Ed Begley Jr.

Biography

Ed Begley Jr. is an American actor whose career covers film, television and theater. Born in Los Angeles and raised in Merrick, New York, he is the son of actor Ed Begley. He became widely known as Dr. Victor Ehrlich on St. Elsewhere, a part that brought him a Golden Globe nomination and six Primetime Emmy nominations in a row. His film credits include Pineapple Express (2008), Blue Collar (1978), The Accidental Tourist (1988), This Is Spinal Tap (1984), Transylvania 6-5000 (1985) and Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills (1989). He worked with Christopher Guest on For Your Consideration (2006), Best in Show (2000) and A Mighty Wind (2003). On television, he was Greenbean in the original Battlestar Galactica, Seth Gillette on The West Wing, Clifford Main on Better Call Saul and Dr. Grant Linkletter on Young Sheldon. He also directed and wrote Cesar and Ruben, a stage musical.

77years old

Turns 78 on September 16in 310 days

Born September 16, 1949Los Angeles
Star sign: VirgoThe sign runs August 23 to September 22
Also credited as Edward James Begley Jr.

Movie Career

Films: 71
Career span: 52 years1972 to 2024

Genres

Comedy65%, 46 films
Drama37%, 26 films
Family14%, 10 films
Romance14%, 10 films
Adventure10%, 7 films

First and latest

Photos

Did you know?!

Behind the camera
Begley wrote and directed Cesar and Ruben, a musical, in 2003. The El Portal Theatre in Los Angeles staged it, and it came back in 2007.
A change of course
Begley served on the Board of Governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from 2000 to 2016.

Ed Begley Jr. movies on Netflix

Holiday Touchdown: A Chiefs Love Story2024IMDb rating 6.4as Paul Higman
Amsterdam2022IMDb rating 6.2as General Bill Meekins
Dear Christmas2020IMDb rating 5.9as Randy Morgan
Reboot Camp2020IMDb rating 4.5as John Lehman
Bixler High Private Eye2019IMDb rating 5.9as Charlie DeWitt
Making Babies2019IMDb rating 5.6as Dr. Remis
Plus One2019IMDb rating 6.6as Chuck
Book Club2018IMDb rating 6.1as Tom
Amelia 2.02017IMDb rating 5.4as Paul Wesley
And the Winner Isn't2017IMDb rating 7.1as Himself
Lucky2017IMDb rating 7.3as Dr. Kneedler
Ghostbusters2016IMDb rating 6.8as Ed Mulgrave
Time Toys2016IMDb rating 4.8as William 'Wiz' Wisconsin
You're Not You2014IMDb rating 7.3as Uncle Roger
Muhammad Ali's Greatest Fight2013IMDb rating 6.7as Justice Harry Blackmun
The Arrested Development Documentary Project2013IMDb rating 6.6as Himself
What's Your Number?2011IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Darling
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures2010IMDb rating 6.0as GreenPeace Worker (voice)
Cool It2010IMDb rating 7.0as Himself
The Penthouse2010IMDb rating 3.5as Nicholas
Georgia O'Keeffe2009IMDb rating 6.5as Dr. Lee Steiglita
Finding Amanda2008IMDb rating 5.5as Himself
Fly Me to the Moon 3D2008IMDb rating 4.5as Poopchev (voice)
Pineapple Express2008IMDb rating 6.9as Robert
Recount2008IMDb rating 7.3as David Boies
Hard Four2007IMDb rating 4.0as Governor Begley
For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3as Sandy Lane
Relative Strangers2006IMDb rating 5.4as Mr. Manoire
The Elder Son2006IMDb rating 5.5as Leonard
Who Killed the Electric Car?2006IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Hair High2004IMDb rating 6.7as Rev. Sidney Cheddar (voice)
Auto Focus2002IMDb rating 6.7as Mel Rosen
Get Over It2001IMDb rating 5.7as Frank Landers
Hounded2001IMDb rating 5.0as Ward Van Dusen
Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5as Hotel Manager
Addams Family Reunion1998IMDb rating 3.9as Phillip Adams
Joey1997IMDb rating 4.8as Ambassador Ted Ross
Project: ALF1996IMDb rating 5.4as Dr. Warner
Santa with Muscles1996IMDb rating 2.7as Ebner Frost
The Late Shift1996IMDb rating 6.7as Rod Perth
Greedy1994IMDb rating 6.3as Carl
Incident at Deception Ridge1994IMDb rating 5.1as Jack Davis
Renaissance Man1994IMDb rating 6.2as Jack Markin
The Pagemaster1994IMDb rating 6.2as Alan Tyler
The Shaggy Dog1994IMDb rating 5.1as Ron Daniels
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues1993IMDb rating 4.3as Rupert
Meet the Applegates1990IMDb rating 5.5as Richard P. Applegate
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake1990IMDb rating 6.0as Jerry Soloway
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills1989IMDb rating 5.9as Peter
She-Devil1989IMDb rating 5.8as Bob
The Accidental Tourist1988IMDb rating 6.7as Charles
Transylvania 6-50001985IMDb rating 5.0as Gil Turner
Protocol1984IMDb rating 5.5as Hassler
Streets of Fire1984IMDb rating 6.7as Ben Gunn
This Is Spinal Tap1984IMDb rating 7.9as John 'Stumpy' Pepys
Get Crazy1983IMDb rating 6.5as Colin Beverly
Cat People1982IMDb rating 6.2as Joe Creigh
Eating Raoul1982IMDb rating 6.8as Hippie
Buddy Buddy1981IMDb rating 6.5as Lieutenant #1
Elvis1979IMDb rating 6.9as D J Fontana
The In-Laws1979IMDb rating 7.3as Barry Lutz
Battlestar Galactica1978IMDb rating 6.8as Flight Sgt. Greenbean
Blue Collar1978IMDb rating 7.5as Bobby Joe
Goin' South1978IMDb rating 6.2as Whitey Haber
The One and Only1978IMDb rating 5.8as Arnold - The King
Citizens Band1977IMDb rating 6.4as The Priest
Stay Hungry1976IMDb rating 5.6as Lester
Cockfighter1974IMDb rating 6.9as Tom Peeples
Charley and the Angel1973IMDb rating 6.0as Derwood Moseby
Showdown1973IMDb rating 5.9as Pook
Now You See Him, Now You Don't1972IMDb rating 6.2as Druffle

