 | Dharma & Greg | Mr. Gottlieb, Rabbi Mutchnik | 3 episodes |
| 1999–2001 | For Your Love | Mr. Gerard | 5 episodes |
| 1999 | Suddenly Susan | Andy Bevins | Episode: "Wedding Bell Blues" |
| 1999 | The Brothers Flub | Additional voices | 16 episodes |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Key Negotiator | Voice, episode: "Meltdown" |
| 1999 | Superman: The Animated Series | Dr. Cardy | Voice, episode: "A Fish Story" |
| 1999 | Uncle Gus in: For the Love of Monkeys | Uncle Gus | Voice, TV short |
| 1999 | Mad About You | Mr. Brodsky | Episode: "Uncle Phil Goes Back to High School" |
| 1999 | Walker, Texas Ranger | Stanley Chamberlain | Episode: "Tall Cotton" |
| 1999 | Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century | Commander Edward Plank | Television film |
| 2000 | Phase 4 | Himself | Television film |
| 2000 | Action | Bill Rothstein | Episode: "The Last Ride of the Elephant Princess" |
| 2001 | Malcolm in the Middle | Doctor | Episode: "Flashback" |
| 2001 | Godzilla: The Series | Milo Sanders | Voice, episode: "Tourist Trap" |
| 2001 | Chasing Destiny | Mike Ditlow | Television film |
| 2001 | The Zeta Project | Dr. Donald Tannor | Voice, 2 episodes |
| 2001 | The Hughleys | Santa | Episode: "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas" |
| 2001 | Zenon: The Zequel | Commander Edward Plank | Television film |
| 2002 | Teamo Supremo | Joseph Garbaggio / Sloppy Joe | Voice, episode: "The Sinister Sloppy Joe!" |
| 2002 | As Told by Ginger | Mr. Bowers, Math Teacher | Voice, episode: "New Girl in Town" |
| 2003–2004 | That's So Raven | Mr. Grozowtski | 3 episodes |
| 2004 | Higglytown Heroes | Bus Driver Hero | Voice, episode: "Catch Up with Ketchup" |
| 2004 | Walk Fit | Himself | Television film |
| 2004 | Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls | Noah | Television film |
| 2004 | Zenon: Z3 | Commander Edward Plank | Television film |
| 2005 | Lilo & Stitch: The Series | Additional voices | Episode: "Sample" |
| 2005 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Ben Heineman | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | I Love the 80's 3-D | Himself | Documentary |
| 2006 | Boston Legal | Judge Gilbert Potts | Episode: "Tick or Treat" |
| 2006 | Wagtail | Himself | |
| 2007 | On the Lot | Himself | Unknown episodes |
| 2007 | State of Mind | Dr. Shapiro | Episode: "Snow Melts" |
| 2008 | The Suite Life on Deck | Simms | Episode: Parrot Island" |
| 2009 | Splatter | Dr. Bellows | Episode: "Where There's a Will" |
| 2011 | Shake It Up! | Santa | Episode: "Jingle It Up" |
| 2012 | A Christmas Wedding Date | Santa Sam | Television film |
| 2012 | Desperate Housewives | Patrick | Episode: "You Take for Granted" |
| 2013 | All I Want for Christmas | Lewis | Television film |
| 2014 | Q N' A with Mikki and Shay | Himself | 1 episode |
| 2015 | Girl Meets World | Principal Yancy | Episode: "Girl Meets the New Teacher" |
| 2015 | The Biz | Saul | TV short |
| 2015 | You'll Be Fine | Dave | Episode: "We've Been Waiting" |
| 2016 | Underachievers | Principal Hartley | TV short |
| 2018 | See Ya | Morris | Episode: "3 F's" |
| 2021 | Pilot Season | Ron | Episode: "Behind the Times" |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role |
| 1999 | Lands of Lore III | Finch Josiah, The Noble |

### Radio

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2017 | Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor Podcast | Himself / Guest | |

### Web

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2016 | Kevin Pollak's Chat Show | Himself / Guest | Episode: "257" |

## Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Noted |
| 1968 | The War of the Roses | — | |
| 1971 | Mary Stuart | Sheriff of Northampton | Broadway |
| 1972 | Narrow Road to the Deep North | One of the Peasants, Soldiers, Tribesmen | Broadway |
| 1972 | Twelfth Night | Priest | Broadway |
| 1972 | The Crucible | Hopkins | Broadway |
| 1975 | The Glorious Age | Performer | Off-Broadway |

## Awards and nominations

Awards and nominations :
| Year | Award | Category | Title | Result |
| 1983 | CableACE Awards | Best Actor in a Variety Program | Not Necessarily The News | Nominated |
| 1987 | CableACE Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy or Music Program | Not Necessarily The News | Nominated |
| 1988 | CableACE Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | Not Necessarily The News | Won |
| 1989 | CableACE Awards | Best Actor in a Comedy Series | Not Necessarily The News | Nominated |
| 2006 | ERA Awards | Best Celebrity Presenter | Electronic Retail Association | Nominated |