David Emmanuel Paymer is an American character actor, comedian, and television director. He has been in films such as Mr. Saturday Night, Quiz Show, Searching for Bobby Fischer, City Slickers, Crazy People, State and Main, Payback, Get Shorty, Carpool, The American President, Ocean's Thirteen, and Drag Me to Hell. Paymer was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 1992 for Mr. Saturday Night. He played the lead role as the Boss in Bartleby, an adaptation of Herman Melville's "Bartleby, the Scrivener." He played a mob boss in the television series Line of Fire.
Birth Name
David Charles Paymer
Born
Monday, 30 August 1954
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Butterfly in the Typewriter | Stanley Kauffmann | 2021 |
| The Sunlit Night | Levi | 2020 |
| Bad Therapy | Dr. Edward Kingsley | 2020 |
| Dave | Don | 2020 |
| Horse Girl | Doctor | 2020 |
| Briarpatch | Jimmy Jr. | 2020 |
| Star Trek: Picard | Dr. Moritz Benayoun | 2020 |
| Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Jay Ross | 2019 |
| On Becoming a God in Central Florida | Buck Bridges | 2019 |
| The Conners | Gary | 2018 |
Actor Filmography
| Title | Character | Year |
|---|
| Butterfly in the Typewriter | Stanley Kauffmann | 2021 |
| The Sunlit Night | Levi | 2020 |
| Bad Therapy | Dr. Edward Kingsley | 2020 |
| Dave | Don | 2020 |
| Horse Girl | Doctor | 2020 |
| Briarpatch | Jimmy Jr. | 2020 |
| Star Trek: Picard | Dr. Moritz Benayoun | 2020 |
| Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Jay Ross | 2019 |
| On Becoming a God in Central Florida | Buck Bridges | 2019 |
| The Conners | Gary | 2018 |
| Accident Man | Milton | 2018 |
| There's... Johnny! | Dr. Neuberger | 2017 |
| Lemon | Dr. Gold | 2017 |
| Room 104 | Robert | 2017 |
| I'm Dying Up Here | Ernie Falk | 2017 |
| The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel | Harry Drake | 2017 |
| Pure Genius | Douglas Prescott | 2016 |
| The Pickle Recipe | Uncle Morty | 2016 |
| Two-Bit Waltz | The Lawyer | 2014 |
| Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit | Ambassador Dixon Lewis | 2014 |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | Dr. Frederick Tate | 2013 |
| Perception | Rueben Bauer | 2012 |
| The Five-Year Engagement | Pete Solomon | 2012 |
| Twixt | Sam | 2011 |
| Bad Teacher | Doctor Vogel | 2011 |
| The Good Wife | Judge Richard Cuesta | 2009 |
| Drag Me To Hell | Mr. Jacks | 2009 |
| The Mentalist | James Panzer | 2008 |
| Redbelt | Richard | 2008 |
| Resurrecting The Champ | Whitley | 2007 |
| Ocean's Thirteen | The V.U.P. | 2007 |
| Payback: Straight Up | Arthur Stegman (archive footage) | 2007 |
| October Road | Dr. Doug Levy | 2007 |
| Brothers & Sisters | Donald Dudley | 2006 |
| Ghost Whisperer | Adam Godfrey / Ghost | 2005 |
| My Name is Earl | Clark Clark | 2005 |
| Kathy Griffin: My Life on the D-List | Himself | 2005 |
| Into the West | Daniel Royer | 2005 |
| Warm Springs | Louis Howe | 2005 |
| Checking Out | Ted Applebaum | 2005 |
| Crazy for Love | Max, Sr. | 2005 |
| School Of Life | Matt Warner | 2005 |
| Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School | Rafael Horowitz | 2005 |
