Stephen Root (born November 17, 1951) is an American actor and voice actor. He has starred as Jimmy James on the TV sitcom NewsRadio, as Milton Waddams in the film Office Space and as the voices of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated series King of the Hill. He has also won acclaim for his occasional dramatic and comedic roles, such as that of Captain K'Vada in the Star Trek: The Next Generation feature-length episode "Unification", and as Gordon Pibb in DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story.
| # | Quote |
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| 1 | [on his role in Ghost (1990)] That was fun. It was one of the first couple of films that I did in New York. Doing Broadway, you are able to get in to some film auditions at the same time. I did Ghost (1990) and Crocodile Dundee II (1988) within two or three months of each other. It was great to work with 'Demi (Moore)'. We both had little kids at the time. We talked mostly about that. |
| 2 | [on his early TV work] I enjoyed doing Night Court (1984), because Harry Anderson actually wrote me a second episode that I came and did for them. They were all fun. I did a lot of '(Steven) Bochco' stuff-Civil Wars (1991), NYPD Blue (1993). It was all fun. I got to do Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987). I was a lawyer one day and a Klingon the next. |
| 3 | (2007) My goal as an actor was to work-to be a working actor, whether it was in theater, and, well, I didn't even consider film and television when I was in New York, but what came along, came along. So, in that sense, I have achieved my goal of being a working actor. And luckily enough, I have recognition to be able to do jobs that I want to do instead of doing jobs for money, which is an enviable position to be in. It's what you work for your whole life anyway, to take jobs that interest you and not jobs that are just crap. |
| 4 | My whole career, I've tried to bounce back and forth between everything, and not get typed out. I've done a pretty good job of not getting typed. So I'll do a lot of comedy, and then I'll not do comedy for a year, do The West Wing (1999) and then do something else. You have to remind casting directors out here that you don't just do one thing. There's a lot of people who do just one thing. |
| 5 | [on coming up with the voice for "Bill", his character on King of the Hill (1997)] I have done a lot of Southern theater; I came out of the University Of Florida. I did do a lot of Southern plays in New York and regional stuff on the East Coast, so I had done "Driving Miss Daisy" and all of these things. So it was kind of an amalgamation of those things. I actually auditioned for "Dale" first. It didn't feel right to me, so I said, "Let me try this guy". That felt a lot more comfortable. |
| 6 | [on making Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004)] Well, it was a lot of hard work. It was like pitching 100 baseballs every day. We were all iced up by the end of the day. It's hard to throw overhand so many times. 'Vince (Vaughn)' started throwing with his left hand one day, because he was just done. It was a very physical shoot. It was fun, but it wasn't without its aches and pains. |
| 7 | I'm actually a Midwest kid. My dad was in construction, so we moved around every couple of years. I've lived in Muncie, Indiana, Sioux City, Iowa, Kansas City MO, Glen Rock, Wyoming; all over the Midwest. My Dad moved down to Florida when I was in senior high. It was cheap to go to college in Florida, so I became a Gator for four years. That's where I started doing theater. |