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Pineapple Express2008 Action, Comedy, Crimeas Robert
IMDb rating 6.9376K votes
Ghostbusters2016 Action, Comedy, Fantasyas Ed Mulgrave
IMDb rating 6.8261K votes
What's Your Number?2011as Mr. Darling
IMDb rating 6.193K votes
This Is Spinal Tap1984as John 'Stumpy' Pepys
IMDb rating 7.9162K votes
Lucky2017as Dr. Kneedler
IMDb rating 7.329K votes
She-Devil1989as Bob
IMDb rating 5.821K votes
Renaissance Man1994as Jack Markin
IMDb rating 6.221K votes
Plus One2019as Chuck
IMDb rating 6.620K votes

Most often with

Paul Schrader directed three of these films, Christopher Guest two and Ben Stassen two. Rachelle Carson appears in six of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Rachelle Carson

Michael McKean

Bob Balaban

Christopher Lloyd

John Hurt

Danny DeVito

Paul SchraderDirector, 3 films

Christopher GuestDirector, 2 films Ben StassenDirector, 2 films

Films together

Rachelle Carson6 films together, 2001 to 2020
Rachelle Carson's page
- Dear Christmas2020IMDb rating 5.9Begley as Randy MorganCarson as Paula
- Reboot Camp2020IMDb rating 4.5Begley as John LehmanCarson as Mira Lehman
- Plus One2019IMDb rating 6.6Begley as ChuckCarson as Janice
- Amelia 2.02017IMDb rating 5.4Begley as Paul WesleyCarson as Sara Conrad
- Hard Four2007IMDb rating 4.0Begley as Governor BegleyCarson as Dee Dee Kulakundis
- Hounded2001IMDb rating 5.0Begley as Ward Van DusenCarson as Eliza Van Dusen
Michael McKean5 films together, 1984 to 2006
Michael McKean's page
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Begley as Sandy LaneMcKean as Lane Iverson
- Relative Strangers2006IMDb rating 5.4Begley as Mr. ManoireMcKean as Ken Hyman
- Auto Focus2002IMDb rating 6.7Begley as Mel RosenMcKean as Video Executive
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Begley as Hotel ManagerMcKean as Stefan Vanderhoof
- This Is Spinal Tap1984IMDb rating 7.9Begley as John 'Stumpy' PepysMcKean as David St. Hubbins
Bob Balaban5 films together, 1994 to 2008
Bob Balaban's page
- Recount2008IMDb rating 7.3Begley as David BoiesBalaban as Ben Ginsberg
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Begley as Sandy LaneBalaban as Philip Koontz
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Begley as Hotel ManagerBalaban as Dr. Theodore W. Millbank, III
- The Late Shift1996IMDb rating 6.7Begley as Rod PerthBalaban as Warren Littlefield
- Greedy1994IMDb rating 6.3Begley as CarlBalaban as Ed
Christopher Lloyd3 films together, 1978 to 2008
Christopher Lloyd's page
- Fly Me to the Moon 3D2008IMDb rating 4.5Begley as PoopchevvoiceLloyd as Amosvoice
- The Pagemaster1994IMDb rating 6.2Begley as Alan TylerLloyd as Mr. Dewey / The Pagemaster
- Goin' South1978IMDb rating 6.2Begley as Whitey HaberLloyd as Deputy Towfield
