David Paymer's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Into the West Mr. Daniel … The Paper Chase Myslesky Santo Bugito The Professor Line of Fire Jonah Malloy Channel Umptee-3 Sheldon S. … Downtown (1986) Capt. David…

Main Movie Roles 2009 - Drag Me to Hell 2008 - Redbelt 2007 - Ocean's Thirteen 2007 - Resurrecting the Champ 2004 - In Good Company 2004 - Spartan 2003 - Alex & Emma 2000 - Bait 2000 - Bounce 1999 - The Hurricane 1999 - Payback 1999 - Mumford 1999 - Chill Factor 1998 - Mighty Joe Young 1997 - Gang Related 1997 - Amistad 1997 - The Sixth Man 1996 - Unforgettable 1996 - Carpool 1996 - City Hall 1995 - Nixon 1995 - Get Shorty 1995 - The American President 1994 - City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold 1994 - Quiz Show 1993 - Heart and Souls 1993 - Searching for Bobby Fischer 1991 - City Slickers 1990 - Crazy People 1989 - No Holds Barred 1987 - No Way Out 1986 - Night of the Creeps 1986 - Howard the Duck 1984 - Irreconcilable Differences 1984 - Best Defense 1982 - Airplane II: The Sequel 1979 - The In-Laws

BIOGRAPHY:

One of modern TV and moviedom's most sturdy and reliable character actors, David Paymer dreamed of being an actor from early childhood. Although he came from a traditional middle class Jewish family that urged him to become a doctor or lawyer, Paymer felt more at home in the world of the thespian. At 14, he used a fake I.D. to see The Graduate (1967), which starred a young Dustin Hoffman. He grew up in Oceanside, New York, where his father was in the scrap metal business. His mother, a homemaker, had fled Belgium with her family to escape the Nazis. When his father quit the scrap metal business to pursue music, it inspired young Paymer to give his acting dream a try. His aborted big break came when he was cast in the TV series St. Elsewhere (1982) as Dr. Wayne Fiscus - then promptly dumped and replaced by 'Howie Mandel'. Luckily, his real big break was destined to be on the big screen, as Ira Shalowitz is the Billy Crystal vehicle City Slickers (1991). Crystal was so pleased with Paymer's work that he wrote the part of Stan Yankelman beleaguered brother of the titular character in the movie Mr. Saturday Night (1992), especially for Paymer. The part earned Paymer an Oscar nomination in 1993.


TRIVIA:

• Son of composer/pianist Marvin Paymer.
• Education: Lee Strasberg Theater Institute; Professional Performing Arts School.
• Played Dick Goodwin in the made-for-TV movie _RFK (2002) (TV)_ (qv) the same person who sought out to expose the fixed game show his character produced for NBC in the movie _Quiz Show (1994)_ (qv).
• Brother of 'Steve Paymer' (qv).
• After filming the original pilot for _"St. Elsewhere" (1982)_ (qv), he was replaced in the role of Dr. Wayne Fiscus by 'Howie Mandel (I)' (qv).
• Got his first big break playing the role of "Sonny" in both the national tour and the Broadway production of "Grease" in the '70s.
• Taught acting classes at the Film Actor's Workshop.
• Majored in acting and psychology at University of Michigan (Ann Arbor, Michigan).