| In Good Company | Morty | 2005 |
| Entourage | Sammy Kane | 2004 |
| The Burial Society | Morry Zimmer | 2004 |
| Balto III: Wings Of Change | Mel (voice) | 2004 |
| Century City | Miller Sisto | 2004 |
| Spartan | TV News Anchor | 2004 |
| Line of Fire | Jonah Malloy | 2003 |
| Alex & Emma | John Shaw | 2003 |
| Without a Trace | Mr. Freedman | 2002 |
| Joe and Max | Joe Jacobs | 2002 |
| RFK | Dick Goodwin | 2002 |
| Justice League | Chancellor / Captain, Chancellor / Nomad | 2001 |
| Focus | Mr. Finkelstein | 2001 |
| Night Visions | Jim Osgoode | 2001 |
| Bartleby | The Boss | 2001 |
| For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story | Embassy interviewer | 2000 |
| Bounce | Prosecuting Attorney Mandel | 2000 |
| Enemies Of Laughter | Paul | 2000 |
| Static Shock | Mason Andrews | 2000 |
| Bait | Agent Wooly | 2000 |
| State And Main | Marty Rossen | 2000 |
| Partners | Bob | 2000 |
| Mumford | Dr. Ernest Delbanco | 1999 |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Stephen Elroy | 1999 |
| The Hurricane | Myron Bedlock | 1999 |
| Chill Factor | Dr. Richard Long | 1999 |
| Rocket Power | Director | 1999 |
| Dash and Lilly | Arthur Kober, Lillian's Husband | 1999 |
| Payback | Arthur Stegman | 1999 |
| Mighty Joe Young | Harry Ruben | 1998 |
| Outside Ozona | Alan Defaux | 1998 |
| Godzilla: The Series | Dean Whitehead | 1998 |
| The Wild Thornberrys | Finch | 1998 |
| The Lesser Evil | George | 1998 |
| Amistad | Secretary John Forsyth | 1997 |
| Channel Umptee-3 | Sheldon S. Cargo (voice), Sheldon S. Cargo | 1997 |
| Gang Related | Elliot Goff | 1997 |
| The Long Way Home | Voice | 1997 |
| The New Batman Adventures | Frank | 1997 |
| The Sixth Man | Coach Pederson | 1997 |
| Crime Of The Century | David Wilentz | 1996 |
| Carpool | Daniel Miller | 1996 |
| Unforgettable | Curtis Avery | 1996 |
| City Hall | Abe Goodman | 1996 |
| Nixon | Ron Ziegler | 1995 |
| The American President | Leon Kodak | 1995 |
| Get Shorty | Leo Devoe | 1995 |
| Cagney & Lacey: Together Again | Deputy D.A. Feldberg | 1995 |
| In Search of Dr. Seuss | The Ad Man | 1994 |
| Cagney & Lacey: The Return | Deputy Dist. Atty. Feldberg | 1994 |
| Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Murray | 1994 |
| Quiz Show | Dan Enright | 1994 |
| City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold | Ira Shalowitz | 1994 |
| Duckman: Private Dick/Family Man | (voice) | 1994 |
| Late Night with Conan O'Brien | Himself | 1993 |
| Heart And Souls | Hal the Bus Driver | 1993 |
| Searching For Bobby Fischer | Kalev | 1993 |
| Mr. Saturday Night | Stan | 1992 |
| The Larry Sanders Show | Norman Litkey | 1992 |
| The Commish | Arnie Metzger, Arnie | 1991 |
| City Slickers | Ira Shalowitz | 1991 |
| Cop Rock | Homeless Man | 1990 |
| Sunset Beat | 1990 |
| Crazy People | Mark Olander | 1990 |
| Equal Justice | Stuey | 1990 |
| Mancuso, FBI | Lloyd | 1989 |
| Tales from the Crypt | Andy Conway | 1989 |
| No Holds Barred | Unger | 1989 |
| Murphy Brown | Dr. Bishop | 1988 |
| Jake and the Fatman | Henry Stocker | 1987 |
