Robert Elmer "Bob" Balaban (born August 16, 1945) is an American actor, author, producer, and director who is known for his roles in "Moonrise Kingdom", "Gosford Park", "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", "Best in Show", "Lady in the Water", and as his guest-staring roles as Russell Dalrymple in "Seinfeld" and Frank Buffay, Sr. in "Friends".