Stuart Pankin

Stuart Pankin (born April 8, 1946)^[1] 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. Pankin is also known for his portrayals of Commander Edward Plank in the Zenon trilogy of 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 as Gordon Szalinski in Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves, Sheriff Lloyd Parsons in Arachnophobia, and Jimmy in Fatal Attraction.

Stuart Pankin
Born	(1946-04-08) April 8, 1946 (age 79)[1] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Alma mater	Columbia University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1968–present
Spouse	Joy Pankin ​ (m. 1974)​
Children	1

Early life and education

Pankin was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on April 8, 1946.^[1] He attended Dickinson College, where he was a member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon, and Columbia University.^[2]

Career

Pankin has performed at St. Vincent Summer Theatre.^[3][4] Pankin portrayed anchor Bob Charles on HBO's Not Necessarily the News, and voiced Earl Sinclair in the family sitcom Dinosaurs. He also played the father Mike Dooley on the sitcom Nearly Departed.^[5] Pankin also played an Orthodox Jew in Curb Your Enthusiasm.

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. 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;^[2][3][4] together they have a son, Andy.^[2][4][1]

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1976	Next Stop, Greenwich Village	Man at Party
1979	Scavenger Hunt	Duane
1980	The Hollywood Knights	Dudley Laywicker
	Hangar 18	Sam Tate
1981	Earthbound	Sweeney
	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
	Life Stinks	Pritchard
1994	The Silence of the Hams	Pete Putrid
	Squanto: A Warrior's Tale	Brother Timothy
	I Love Trouble	Society Photographer
	Beanstalk	The Giant	Direct-to-video
1995	Congo	Boyd
1996	Big Bully	Gerry
	Napoleon	Perenti Lizard, Father Penguin	Voice[6]
	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
	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
	Public Interest	Charles Waterford
2009	Dude, Where's My Bar?	Moe Green	Short film
2011	Hopelessly In June	Francaise Flowers
	The Artist	Director #1
2014	Conjuring Orson	Eli Klein	Short film
	Fat Zombie	Dr. Alastair Kruger	Short film
2015	The Binding	Dr. Plank
2017	I Might Be Famous	Pat Wonders
	Anywhere, U.S.A.	Frank Hanson	Short film
2019	American Christmas	Jim
2021	The Great Family	Mikeman Mike	Short film
2022	Our Almost Completely True Story	Buster
2024	Bus Stops	Rabbi	Short film
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
	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"
	CHiPs	Louis	Episode: "Ponch's Angels"
	Benson	The Plumber	Episode: "Stress"
1982	No Soap, Radio	Tuttle	5 episodes
	Strike Force	Unknown role	Episode: "Deadly Chemicals"
	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"
	Three's a Crowd	Alex Cummings	Episode: "A Star Is Born"
	It's a Living	Jerry Wilson	Episode: "I Write the Songs"
	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"
	The New Hollywood Squares	Himself	3 episodes
	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
	The 2nd Annual American Comedy Awards
1989	Nearly Departed	Mike Dooley	6 episodes
	Who's the Boss?	Doug Shaffer	Episode: "It's Somebody's Birthday"
1989–1990	Falcon Crest	Jace Sampson	8 episodes
	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
	Charlie Hoover	Ed	Episode: "Roll One for Ed"
	Shannon's Deal	Ted McCarthy	Episode: "First Amendment"
	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"
	Family Matters	Honest Bob	Episode: "Car Wars"
	Bonkers	Mammoth Mammoth, Pops Klock	Voice, 2 episodes
