Congratulations to our 2008 CAS Alumni Achievement Award recipient, Bob Balaban (WSC '77), producer, director, actor, and writer, who will be honored at the Dean’s Luncheon on May 17, 2008.

Bob Balaban (WSC `77), has just directed and produced Bernard and Doris, a feature film starring Susan Sarandon and Ralph Fiennes for HBO.  He also produced and co-starred in award-winning Gosford Park, produced, directed and wrote, The Last Good Time, starring Armin Mueller-Stahl, Maureen Stapleton and Lionel Stander, and directed Parents, starring Randy Quaid, Sandy Dennis and Mary Beth Hurt.  He is the creator, writer and producer of the IFC animation series Hopeless Pictures and executive producer of Celebrity Charades for the AMC with Hilary Swank and Chad Lowe.  He also produced and directed the pilot for the successful IFC series, The Minor Accomplishments of Jackie Woodman.

Balaban produced and directed the award-winning Off-Broadway play, The Exonerated, starring Richard Dreyfuss and Jill Clayburgh, as well as the National Tour starring Robin Williams, Stockard Channing, Mia Farrow, and others.  He also directed the film version of The Exonerated for Court TV, starring Susan Sarandon, Danny Glover, Aidan Quinn, and Brian Dennehy.

 As an actor, Balaban has appeared in over fifty movies, including Midnight Cowboy, Catch 22, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Altered States, 2010, Absence of Malice, Prince of the City, Deconstructing Harry, Jakob the Liar, Waiting for Guffman, Best in Show, A Mighty Wind, The Mexican, Ghost World, Capote, Lady in the Water, and For Your Consideration.  He was recently seen in No Reservations with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Dedication with Billy Crudup.  He recently finished shooting Recount for HBO.

Balaban’s Broadway appearances include Plaza Suite, The Inspector General for which he received a Tony Award nomination, and Speed the Plow.  Off-Broadway hits include You’re a Good Man Charlie Brown, The White House Murder Case, Marie and Bruce, The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, Romance, and Some Americans Abroad.  He also writes a series of best-selling children’s books for Scholastic called McGrowl.

A Chicago native, Balaban’s roots are in the entertainment world; his uncle was a long-time president of Paramount and his grandfather headed production at MGM for many years.  He lives in Manhattan with his wife, writer Lynn Grossman, and his children, Hazel and Mariah.  

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