| # | Fact |
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| 1 | As of 2015, has appeared in three films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Ghost (1990), No Country for Old Men (2007) and Selma (2014). No Country for Old Men (2007) won in the category. |
| 2 | Had filmed scenes for Kindergarten Cop (1990) that were later cut out of the final film. |
| 3 | With his part as the squirrelly "Milton Waddams" in the cult classic Office Space (1999), Root has developed a fan base; he has said that, from time to time, fans of the movie will either mail him or give him, in person, a red Swingline stapler. |
| 4 | He is in the theatrical trailer for White Oleander (2002) although his scenes were cut from the film itself (other then a very brief voice-over). |
| 5 | Has a teenage son. |
| 6 | Appeared in three movies with Ben Affleck: Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), Jersey Girl (2004) and Surviving Christmas (2004). |
| 7 | Did voice-over work with former Office Space (1999) costar Gary Cole, for the Kim Possible (2002) series. |
| 8 | Donated $100,000 to the University of Florida in 2003 to fund an acting studio, which is now called the Stephen Root Acting Studio. |
| Title | Year | Status | Character |
|---|
| Head Case | 2008 | TV Series | Pat Jennings |
| A West Texas Children's Story | 2007 | | Sheriff Brock |
| WordGirl | 2007 | TV Series | Professor Robert Tubing |
| Slacker Cats | 2007 | TV Series | Tommy |
| Sunny & Share Love You | 2007 | | Clive Anderson |
| Finding Nemo Submarine Voyage | 2007 | Short | Bubbles (voice) |
| No Country for Old Men | 2007 | | Man who hires Wells |
| American Dad! | 2005-2007 | TV Series | Dick / Dentist's Father |
| Cook Off! | 2007 | | Morty Van Rookle |
| Random! Cartoons | 2007 | TV Series | Lance |
| Tripping the Rift | 2004-2007 | TV Series | Chode |
| The Fox and the Hound 2 | 2006 | Video | Talent Scout (voice) |
| The X's | 2005-2006 | TV Series | Homebase / Ambassador |
| The Frank Anderson | 2006 | Short | John Simon |
| The Path to 9/11 | 2006 | TV Mini-Series | Richard Clarke |
| Idiocracy | 2006 | | Judge Hank "The Hangman" BMW (uncredited) |
| Gretchen | 2006/I | | Herb |
| The West Wing | 2005-2006 | TV Series | Bob Mayer |
| Ice Age: The Meltdown | 2006 | | Aardvark Dad (voice) |
| Just Friends | 2005/I | | KC |
| Teen Titans | 2005 | TV Series | Val Yor |
| Kim Possible | 2002-2005 | TV Series | Pop-Pop Porter Chester Yapsby Memphis ... |
| Kim Possible: So the Drama | 2005 | TV Movie | Cowboy Gambler (voice) |
| Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | 2004 | Video | Vince Masters |
| Brandy & Mr. Whiskers | 2004 | TV Series | Santa Claus |
| Surviving Christmas | 2004 | | Dr. Freeman |
| Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story | 2004 | | Gordon |
| Frasier | 2004 | TV Series | Harbin |
| Grounded for Life | 2002-2004 | TV Series | Tony Bustamante |
| The Ladykillers | 2004 | | Fernand Gudge |
| Raising Genius | 2004 | | Dwight Nestor |
| Jersey Girl | 2004 | | Greenie |
| CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | 2003 | TV Series | Michael Kirkwood |
| Grind | 2003 | | Cameron |
| Finding Nemo | 2003 | | Bubbles (voice) |
| Finding Nemo | 2003 | Video Game | Bubbles (voice) |
| Dexter Prep | 2002 | TV Movie | Charles |