	Class of '96	Barry	Episode: "Parents Weekend"
1994	Father and Scout	Aaron	Television film
	Batman: The Animated Series	Condiment King	Voice, episode: "Make 'Em Laugh"[6]
	Adventures in Wonderland	Scalawag Jones	Episode: "The Color of Wobucks"
	Aladdin	Sultan Pasta Al-Dente	Voice, 3 episodes
1995	Sisters	Junior	Episode: "A Lullaby to My Father"
	Down, Out & Dangerous	Calvin Burrows	Television film
	University Hospital	Arnie Nicholson	Episode: "Dark Side of the Moon"
1996	Bone Chillers	Mr. Batrachian	Episode: "Teacher Creature"
	Deadly Games	Dr. Jerry Abernathy	Episode: "Dr. Kramer"
	Duckman	Additional voices	Episode: "Apocalypse Not"
	The Mask: Animated Series	Buzz Stingman / Stinger	Voice, 2 episodes
	Quack Pack	Green I Monster of Jealousy	Voice, episode: "Snow Place to Hide"
1996–1997	Nick Freno: Licensed Teacher	Kurt Fust	22 episodes
	Life with Louie	Flanngan	Voice, 2 episodes
1997	Cow and Chicken	Chicken Walla, Mailman, Sergeant	Voice, episode: "Cow Instincts, Don't It?"[6]
	The Angry Beavers	Destructo, Mailman	Voice, 2 episodes[6]
	Aaahh!!! Real Monsters	Clancy, News Anchor	Voice, episode: "The Great Escape"[6]
1998	Ally McBeal	Mr. Handy	Episode: "They Eat Horses, Don't They?"
	Like Father, Like Santa	Snipes	Television film
	Animaniacs	Ed	Voice, episode: "The Carpool"[6]
	Babylon 5: The River of Souls	James Riley	Television film
	Oh Yeah! Cartoons	Possum	Voice, episode: "Apex Cartoon Props & Novelties"[6]
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"
	The Brothers Flub	Additional voices	16 episodes
	Batman Beyond	Key Negotiator	Voice, episode: "Meltdown"[6]
	Superman: The Animated Series	Dr. Cardy	Voice, episode: "A Fish Story"[6]
	Uncle Gus in: For the Love of Monkeys	Uncle Gus	Voice, TV short
	Mad About You	Mr. Brodsky	Episode: "Uncle Phil Goes Back to High School"
	Walker, Texas Ranger	Stanley Chamberlain	Episode: "Tall Cotton"
	Zenon: Girl of the 21st Century	Commander Edward Plank	Television film
2000	Phase 4	Himself	Television film
	Action	Bill Rothstein	Episode: "The Last Ride of the Elephant Princess"
2001	Malcolm in the Middle	Doctor	Episode: "Flashback"
	Godzilla: The Series	Milo Sanders	Voice, episode: "Tourist Trap"
	Chasing Destiny	Mike Ditlow	Television film
	The Zeta Project	Dr. Donald Tannor	Voice, 2 episodes[6]
	The Hughleys	Santa	Episode: "I'm Dreaming of a Slight Christmas"
	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"[6]
2003–2004	That's So Raven	Mr. Grozowtski	3 episodes
2004	Higglytown Heroes	Bus Driver Hero	Voice, episode: "Catch Up with Ketchup"
	Walk Fit	Himself	Television film
	Miss Cast Away and the Island Girls	Noah	Television film
	Zenon: Z3	Commander Edward Plank	Television film
2005	Lilo & Stitch: The Series	Additional voices	Episode: "Sample"
	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Ben Heineman	2 episodes
	I Love the 80's 3-D	Himself	Documentary
2006	Boston Legal	Judge Gilbert Potts	Episode: "Tick or Treat"
	Wagtail	Himself
2007	On the Lot	Himself	Unknown episodes
	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
	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"
	The Biz	Saul	TV short
	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[7]
1972	Narrow Road to the Deep North	One of the Peasants, Soldiers, Tribesmen
	Twelfth Night	Priest
	The Crucible	Hopkins
1975	The Glorious Age	Performer	Off-Broadway[7]

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		Best Actor in a Comedy or Music Program		Nominated
1988		Best Actor in a Comedy Series		Won
1989		Best Actor in a Comedy Series		Nominated
2006	ERA Awards	Best Celebrity Presenter	Electronic Retail Association	Nominated