Stephen Root

Cast

Born

November 17, 1951 · Sarasota, Florida, USA

Stephen Root is an American character actor known for his remarkable versatility across film, television, and voice acting. Born on November 17, 1951, in Sarasota, Florida, Root has built a prolific career spanning several decades, often stealing scenes with his dynamic performances and memorable characters. Root gained widespread recognition for his role as the mumbling, stapler-obsessed Milton Waddams in the cult-classic comedy Office Space (1999). He also delivered a chilling performance as the blind art dealer Jim Hudson in Jordan Peele's critically acclaimed horror film Get Out (2017). Other notable film appearances include Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), No Country for Old Men (2007), The Ballad of Buster Scruggs (2018), and multiple collaborations with the Coen Brothers. On television, Root is perhaps best known for his role as eccentric radio station owner Jimmy James on the sitcom NewsRadio (1995-1999). He has also made significant impressions in dramatic roles, including vampire Eddie Gauthier in True Blood, Gaston Means in Boardwalk Empire, Monroe Fuches in Barry - a performance that earned him critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination - and Hawthorne Abendsen, the enigmatic revolutionary in The Man in the High Castle. In animation, Root has lent his voice to numerous beloved characters, most notably Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in King of the Hill, as well as various roles in Rick & Morty, Bob's Burgers, American Dad!, and Batman: The Animated Series. A true chameleon, Root continues to be one of Hollywood's most respected and reliable character actors, admired for his ability to effortlessly shift between comedy and drama, live-action and voice roles.