Stephen Root

Nov 17, 1951

Sarasota, Florida, USA

One of the most prolific character actors working today, Stephen Root has
worked alongside many of the biggest names in Hollywood. He was born
November 17, 1951, in Sarasota, Florida, and went on to attend the
University of Florida during the 1970s. He worked in theater after
graduation, first with the National Shakespeare Company before moving up to
off-Broadway theater and finally moving on to Broadway. His first acting
role on screen came in George A. Romero's cult horror classic Monkey... ... (read more...) Shines
(1988). After that, many more under-the-radar supporting roles came his way
until he found some moderate fame in the acclaimed series "NewsRadio"
(1995), where he played the somewhat eccentric owner of a radio station,
with Dave Foley as the station manager. The show also introduced him to
comedian Andy Dick, one of many comedian-actors whom he would work with
again later in the 1990s and beyond. The show ran from 1995 to 1999 before
it was canceled. Besides the character of Jimmy James on "NewsRadio" (1995),
Root has played more eccentric characters in recent years. Root began
voicing several characters in the hit animated TV series "King of the Hill"
(1997), a show created by and starring Mike Judge. Judge would later cast
Root in another cult classic film, 1999's Office Space (1999), where Root
played the squirrelly and unforgettable Milton Waddams, a man who is pushed
around at work and has a fetish for Swingline staplers. More recently Root
has worked with such directors as the Coen brothers and Kevin Smith as yet
more oddball characters as well as making guest appearances on numerous TV
shows.