Daniel Roebuck

Having made his feature film debut starring in the teen comedy CAVEGIRL Daniel Roebuck quickly realized that there was only one direction to travel in his career. Up!

Soon after CAVEGIRL, Roebuck established himself as one of the industry’s youngest character actors with his haunting portrayal as the teenage killer, Samson in THE RIVER’S EDGE.

Since then Daniel Roebuck has continually challenged himself with each new role he undertakes.

His fearlessness was readily apparent as Roebuck took on the guise of Jay Leno in THE LATE SHIFT, HBO’s critically acclaimed telefilm, written by Bill Carter, directed by Betty Thomas, and executive produced by Ivan Reitman. THE LATE SHIFT detailed the “late night wars” as NBC jockeyed for the services of Jay Leno and David Letterman following Johnny Carson’s retirement from THE TONIGHT SHOW.

Never one to be satisfied, Daniel stepped into another set of famous shoes when he was asked to play Garry Marshall in BEHIND THE CAMERA: MORK AND MINDY, THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY. A long time fan of Marshall’s oeuvre, Roebuck was thrilled to yet another leap into the world of Bio pics.

Aside from his numerous on camera projects, Daniel has recently lent his voice to two animated films. In the first, CHRISTMAS IS HERE AGAIN, Daniel plays an elf named Paul Rocco. Roebuck is also producing the 2007 release.

The second film is THE HAUNTED WORLD OF ELSUPERBEASTO. In it, Daniel reprises his role of Morris Green, from Rob Zombie’s THE DEVIL’S REJECTS. Although many actors have played the same character in two different movies, this may be the first time that one project was live action and the second film was animated!

In 2005 Roebuck settled back into series television when he joined the cast of LOST in the last three episodes of the acclaimed series’ first season. Daniel played the misunderstood Dr. Leslie Arzt and made TV history when he exploded on camera in the season finale!

Roebuck has been a familiar face on television over the last 20 years, he was a regular for three seasons on the evergreen hit drama, MATLOCK, portraying attorney “Cliff Lewis,” the junior partner of the law firm headed by Andy Griffith’s beloved character, “Ben Matlock.” Interestingly, his landing the role was the fulfillment of a promise made several years earlier with his first appearance on MATLOCK in its inaugural season. At that time, Roebuck was told that Griffith had been so impressed with his work that he would be back as a regular on the show. It took five seasons, two more guest shots as different characters, and a change of networks, but Griffith kept his promise and Roebuck indeed became a series regular.

In the fall of 2003 Mr. Roebuck returned to series television as “Pete Peterson” in A MINUTE WITH STAN HOOPER, Fox TV’s new comedy starring Norm MacDonald. In the series Roebuck portrayed a gay owner of the local diner where much of the action took place.

Audiences will also remember Daniel for his many unforgettable guest star roles on television over the years. Grateful that he’s never been typecast, Roebuck has played cops to crooks and everything in between.

Some of his memorable characters include a super villain attempting world domination on LOIS AND CLARK, THE NEW ADVENTURES OF SUPERMAN, a Romulan on STAR TREK, an Army lieutenant on THE WEST WING, a Catholic Priest on ANY DAY NOW, a sex addict on SIX FEET UNDER, a distraught husband on ER and a fleeing mob accountant on MONK. Other recent credits include NAVY NCIS, GHOST WHISPERER, CSI, BOSTON LEGAL, LAW AND ORDER, DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and CLOSE TO HOME.

However, it was a role as the gun-wielding crazy “Dave Burgess on NYPD BLUE that earned Roebuck some of the best reviews of his career. In an episode touted by ABC publicity as “One of the best NYPD Blues ever!” Roebuck took Emmy winner Dennis Franz hostage in a nail biter that kept the audience on the edge of their seats.

Roebuck and Franz had worked together years earlier as decidedly different characters in the TV movie, A MOMENT OF TRUTH. In this telefilm, Mr. Roebuck played Mr. Franz’ lawyer.

Mr. Roebuck has also starred in numerous television movies over the years. Some of the more recent titles include CONFESSIONS OF A SOCIOPATHIC SOCIAL CLIMBER (opposite Jennifer Love Hewitt), MURDER AT THE PRESIDIO, BEHIND THE CAMERA: THE UNAUTHORIZED STORY OF “THREE’S COMPANY,” A GLIMPSE OF HELL, COLD EQUATIONS and QUINTS.

Daniel Roebuck has continued his work on the big screen as well. He starred in numerous studio pictures. He played opposite Oscar winner Tommy Lee Jones in THE FUGITIVE and reprised his role as Marshal Biggs in the blockbuster’s sequel U.S. MARSHALS. He has also had important roles in FINAL DESTINATION, DISORGANIZED CRIME, MONEY TALKS, DOUBLE TAKE, WE WERE SOLDIERS, AGENT CODY BANKS and its sequel AGENT CODY BANKS 2.

Roebuck has also starred in many independent films as well. His favorites include, BUBBA HO-TEP, DRIVEN, TOGETHER & ALONE, CADILLAC, THE SURE HAND OF GOD, GRAVES END and EDDIE PRESLEY.

Daniel Roebuck was born in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. When he was seven, his parents unwittingly directed Roebuck toward his life path by giving him a cardboard television for Christmas. Daniel would stand inside the ersatz “Idiot Box” and pretend to be on TV!

He began performing in talent shows at the age of ten doing impressions of movie stars like his boyhood idol, Rich Little. He joined a local circus two years later and made his debut as one of the youngest clowns in the country. Roebuck’s clown act eventually segued into a magic act and he performed that throughout Pennsylvania, New Jersey and New York.

It was only a matter of time before Roebuck discovered the theatre and from that point he never looked back. Over the next few years, Roebuck continued to hone his craft, acting in, directing, and even writing over 50 plays. His magic act eventually evolved into a stand-up comedy routine.

Making the move to Los Angeles at the age of 21, Roebuck remained on the boards. He eventually won roles in such theatrical productions as the U.S. premiere of SARCOPHAGUS at L.A.T.C., and in the world premieres of HOLY TOLEDO and WHO KILLED ORSON WELLS.

Recently Daniel has expanded his horizons further by producing and directing the documentary HALLOWEEN, THE HAPPY HAUNTING OF AMERICA with Chuck Williams. Roebuck has also written, produced and directed a number of documentaries called MONSTERAMA for the Monster Channel on the DISH network.

More recently Daniel produced and directed THE DEFINATIVE GROOVIE GOOLIES DOCU-COMEDY with actor Wally Wingert. He is currently working on another documentary, MOVIELAND MEMORIES, about the now defunct Movieland Wax Museum with Rob Klein.

When Roebuck is not in front of the cameras, behind the cameras or on stage, he enjoys his large collection of classic “monster” toys and memorabilia. He writes for numerous publications on the subject of horror movies and loves taking his children to amusement parks. He has also written his first children’s book, BUMPAS, THE RELUCTANT KRAMPUS.

Roebuck currently lives in Southern California with his wife Kelly and his children, Grace and Buster.