| According to Jim | 2002 | TV Series | Al Crannis |
| White Oleander | 2002 | | Michael (scenes deleted) |
| The Country Bears | 2002 | | Zeb Zoober (voice) |
| Justice League | 2002 | TV Series | Cat Man |
| Just Shoot Me! | 2002 | TV Series | Dr. Drake Kelson |
| Ice Age | 2002 | | Frank Start (voice) |
| Malcolm in the Middle | 2002 | TV Series | John Pratt |
| The Proud Family | 2002 | TV Series | Mr. Andrews |
| Ed | 2001 | TV Series | George MacPherson |
| The Legend of Tarzan | 2001 | TV Series | Theodore 'Teddy' Roosevelt |
| Ladies Man | 1999-2001 | TV Series | Gene |
| DAG | 2001 | TV Series | Senator Culpepper |
| Norm | 2001 | TV Series | Mr. Sweeney |
| The Andy Dick Show | 2001 | TV Series | Manager of 98+1 Store |
| Big Guy and Rusty the Boy Robot | 1999-2001 | TV Series | Dr. Donovan |
| Me & My Needs | 2001 | TV Movie | |
| Tripping the Rift | 2000 | Short | Chode (voice) |
| Buzz Lightyear of Star Command | 2000 | TV Series | Sheriff / Sentry #2 |
| O Brother, Where Art Thou? | 2000 | | Radio Station Man |
| Gut Feeling | 1999 | | Kane Cohen |
| Bicentennial Man | 1999 | | Dennis Mansky - Head of NorthAm Robotics |
| Natural Selection | 1999 | | Mr. Crenshaw |
| The Sissy Duckling | 1999 | TV Movie | Big Ducky (voice) |
| Superman | 1999 | TV Series | Reverend Amos Howell / Unity |
| NewsRadio | 1995-1999 | TV Series | Jimmy James |
| Office Space | 1999 | | Milton |
| Profiler | 1998 | TV Series | Houston Plant Manager |
| From the Earth to the Moon | 1998 | TV Mini-Series | Chris Kraft |
| Krippendorf's Tribe | 1998 | | Gerald Adams, Dean |
| Johnny Bravo | 1997 | TV Series | Timmy's Dad / Announcer |
| Blade Runner | 1997 | Video Game | Early Q (voice) |
| steve.oedekerk.com | 1997 | TV Movie | |
| Pandora's Clock | 1996 | TV Mini-Series | Mark Hastings |
| The Lottery | 1996 | TV Movie | Graham Dunbar |
| Seinfeld | 1996 | TV Series | Mr. Lager |
| The Road to Galveston | 1996 | TV Movie | Ed Kirkman |
| In the Line of Duty: Hunt for Justice | 1995 | TV Movie | Jaan Laaman |
| Night of the Scarecrow | 1995 | | Frank |
| VR.5 | 1995 | TV Series | F.A.A. Negotiator |
| Christy | 1995 | TV Series | Clarence Sweetwater |
| Bye Bye Love | 1995 | | Awakened Neighbor (uncredited) |
| Cybill | 1995 | TV Series | Phil Asher |
| Chicago Hope | 1995 | TV Series | Trumpet Playing Mental Patient |
| Diagnosis Murder | 1994 | TV Series | Charlie Lane |
| Sweet Justice | 1994 | TV Series | |
| Party of Five | 1994 | TV Series | Football Coach |
| Harts of the West | 1993-1994 | TV Series | R.O |
| NYPD Blue | 1994 | TV Series | IAB Sgt. Fulmer |
| L.A. Law | 1990-1994 | TV Series | Atty. Brandon McCafferty |
| In the Heat of the Night | 1993 | TV Series | Raymond Mercer |
| Blossom | 1993 | TV Series | Louie |
| Extreme Justice | 1993 | | Max Alvarez |
| Sirens | 1993 | TV Series | George Bailey |
| Dave | 1993 | | Don Durenberger |
| Black Widow Murders: The Blanche Taylor Moore Story | 1993 | TV Movie | Dr. Kirby |
| RoboCop 3 | 1993 | | Coontz |
| Class of '61 | 1993 | TV Movie | |
| Quantum Leap | 1993 | TV Series | John Tremaine Jr. |
| The Golden Palace | 1993 | TV Series | Mr. Tucker |
| Northern Exposure | 1993 | TV Series | Brother Timothy |
| Civil Wars | 1992 | TV Series | Lawyer Steven Fingerman / Mrs. Caldecott's Lawyer |
| Murphy Brown | 1992 | TV Series | John Brophy |
| Her Final Fury: Betty Broderick, the Last Chapter | 1992 | TV Movie | Kevin McDonald |
