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Bob Balaban

Celebrity

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Bob Balaban Fast Facts:

Paternal grandparents were Russian immigrants who owned a grocery store in Chicago.
Comes from a family of cinema magnates who---with Morris and Sam Katz---formed Balaban & Katz, which owned more than 100 theaters in the Midwest.
His uncle Barney Balaban was president of Paramount Pictures from 1936-64.
Grandfather Sam Katz, who was head of production at MGM, was first married to Bob's paternal aunt Ida and then, after her death, to Bob's maternal grandmother, Belle.
Studied with the Second City Comedy Troupe at age 16 and made his stage debut with them.
As a college junior, won the role of Linus in the original off-Broadway production of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
As a senior, he was cast in Plaza Suite on Broadway; had to postpone graduation because he kept getting acting jobs.
Film debut was in 1969's Midnight Cowboy.
Wrote Spielberg, Truffaut and Me, a diary about his experiences filming Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
Authored children's books featuring a bionic dog named McGrowl.
Pitched idea for 2001's Gosford Park to friend Robert Altman, who directed the Emmy-nominated murder mystery; Balaban also acted in and produced the film.

Bob Balaban Relationships:
Abraham Joseph 'A.J." Balaban - Uncle
Anna - Aunt
Augusta 'Gussie' Balaban - Grandmother
Barney Balaban - Uncle
Belle Katz - Grandmother
Burt Balaban - Cousin
David Balaban - Uncle
Elenore Balaban - Mother
Elmer Balaban - Father
Harry Balaban - Uncle
Hazel - Daughter
Ida - Aunt
Isreal Balaban - Grandfather
John Balaban - Uncle
Lynn Grossman - Wife
Mariah Balaban - Daughter
Max Balaban - Uncle
Nancy Magidson - Sister
Sam Katz - Grandfather
Susan - Sister
Bob Balaban Awards:
2001 Oscar: Best Motion Picture of the Year - Nominee
1979 Tony: Actor (Featured Role--Play) - Nominee
2008 Emmy: Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie - Nominee
2008 Emmy: Outstanding Directing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special - Nominee
2008 Emmy: Outstanding Made for Television Movie - Nominee
College:
Attended Colgate University, Hamilton, NY; New York University, New York, NY (BA)