James Urbaniak

James Urbaniak Headshot

Actor

Birth Date: September 17, 1963

Age: 60 years old

Birth Place: Bayonne, New Jersey

A comedic actor who is equally at home portraying counterculture cartoonist Robert Crumb in "American Splendor" (2003) or washed-up mad scientist Dr. Rusty Venture in "The Venture Bros" (Adult Swim 2003-13), James Urbaniak could go for the jugular without breaking stride. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey in 1963, Urbaniak quickly established his credentials when he played the anti-social garbageman turned controversial author Simon Grim in Hal Hartley's comic drama "Henry Fool" (1997). That critically-acclaimed cult favorite marked the beginning of a long career in theatre, television and film for Urbaniak, who became the comic character actor of choice for anyone with an appreciation for indie films, off-Broadway theatre and alternative comedy. As his career matured, his choices ranged from sincere dramatic leads to the voice of some of the wackiest characters in animated television. In the mid-1990s Urbaniak began to take on character roles in a wide range of films, including Woody Allen's period jazz drama "Sweet and Lowdown" (1999) and George Clooney's surreal Chuck Barris biopic "Confessions of a Dangerous Mind" (2002). In addition, he guest-starred on prominent TV series including "Sex and the City" (HBO 1998-2004), the procedural dramas "Law & Order: Criminal Intent" (NBC 2001-2011) and "Numb3rs" (CBS 2007), and the hit series "The Office" (NBC 2005-2013), in which he had a recurring role as Dwight Schrute's socially maladroit best friend Rolf Ahl. During this period, he also returned to the role that made him famous, working again opposite Parker Posey as Henry's sister Fay in Hartley's sequels "Fay Grim" (2006) and "Ned Rifle" (2014). His best-known TV work came in the long-running animated series "The Venture Brothers," in which he starred as mad scientist Dr. Rusty Venture, who tried to fix his daddy issues with his world-famous father while parenting his own pair of would-be teen adventurers. His work on this cult hit led to an increasing amount of jobs on other adult-skewing comedies such as "Review" (Comedy Central 2014-16) and "Difficult People" (Hulu 2015- ), on which he costarred as Arthur, the long-suffering boyfriend of Julie (series co-creator Julie Klausner).

Credits

Condor's Nest

Actor
Heinrich Himmler
Movie
2023

The Country Club

Actor
Victor Simmons
Movie
2023

The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart

Voice
Dr. Venture
Movie
2023

BeautyStream

Actor
Movie
2022
22%

Things Heard & SeenStream

Actor
Bram
Movie
2021
38%

9-1-1: Lone StarStream

Guest Star
Imp
Series
2020

Just Add Magic: Mystery City

Actor
Pierce Hamilton
Show
2020

For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close

Self
Movie
2020

FamStream

Guest Star
John
Series
2019
40%

Where'd You Go, Bernadette

Actor
Agent Marcus Strang
Movie
2019

Lodge 49Stream

Guest Star
Series
2018
93%

Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay

Voice
Professor Pyg
Movie
2018

Dave Made a Maze

Actor
Harry
Movie
2017

Wonderstruck

Actor
Dr. Kincaid, Rose's Father
Movie
2017

Rebel in the Rye

Actor
Gus Lobrano
Movie
2017

Apollo Gauntlet

Voice
Orenthal Bellenus
Show
2016

Jack

Actor
Jack
Movie
2016

SupergirlStream

Guest Star
Maaldorian Doctor
Series
2015
88%

Dr. KenStream

Guest Star
James Miller
Series
2015
7%

Gigi Does ItStream

Guest Star
Series
2015

Documentary Now!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2015
95%

Difficult PeopleStream

Actor
Arthur Tack
Series
2015
96%

Pig Goat Banana CricketStream

Guest Voice
Nose Picker Fish
Series
2015

The Adventures of Puss in BootsStream

Guest Voice
Series
2015

Marvel's Agent CarterStream

Guest Star
Series
2015
86%

Ned Rifle

Actor
Simon
Movie
2015

Advantageous

Actor
Fisher
Movie
2015

Book of Christ

Actor
Show
2014

ReviewStream

Actor
Grant
Series
2014
95%

Such Good People

Actor
Dr. Cooper Whitehead Ph.D.
Movie
2014

Brooklyn Nine-NineStream

Guest Star
Nick Lingeman
Series
2013
95%

The Diagnosis

Actor
Show
2013

iSteve

Actor
Bill Gates
Movie
2013

The Occupants

Actor
Glen
Movie
2013

ElementaryStream

Guest Star
Dr. Leo Demopoulos
Series
2012
95%

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

Guest Star
Series
2012

ScandalStream

Actor
Mike Sylva
Series
2012
93%

From the Head

Actor
Danny
Movie
2012

HomelandStream

Guest Star
Larry
Series
2011
85%

UnforgettableStream

Guest Star
Richard Simmons
Series
2011

Body of ProofStream

Guest Star
Series
2011
76%

The Music Never Stopped

Actor
Mike Tappin
Movie
2011

Hawaii Five-0Stream

Guest Star
Series
2010

Adventure TimeStream

Guest Star
Rat King/Leaf Beard
Series
2010
100%

Adventure TimeStream

Guest Voice
Rat King/Leaf Beard
Series
2010
100%

Drones

Actor
Pete
Movie
2010

Hello Lonesome

Actor
Gary
Movie
2010

Beware the Gonzo

Actor
Principal Roy
Movie
2010

The Good WifeStream

Guest Star
Judge Bernard Temple
Series
2009
93%

Kevin Pollak's Chat Show

Guest
Show
2009

The MentalistStream

Guest Star
Series
2008

Terminator: The Sarah Connor ChroniclesStream

Guest Star
Series
2008
85%

Wizards of Waverly PlaceStream

Guest Star
Rob Robinson
Series
2007

Fay Grim

Actor
Simon Grim
Movie
2006

The Last Romantic

Actor
Alex Sarvey
Movie
2006

Criminal Minds: EvolutionStream

Guest Star
Special Agent Owen Quinn
Series
2005

WeedsStream

Guest Star
The Wizard
Series
2005
70%

The OfficeStream

Guest Star
Rolf
Series
2005
81%

NUMB3RSStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

MediumStream

Guest Star
Series
2005

Fortunes

Actor
Lewis Croshere
Movie
2005

Road

Actor
Movie
2005

The Girl From Monday

Actor
Funk
Movie
2005

B Movie

Actor
Professor Friend
Movie
2004

NCISStream

Guest Star
Dr. Rod Daniels
Series
2003

American SplendorStream

Actor
Robert Crumb
Movie
2003
94%

Briar Patch

Actor
Druden Hunt
Movie
2003

Without a TraceStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

CSI: MiamiStream

Guest Star
Series
2002

Daypass

Actor
Simple Simon
Movie
2002

Teknolust

Actor
Agent Hopper
Movie
2002

Law & Order: Criminal IntentStream

Guest Star
Series
2001

Upheaval

Actor
Show
2001

Intern

Actor
Olivier Di Santo
Movie
2000

Law & Order: Special Victims UnitStream

Guest Star
Wade Donato
Series
1999
78%

Sweet and LowdownStream

Actor
Harry
Movie
1999
77%

Sex and the CityStream

Guest Star
Buster
Series
1998
70%

The Book of Life

Actor
True Believer
Movie
1998

Henry FoolStream

Actor
Simon Grim
Movie
1997
89%

The Sticky Fingers of Time

Actor
Isaac
Movie
1997

NYC 3/94

Actor
Movie
1994

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