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | 1992 | | Gary Murray |
| Eerie, Indiana | 1992 | TV Series | Mr. Chaney |
| A Woman Scorned: The Betty Broderick Story | 1992 | TV Movie | Kevin McDonald |
| Night Court | 1990-1992 | TV Series | Mr. Willard / Spirit of Death |
| The Torkelsons | 1991 | TV Series | Sheriff Bobby Clinton |
| Star Trek: The Next Generation | 1991 | TV Series | Captain K'Vada |
| Jake and the Fatman | 1990-1991 | TV Series | Sgt. Moynihan / Hastings |
| Home Improvement | 1991 | TV Series | Exterminator |
| Bed & Breakfast | 1991 | | Randolph |
| Golden Years | 1991 | TV Series | Major Moreland |
| V.I. Warshawski | 1991 | | Mickey |
| My Life and Times | 1991 | TV Series | Ross |
| Davis Rules | 1991 | TV Series | Porter |
| Guilty by Suspicion | 1991 | | RKO Guard |
| Sons and Daughters | 1991 | TV Series | Stevey |
| Head of the Class | 1990 | TV Series | Mr. Birch |
| The Young Riders | 1990 | TV Series | |
| Ghost | 1990 | | Police Sgt. |
| Roseanne | 1990 | TV Series | Peter Lundy |
| Stanley & Iris | 1990 | | Mr. Hentley |
| Wiseguy | 1990 | TV Series | Jack Bishop |
| Cross of Fire | 1989 | TV Movie | Beggs |
| Black Rain | 1989 | | Berg |
| Monkey Shines | 1988 | | Dean Burbage |
| Crocodile Dundee II | 1988 | | DEA Agent (Toilet) |
| Life of the Party | 2018 | completed | Mike |
| Barry | 2018 | TV Series filming | Fuches |
| On the Basis of Sex | 2018 | filming | |
| The Ballad of Buster Scruggs | 2018 | TV Mini-Series pre-production | |
| Three Christs | 2017 | | Dr. Rogers |
| Niko and the Sword of Light | 2017 | TV Series | Diggantus / Exuber-Ant |
| Idiotsitter | 2014-2017 | TV Series | Ken Russell |
| Veep | 2017 | TV Series | Judge Walsh |
| Angie Tribeca | 2017 | TV Series | Mortimer Begoyle |
| Infinity Baby | 2017 | | Fenton |
| Adventure Time | 2011-2017 | TV Series | Martin / Fish / Villagers / ... |
| Get Out | 2017/I | | Jim Hudson |
| Guardians of the Galaxy | 2016 | TV Series | Neeza |
| The Man in the High Castle | 2016 | TV Series | Hawthorne Abendsen |
| Spectral | 2016 | | Dr. Mindala |
| Con Man | 2016 | TV Series | Pascal |
| Looking for the Jackalope | 2016 | | The Jackalope (voice) |
| Masters of Sex | 2016 | TV Series | Harvey Toplin |
| Star vs. the Forces of Evil | 2015-2016 | TV Series | Additional Voices / Brian |
| Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates | 2016 | | Burt |
| Tom & Jerry: Back to Oz | 2016 | Video | Uncle Henry (voice) |
| Finding Dory | 2016 | | Bubbles (voice) |
| All the Way | 2016 | TV Movie | J. Edgar Hoover |
| Miles | 2016 | | Ron Walton |
| Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness | 2011-2016 | TV Series | Junjie Rhino Guard #2 Mu-Shi |
| Gravity Falls | 2012-2016 | TV Series | Bud Gleeful / Additional Voices |
| Workaholics | 2016 | TV Series | Carty |
| Cassius and Clay | 2016 | TV Movie voice | |
| Trumbo | 2015 | | Hymie King |
| TURN: Washington's Spies | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Nathaniel Sackett |
| 7 Chinese Brothers | 2015 | | George |
| Hello, My Name Is Doris | 2015 | | Todd |
| Brooklyn Nine-Nine | 2014-2015 | TV Series | Lynn Boyle |
| The Big Bang Theory | 2014 | TV Series | Dan |
| Selma | 2014 | | Col. Al Lingo |
| Phineas and Ferb | 2014 | TV Series | Floyd / Additional Voices |
| Bee and PuppyCat | 2014 | TV Series | Farmer |
| Mike Tyson Mysteries | 2014 | TV Series | Thomas J. Watson |
| Hot in Cleveland | 2014 | TV Series | Brian |
| Fargo | 2014 | TV Series | Burt Canton |
