You may vaguely recognize the name Stephen Tobolowsky, but not quite be able to put your finger on who he is. Chances are you have certainly seen his work as a character actor in one of his hundreds of roles in movies and on TV, most notably in Groundhog’s Day as Ned Ryerson, in Memento, or on Glee.
I stumbled onto The Tobolowsky Files late in the run of the series, but it has been a delight to catch up. Currently at 71 episodes, each between a half hour and an hour, they are meant to be listened to in order of broadcast. The stories truly build on each other, and you can hear the arc by starting at the beginning.
Essentially, each episode consists of Tobolowsky telling the story of an “episode” or two of his life, usually brilliantly interwoven with personal and professional stories, and full of heart and wisdom.
This show can appeal to a wide variety of people- those who love movies, are interested in acting, and enjoy storytelling. The best way I can think to describe his storytelling is in the style of the narrator from The Christmas Story- the perfect blend of humor and nostalgia.
I highly recommend you check it out, and get to know more about one of the best character actors out there. Plus, whenever you see him in a movie or TV show from now on, you’ll say- “Hey! That’s my friend Stephen Tobolowsky!” :)