---
name: "David Paymer"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/david-paymer"
fi1m_id: "david-paymer"
imdb_id: "nm0001601"
tmdb_id: 19839
wikidata_id: "Q373989"
roles: ["Director","Actor"]
born: "30 August 1954"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 14
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "director"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-10-13T21:28:51.044735+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# David Paymer

## Identity

David Paymer

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/david-paymer
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** david-paymer
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001601
- **TMDB ID:** 19839
- **Wikidata ID:** Q373989
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paymer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q373989, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001601/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/19839

Director and actor. Born 30 August 1954 in Oceanside, Long Island, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Director, Actor
- **Born:** 30 August 1954, Oceanside, Long Island, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1982–present
- **Also known as:** David Emmanuel Paymer 
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 14: 10 acting, 4 directing
- **Frequently works with:** [Bethany Rooney](https://film.one/person/bethany-rooney.md), [Eric Laneuville](https://film.one/person/eric-laneuville.md), [Kevin Dowling](https://film.one/person/kevin-dowling.md), [Lesli Linka Glatter](https://film.one/person/lesli-linka-glatter.md), [Michael Grossman](https://film.one/person/michael-grossman.md), [Allan Heinberg](https://film.one/person/allan-heinberg.md), [Arlene Sanford](https://film.one/person/arlene-sanford.md), [Bill D'Elia](https://film.one/person/bill-delia.md)
- **Academy Awards:** 1 Oscar nomination
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as director, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 62 (2), 1990s 76 (4), 2000s 69 (6), 2020s 62 (2)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 73 to 67 across 3 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Genres:** Drama 4, Comedy 1, Crime 1, Mystery 1, Sport 1
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/David_Paymer, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q373989, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001601/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/19839

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Gilmore Girls*](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md) (81), [*The Mentalist*](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md) (71), [*Grey's Anatomy*](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md) (68), [*One Tree Hill*](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md) (66)
- **The Roku Channel:** [*Get Shorty*](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md) (82)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*City Slickers*](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md) (76)
- **Netflix:** [*Horse Girl*](https://film.one/film/horse-girl.md) (60)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

David Paymer is an American actor and television director. Born on 30 August 1954 in Oceanside, New York, he graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in theatre and psychology.

Paymer began his career in the late 1970s with small film and television roles. His breakthrough came with the supporting part of Stan in *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He played Ira Shalowitz in *City Slickers* (1991) and its sequel, and Dan Enright in *Quiz Show* (1994).

He has appeared in numerous films including *Get Shorty* (1995), *Nixon* (1995), *Ocean's Thirteen* (2007) and *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), and has directed episodes of television series such as *Grey's Anatomy* and *Lucifer*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com, the-numbers.com, rottentomatoes.com.*

## On Fi1m (14)

### Performed in (10)

- *Horse Girl* (2020), Fi1m 60, as Doctor — [page](https://film.one/film/horse-girl.md)
- *Star Trek: Picard* (2020), Fi1m 64, as Dr. Moritz Benayoun — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-picard.md)
- *Ocean's Thirteen* (2007), Fi1m 63, as The V.U.P. — [page](https://film.one/film/oceans-thirteen.md)
- *Entourage* (2004), Fi1m 63, as Sammy Kane — [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Amistad* (1997), Fi1m 63, as Secretary John Forsyth — [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Get Shorty* (1995), Fi1m 82, as Leo Devoe — [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)
- *Quiz Show* (1994), Fi1m 84, as Dan Enright — [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md)
- *City Slickers* (1991), Fi1m 76, as Ira Shalowitz — [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md)
- *Howard the Duck* (1986), Fi1m 43, as Larry, Scientist — [page](https://film.one/film/howard-the-duck.md)
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), Fi1m 81, as Todd Feldberg — [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)

### Directed (4) — the average rests on these

- *The Mentalist* (2008), Fi1m 71, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), Fi1m 68, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), Fi1m 66, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), Fi1m 81, Director — [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)

