Bob Balaban is an American actor, author and director. Bob Balaban was born the son of Eleanor and Elmer, who owned several movie theatres and later was a pioneer in cable television. His family was a dominant force in the theatre business.

His uncle Barney was president of Paramount Pictures for nearly 30 years from 1936 to 1964. Bob Balaban is an alumnus of Colgate University and New York University and lives on the Upper West Side of Manhattan with his family.

Bob is a member of the Phi Kappa Tau Fraternity. He is Jewish, with his paternal grandparents having immigrated from Russia to Chicago.