Stephen Root (born November 17, 1951) is an American actor and voice
actor. He has starred as Jimmy James on the television sitcom
NewsRadio, as Milton Waddams in the film Office Space (1999), and as
the voices of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated
series King of the Hill (1997â€"2010). His other roles have included
Captain K'Vada in the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode
"Unification" (1991), Mr. Lund in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000),
Gordon Pibb in DodgeBall (2004), Hawthorne Abendsen in seasons 2-4 of
the series The Man in the High Castle, Jim Hudson in Get Out (2017),
and supporting roles in a variety of HBO series, including Boardwalk
Empire, Barry, and Perry Mason.Root was born in Sarasota, Florida, the
son of Leona Estelle and Rolland Clair Root, a project superintendent
and site manager on major civil engineering projects throughout the
United States and Mexico. Root has likened his childhood to that of an
"Army brat", as his family frequently relocated while his father
finished each construction project. Root graduated from Vero Beach
High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He received his AA from the
University of Florida and trained in the BFA acting program. The
university recognized him as one of its distinguished alumni in 2008.
Subsequently he was granted his BFA after completion of his final
semester based on the quality and character of his acting career,
having left college to pursue Broadway in his final semester.Root
began his career on stage in 1986, he made his broadway acting debut
in the play So Long on Lonely Street, were the played King Vaughnum
III. he also appeared in All My Sons as Frank Lubey and recently as
Jon in the 2015 play, Marjorie Prime.Root made his first feature film
debut in the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II as a DEA Agent. That same
year, he acted in the psychological horror film Monkey Shines as Dean
Burbage. Among his most recognized television roles are eccentric
billionaire Jimmy James on the sitcom NewsRadio and had a recurring
role on the final two seasons of The West Wing as Republican campaign
consultant Bob Mayer. He appeared in many memorable comedy films,
including the mumbling, quirky Milton Waddams in Office Space, the
mild-mannered gymrat Gordon Pibb in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,
Suds, a drunk sportswriter, in Leatherheads, and the dimwitted
principal in the 2008 Judd Apatow produced comedy Drillbit Taylor.
actor. He has starred as Jimmy James on the television sitcom
NewsRadio, as Milton Waddams in the film Office Space (1999), and as
the voices of Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland in the animated
series King of the Hill (1997â€"2010). His other roles have included
Captain K'Vada in the Star Trek: The Next Generation two-part episode
"Unification" (1991), Mr. Lund in O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000),
Gordon Pibb in DodgeBall (2004), Hawthorne Abendsen in seasons 2-4 of
the series The Man in the High Castle, Jim Hudson in Get Out (2017),
and supporting roles in a variety of HBO series, including Boardwalk
Empire, Barry, and Perry Mason.Root was born in Sarasota, Florida, the
son of Leona Estelle and Rolland Clair Root, a project superintendent
and site manager on major civil engineering projects throughout the
United States and Mexico. Root has likened his childhood to that of an
"Army brat", as his family frequently relocated while his father
finished each construction project. Root graduated from Vero Beach
High School in Vero Beach, Florida. He received his AA from the
University of Florida and trained in the BFA acting program. The
university recognized him as one of its distinguished alumni in 2008.
Subsequently he was granted his BFA after completion of his final
semester based on the quality and character of his acting career,
having left college to pursue Broadway in his final semester.Root
began his career on stage in 1986, he made his broadway acting debut
in the play So Long on Lonely Street, were the played King Vaughnum
III. he also appeared in All My Sons as Frank Lubey and recently as
Jon in the 2015 play, Marjorie Prime.Root made his first feature film
debut in the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II as a DEA Agent. That same
year, he acted in the psychological horror film Monkey Shines as Dean
Burbage. Among his most recognized television roles are eccentric
billionaire Jimmy James on the sitcom NewsRadio and had a recurring
role on the final two seasons of The West Wing as Republican campaign
consultant Bob Mayer. He appeared in many memorable comedy films,
including the mumbling, quirky Milton Waddams in Office Space, the
mild-mannered gymrat Gordon Pibb in Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story,
Suds, a drunk sportswriter, in Leatherheads, and the dimwitted
principal in the 2008 Judd Apatow produced comedy Drillbit Taylor.
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