## Complete filmography (180)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *All's Fair* (2025), series, as Dr. Pollan
- *Adults* (2025), series, as Sandy Adler
- *Bad Shabbos* (2025), as Richard
- *Good American Family* (2025), series, as Dr. Lawrence
- *St. Denis Medical* (2024), series, as Bob
- *Bookie* (2023), series, as Nathan
- *Mr. Saturday Night* (2022), as Stan Yankleman
- *Minx* (2022), series, as Myron
- *The Sunlit Night* (2020), as Levi
- *Bad Therapy* (2020), as Dr. Edward Kingsley
- *DAVE* (2020), series, as Don
- *Horse Girl* (2020), as Doctor — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/film/horse-girl.md)
- *Star Trek: Picard* (2020), series, as Dr. Moritz Benayoun — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-picard.md)
- *The Morning Show* (2019), series, as Mr. Shoenfeld
- *On Becoming a God in Central Florida* (2019), series, as Buck Bridges
- *Where'd You Go, Bernadette* (2019), as Jay Ross
- *Fanboy* (2019), as Angry Ice Cream Customer
- *The Conners* (2018), series, as Gary
- *Accident Man* (2018), as Milton
- *There's... Johnny!* (2017), series, as Dr. Neuberger
- *Room 104* (2017), series, as Robert
- *The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel* (2017), series, as Harry Drake — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-marvelous-mrs-maisel.md)
- *Lemon* (2017), as Dr. Gold
- *The Pickle Recipe* (2016), as Uncle Morty
- *Lucifer* (2016), series, Director
- *Recovery Road* (2016), series, Director
- *Two-Bit Waltz* (2014), as The Lawyer
- *Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit* (2014), as Dixon Lewis
- *Brooklyn Nine-Nine* (2013), series, as Dr. Frederick Tate — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/brooklyn-nine-nine.md)
- *Mistresses* (2013), series, Director
- *Perception* (2012), series, as Rueben Bauer
- *Bunheads* (2012), series, Director
- *The Five-Year Engagement* (2012), as Pete Solomon
- *Hart of Dixie* (2011), series, Director
- *Twixt* (2011), as Sam
- *Switched at Birth* (2011), series, Director, Writer
- *Franklin & Bash* (2011), series, Director
- *Bad Teacher* (2011), as Doctor Vogel
- *No Ordinary Family* (2010), series, Director
- *Hellcats* (2010), series, Director
- *Life Unexpected* (2010), series, Director
- *Men of a Certain Age* (2009), series, Director
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Richard Cuesta — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Melrose Place* (2009), series, Director
- *Make It or Break It* (2009), series, Director
- *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), as Mr. Jacks
- *The Mentalist* (2008), series, as James "Jim" Panzer · Director — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-mentalist.md)
- *Privileged* (2008), series, Director
- *90210* (2008), series, Director
- *Redbelt* (2008), as Richard
- *Side Order of Life* (2007), series, Director
- *Heartland* (2007), series, Director
- *Resurrecting the Champ* (2007), as Whitley
- *Ocean's Thirteen* (2007), as The V.U.P. — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/oceans-thirteen.md)
- *October Road* (2007), series, Director
- *Brothers and Sisters* (2006), series, as Donald Dudley · Director
- *Checking Out* (2006), as Ted Applebaum
- *Windfall* (2006), series, Director
- *What About Brian* (2006), series, Director
- *Pepper Dennis* (2006), series, Director
- *The Unit* (2006), series, Director
- *Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School* (2006), as Rafael Horowitz
- *Ghost Whisperer* (2005), series, as Adam Godfrey
- *My Name Is Earl* (2005), series, as Clark Clark — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/my-name-is-earl.md)
- *Warm Springs* (2005), as Louis Howe
- *Grey's Anatomy* (2005), series, Director — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/greys-anatomy.md)
- *Candor City Hospital* (2005), Director
- *Crazy for Love* (2005), as Max Sr.
- *School of Life* (2005), as Matt Warner
- *Medium* (2005), series, Director
- *In Good Company* (2004), as Morty
- *Jack & Bobby* (2004), series, Director
- *Entourage* (2004), series, as Sammy Kane — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/entourage.md)
- *Balto III: Wings of Change* (2004), as Mel (voice)
- *Century City* (2004), series, as Miller Sisto
- *Spartan* (2004), as TV News Anchor (uncredited)
- *Line of Fire* (2003), series, as Jonah Malloy
- *One Tree Hill* (2003), series, Director — Fi1m 66, [page](https://film.one/tv/one-tree-hill.md)
- *Alex & Emma* (2003), as John Shaw
- *The Burial Society* (2002), as Morry Zimmer
- *Without a Trace* (2002), series, as Mr. Freedman
- *Everwood* (2002), series, Director
- *RFK* (2002), as Dick Goodwin
- *Joe and Max* (2002), as Joe Jacobs
- *Justice League* (2001), series, as Chancellor / Captain (voice), Chancellor / Nomad (voice)
- *Focus* (2001), as Mr. Finkelstein
- *The Wild Thornberrys: The Origin of Donnie* (2001), as Male Rhinoceros Hornbill (voice)
- *Night Visions* (2001), series, as Jim Osgoode (segment "Neighborhood Watch")
- *Bartleby* (2001), as The Boss
- *For Love or Country: The Arturo Sandoval Story* (2000), as Embassy interviewer
- *Bounce* (2000), as Prosecuting Attorney Mandel (uncredited)
- *Enemies of Laughter* (2000), as Paul
- *Gilmore Girls* (2000), series, Director — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/gilmore-girls.md)