| Hooperman | Leonard | 1987 |
| A Year in the Life | Defense Attorney | 1987 |
| Private Eye | Archie Hammond | 1987 |
| No Way Out | Technician | 1987 |
| Duet | Andy | 1987 |
| 21 Jump Street | Mike Ferris | 1987 |
| Rags to Riches | Arnie | 1987 |
| My Sister Sam | Bob | 1986 |
| Downtown | Capt. David Kiner | 1986 |
| L.A. Law | Joey Paul | 1986 |
| It's Garry Shandling's Show. | Richard Kimble | 1986 |
| Night Of The Creeps | Young Scientist | 1986 |
| Howard the Duck | Larry, Scientist | 1986 |
| Matlock | Lenny Marcus | 1986 |
| Love, Mary | David Lewis | 1985 |
| Perfect | Managing Editor | 1985 |
| Moonlighting | Camille's PR | 1985 |
| Irreconcilable Differences | Alan Sluiser | 1984 |
| Who's the Boss? | Jack | 1984 |
| Best Defense | Kurly | 1984 |
| Her Life as a Man | Ted | 1984 |
| Scarecrow and Mrs. King | Dr. Fronan | 1983 |
| Hardcastle and McCormick | Patrick Burke | 1983 |
| Grace Kelly | Jay Kanter | 1983 |
| Airplane II: The Sequel | Court Photographer | 1982 |
| St. Elsewhere | Mr. Bickle | 1982 |
| Cheers | Phil Schumacher, Reporter | 1982 |
| Gloria | Robber | 1982 |
| Family Ties | Larry Harris | 1982 |
| The Powers of Matthew Star | Dr. Benson | 1982 |
| Fame | The Salesman | 1982 |
| Simon & Simon | Brian Sadler | 1981 |
| Cagney & Lacey | Todd Feldberg, Vinnie | 1981 |
| The Greatest American Hero | The Gatekeeper | 1981 |
| This House Possessed | Pasternak | 1981 |
| Hill Street Blues | Attorney Michael Shapiro | 1981 |
| Hart to Hart | Orderly | 1979 |
| The In-Laws | Cab Driver | 1979 |
| Diff'rent Strokes | Mr. Wallace | 1978 |
| Taxi | Ned | 1978 |
| The Paper Chase | Myslesky | 1978 |
| Lou Grant | Roy | 1977 |
| The Jeffersons | David | 1975 |
| Barney Miller | Felix Morrissey | 1974 |
| Happy Days | Dwayne | 1974 |
| ABC Afterschool Specials | Ralph | 1972 |
| The Magical World of Disney | Boris, Mr. Oliphant | 1954 |
Director Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Recovery Road | 2016 |
| Lucifer | 2016 |
| The Fosters | 2013 |
| Mistresses | 2013 |
| The Carrie Diaries | 2013 |
| Bunheads | 2012 |
| Hart of Dixie | 2011 |
| Switched at Birth | 2011 |
| Franklin & Bash | 2011 |
| No Ordinary Family | 2010 |
| Hellcats | 2010 |
| Life Unexpected | 2010 |
| Men of a Certain Age | 2009 |
| Melrose Place | 2009 |
| Make It or Break It | 2009 |
| The Mentalist | 2008 |
| Privileged | 2008 |
| 90210 | 2008 |
| Side Order of Life | 2007 |
| Heartland | 2007 |
| October Road | 2007 |
| Brothers & Sisters | 2006 |
| Windfall | 2006 |
| What About Brian | 2006 |
| Pepper Dennis | 2006 |
| The Unit | 2006 |
| Inconceivable | 2005 |
| Grey's Anatomy | 2005 |
| Medium | 2005 |
| Jack & Bobby | 2004 |
| One Tree Hill | 2003 |
| Everwood | 2002 |
| Gilmore Girls | 2000 |
Producer Filmography
| Title | Year |
|---|
| Two-Bit Waltz | 2014 |
| Hart of Dixie | 2011 |
| Year | Type | Category | Won |
|---|
| 1997 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Nominated |
| 1993 | Oscar | Best Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated |
| 1993 | Golden Globe | Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture | Nominated |