| Dipper's Guide to the Unexplained | 2014 | TV Series short | Bud Gleeful |
| Gravity Falls: TV Shorts | 2014 | TV Series short | Bud Gleeful (voice) |
| Justified | 2010-2014 | TV Series | Judge Mike Reardon |
| Dragons: Riders of Berk | 2012-2014 | TV Series | Mildew |
| Garden Apartments | 2013 | TV Movie | Jasper |
| Feels So Good | 2013 | | Nick Celisco |
| Boardwalk Empire | 2012-2013 | TV Series | Gaston Means Gaston Means - Special Investigator |
| The Arrangement | 2013 | TV Movie | Avery Boomer |
| The Newsroom | 2013 | TV Series | General Stomtonovich |
| The Lone Ranger | 2013 | | Habberman |
| The Cleveland Show | 2012-2013 | TV Series | Neighbors Kellogg / Allister Monkarsh |
| Superman: Unbound | 2013 | Video | Zor-El (voice) |
| Out There | 2013 | TV Series | Mr. Shooty |
| Bad Milo | 2013 | | Roger |
| Matt Damon Goes on Strike! | 2013 | Video short | Reporter |
| Sweetwater | 2013 | | Hugh |
| To My Future Assistant | 2013 | TV Movie | Frank |
| Megawinner | 2012 | TV Movie | John / Merlin Perlini |
| The Good Wife | 2012 | TV Series | Judge Murphy Wicks |
| The Company You Keep | 2012 | | Billy Cusimano |
| Outlaw Country | 2012 | TV Movie | Jack Folcum |
| The Legend of Korra | 2012 | TV Series | Hobo White Lotus Leader Phonograph Vendor |
| Young Justice | 2012 | TV Series | Jack Haly |
| Big Miracle | 2012 | | Governor Haskell |
| The Life & Times of Tim | 2011 | TV Series | Lou |
| Fringe | 2011 | TV Series | Raymond |
| J. Edgar | 2011 | | Arthur Koehler |
| Batman: Year One | 2011 | Video | Brendon (voice) |
| Raising Hope | 2011 | TV Series | Cap Collins |
| Thundercats | 2011 | TV Series | Hattanzo the Drifter |
| Childrens Hospital | 2011 | TV Series | Hank Maestro |
| Tom and Jerry & The Wizard of Oz | 2011 | Video | Uncle Henry Crows (voice) |
| Batman: The Brave and the Bold | 2009-2011 | TV Series | Penguin Woozy Winks Killer Croc ... |
| Son of Morning | 2011 | | Senator Larder |
| Rango | 2011 | | Doc Merrimack Mr. Snuggles (voice) |
| Cedar Rapids | 2011 | | Bill Krogstad |
| Red State | 2011 | | Sheriff Wynan |
| Glenn Martin DDS | 2010 | TV Series | Hoss Willicker Hoss |
| The Defenders | 2010 | TV Series | Judge Taylor |
| Scooby-Doo! Camp Scare | 2010 | Video | Burt (voice) |
| The Conspirator | 2010 | | John Lloyd |
| Everything Must Go | 2010 | | Elliot |
| Louie | 2010 | TV Series | Dr. Hepa |
| Unthinkable | 2010 | | Charles Thompson |
| King of the Hill | 1997-2010 | TV Series | Bill Dauterive Buck Strickland Additional Voices ... |
| 24 | 2010 | TV Series | Bill Prady |
| Glock | 2009 | Short | Remington |
| Californication | 2009 | TV Series | Ricardo Collini |
| The Men Who Stare at Goats | 2009 | | Gus Lacey |
| True Blood | 2008-2009 | TV Series | Eddie Gauthier |
| Imagine That | 2009 | | Fred Franklin |
| The Soloist | 2009 | | Curt Reynolds |
| Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts | 2009 | Video | Turtle (voice) |
| Bob Funk | 2009 | | Steve |
| Pushing Daisies | 2008 | TV Series | Dwight Dixon |
| The Sarah Silverman Program. | 2008 | TV Series | Johnny Forrealz |
| Chowder | 2008 | TV Series | Stilton / Dancer |
| Boston Legal | 2008 | TV Series | Ethan Melman |
| Tripping the Rift: The Movie | 2008 | Video | Chode (voice) |
| Leatherheads | 2008 | | Suds |
| Drillbit Taylor | 2008 | | Principal Doppler |
| Over Her Dead Body | 2008 | | Sculptor |
| Mad Money | 2008 | | Glover |
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$100,000