John Hurt3 films together, 1993 to 2010
John Hurt's page
- A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures2010IMDb rating 6.0Begley as GreenPeace WorkervoiceHurt as Grandpa Sammyvoice
- Recount2008IMDb rating 7.3Begley as David BoiesHurt as Warren Christopher
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues1993IMDb rating 4.3Begley as RupertHurt as The Countess
Danny DeVito3 films together, 1978 to 2006
Danny DeVito's page
- Relative Strangers2006IMDb rating 5.4Begley as Mr. ManoireDeVito as Frank Menure
- Renaissance Man1994IMDb rating 6.2Begley as Jack MarkinDeVito as Bill Rago
- Goin' South1978IMDb rating 6.2Begley as Whitey HaberDeVito as Hog, Moon's Old Gang
Paul SchraderDirector, 3 films, 1978 to 2002
All films by Paul Schrader
- Auto Focus2002IMDb rating 6.7Begley as Mel Rosen
- Cat People1982IMDb rating 6.2Begley as Joe Creigh
- Blue Collar1978IMDb rating 7.5Begley as Bobby Joe
Christopher GuestDirector, 2 films, 2000 to 2006
All films by Christopher Guest
- For Your Consideration2006IMDb rating 6.3Begley as Sandy Lane
- Best in Show2000IMDb rating 7.5Begley as Hotel Manager
Ben StassenDirector, 2 films, 2008 to 2010
All films by Ben Stassen
- A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures2010IMDb rating 6.0Begley as GreenPeace Workervoice
- Fly Me to the Moon 3D2008IMDb rating 4.5Begley as Poopchevvoice
Also three films together4 more actors
- Kurt RussellElvis (1979), Charley and the Angel (1973) and Now You See Him, Now You Don't (1972)
- Tim CurryA Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures (2010), Fly Me to the Moon 3D (2008) and Addams Family Reunion (1998)
- John Michael HigginsFor Your Consideration (2006), Best in Show (2000) and The Late Shift (1996)
- Christopher GuestFor Your Consideration (2006), Best in Show (2000) and This Is Spinal Tap (1984)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What Ed Begley Jr.'s films earned in cinemas worldwide.

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Combined worldwide box office

$919 million

36 of the 71 films have a worldwide figure.

36Worldwide figure
5US gross only
15Never in cinemas
15Figure not found

Top grosser

Ghostbusters2016Ed Mulgrave$229 million

Highest grossing

The eight biggest films earned 71% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
Ghostbusters2016as Ed Mulgrave
$229M24.9% of the total
2
Book Club2018as Tom
$104M11.4% of the total
3
Pineapple Express2008as Robert
$102M11.1% of the total
4
A Turtle's Tale: Sammy's Adventures2010as GreenPeace Worker (voice)
$72M7.8% of the total
5
Fly Me to the Moon 3D2008as Poopchev (voice)
$47M5.1% of the total
6
The In-Laws1979as Barry Lutz
$38M4.2% of the total
7
The Accidental Tourist1988as Charles
$33M3.6% of the total
8
Amsterdam2022as General Bill Meekins
$31M3.4% of the total