- *Static Shock* (2000), series, as Mason Andrews (voice)
- *Bait* (2000), as Agent Wooly
- *State and Main* (2000), as Marty Rossen
- *Partners* (2000), as Bob
- *From Where I Sit* (2000), as Bob
- *Mumford* (1999), as Dr. Ernest Delbanco
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Stephen Elroy
- *The Hurricane* (1999), as Myron Bedlock
- *Chill Factor* (1999), as Dr. Richard Long
- *Dash and Lilly* (1999), as Arthur Kober
- *Payback* (1999), as Arthur Stegman
- *Mighty Joe Young* (1998), as Harry Ruben
- *Outside Ozona* (1998), as Alan Defaux
- *The Lesser Evil* (1998), as George
- *Godzilla: The Series* (1998), series, as Dean Whitehead (voice)
- *The Wild Thornberrys* (1998), series, as Finch / Iguana (voice), Male Rhinoceros Hornbill (voice)
- *Amistad* (1997), as Secretary John Forsyth — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/amistad.md)
- *Channel Umptee-3* (1997), series, as Sheldon S. Cargo (voice)
- *Gang Related* (1997), as Elliot Goff
- *The Long Way Home* (1997), as (voice)
- *The New Batman Adventures* (1997), series, as Frank (voice)
- *The 6th Man* (1997), as Coach Pederson
- *Crime of the Century* (1996), as David Wilentz
- *Carpool* (1996), as Daniel Miller
- *Unforgettable* (1996), as Curtis Avery
- *City Hall* (1996), as Abe Goodman
- *Nixon* (1995), as Ron Ziegler
- *The American President* (1995), as Leon Kodak
- *Get Shorty* (1995), as Leo Devoe — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/film/get-shorty.md)
- *Cagney & Lacey: Together Again* (1995), as Deputy D.A. Feldberg
- *Santo Bugito* (1995), series, as The Professor (voice)
- *In Search of Dr. Seuss* (1994), as The Ad Man
- *Cagney & Lacey: The Return* (1994), as Deputy Dist. Atty. Feldberg
- *Quiz Show* (1994), as Dan Enright — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/quiz-show.md)
- *City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold* (1994), as Ira Shalowitz
- *Searching for Bobby Fischer* (1993), as Kalev
- *Heart and Souls* (1993), as Hal the Bus Driver
- *Mr. Saturday Night* (1992), as Stan
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Norman Litkey — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *The Commish* (1991), series, as Arnie
- *City Slickers* (1991), as Ira Shalowitz — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/city-slickers.md)
- *Cop Rock* (1990), series, as Louis Newman
- *Glory Days* (1990), series, as Mac Ten's Lawyer
- *Crazy People* (1990), as George
- *Sky High* (1990), as Vic
- *Mancuso, F.B.I.* (1989), series, Actor
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Andy Conway
- *No Holds Barred* (1989), as Unger
- *The Absent-Minded Professor* (1988), as Mr. Oliphant
- *Murphy Brown* (1988), series, as Dr. Bishop — Fi1m 77, [page](https://film.one/tv/murphy-brown.md)
- *Rock 'N Roll Mom* (1988), as Boris
- *Jake and the Fatman* (1987), series, Actor
- *No Way Out* (1987), as Technician
- *21 Jump Street* (1987), series, as Mike Ferris
- *Downtown* (1986), series, as Capt. David Kiner
- *L.A. Law* (1986), series, as Joey Paul
- *It's Garry Shandling's Show* (1986), series, as Richard Kimble
- *Night of the Creeps* (1986), as Young Scientist
- *Howard the Duck* (1986), as Larry, Scientist — Fi1m 43, [page](https://film.one/film/howard-the-duck.md)
- *Pleasures* (1986), as Stanley
- *Matlock* (1986), series, as Lenny Marcus
- *Love, Mary* (1985), as David Lewis
- *Perfect* (1985), as Managing Editor
- *Moonlighting* (1985), series, as Camille's PR — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/moonlighting.md)
- *Irreconcilable Differences* (1984), as Alan Sluiser
- *Best Defense* (1984), as Kurly
- *Her Life as a Man* (1984), as Ted
- *Scarecrow and Mrs. King* (1983), series, Actor
- *Grace Kelly* (1983), as Jay Kanter
- *Airplane II: The Sequel* (1982), as Court Photographer
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Mr. Bickle — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Cheers* (1982), series, as Phil Schumacher — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Larry Harris
- *Cagney & Lacey* (1982), series, as Todd Feldberg — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/cagney-and-lacey.md)
- *Fame* (1982), series, Actor
- *Open All Night* (1981), series, Actor
- *Simon & Simon* (1981), series, Actor
- *This House Possessed* (1981), as Pasternak
- *Hill Street Blues* (1981), series, Actor — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/hill-street-blues.md)
- *Hart to Hart* (1979), series, Actor
- *The In-Laws* (1979), as Cabbie, Cab Driver
- *Taxi* (1978), series, as Ned — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/taxi.md)
- *Lou Grant* (1977), series, Actor
- *Barney Miller* (1975), series, as Felix Morrissey
- *The Jeffersons* (1975), series, Actor
- *Happy Days* (1974), series, Actor
- *Butterfly in the Typewriter*, as Stanley Kauffmann

## Gallery

- ![David Paymer](https://film.one/media/person/79856/gallery-fc8cb1873a5c.jpg) David Paymer — Image via TMDB
- ![David Paymer](https://film.one/media/person/79856/gallery-2518f9d88543.jpg) David Paymer — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 1 nominated

- 1993: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Mr. Saturday Night*

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/david-paymer