James Urbaniak
James Christian Urbaniak (born September 17, 1963) is an American actor. Urbaniak also voiced Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture on Cartoon Network/Adult Swim's animated series The Venture Bros.
Also recorded as James Christian Urbaniak
James Urbaniak

Gage Skidmore · CC BY-SA 3.0
- Name
- James Urbaniak
- Birth Name
- James Christian Urbaniak
- Born
- 17 September 1963
- Birthplace
- Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Nationality
- United States
- Education
- Brookdale Community College
- Known for
- Welcome to Night Vale
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q6144533 · wikipedia · James Urbaniak
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The documentary record
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Institutions cited
Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
Not stated by the sources cited: nationality
Complete reading chain (JSON)In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — James Urbaniak • Birth Name — James Christian Urbaniak • Born — 17 September 1963 • Birthplace — Bayonne, New Jersey, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1985–present • Children — 2
Documentary record
James Urbaniak (born 17 September 1963) is recorded as an actor. James Urbaniak was born on 17 September 1963 in Bayonne, New Jersey, United States.
Personal life
Personal life
Urbaniak was born in Bayonne, New Jersey and lives in Los Angeles, California. He is of Polish descent.
Career
Career
Urbaniak's first media appearance occurred in 1983 when, at the age of 20, he went onstage from the audience of Late Night with David Letterman to try his hand at a monologue joke that Letterman had flubbed. One of his first noteworthy roles was in the avant-garde playwright/director Richard Foreman's The Universe, for which Urbaniak won an Obie. He has also been acclaimed for his acting in the films Henry Fool and American Splendor, in the latter of which he played legendary cartoonist R. Crumb. He was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for his role in Thom Pain (based on nothing). He provides the voice for main character Dr. Thaddeus Venture on The Venture Bros. as well as the Doctor's brother Jonas Venture Junior, (in his first appearance, the role of Jonas Venture Junior was played by Paul Boocock for all subsequent appearances) and the super-villain Phantom Limb. Urbaniak played a pizza guy in the famous "Whassup?" television commercials for Budweiser. The commercial was especially prominent on commercial television networks in the United Kingdom, where it became a cultural phenomenon. He also portrayed the moderator in "Human Centipede Anonymous", a Funny or Die short depicting three men who grapple with their past as a human centipede. Urbaniak appeared on Ken Reid's TV Guidance Counselor podcast on May 13, 2015. From 2015 to 2017, Urbaniak played Arthur Tack for all three seasons of the critically-acclaimed Hulu comedy series Difficult People, opposite Julie Klausner and Billy Eichner. In 2017, Urbaniak played Dr. Kincaid in the film Wonderstruck, directed by Todd Haynes. Also in 2017, he played the Maaldorian Doctor on the hit series Supergirl. In 2018, Urbaniak played the recurring role of Special Agent Owen Quinn on the CBS series Criminal Minds. In 2019, Urbaniak played Marcus Strang in the film Where'd You Go, Bernadette, written and directed by Richard Linklater. Also in 2019, he played the recurring role of Gavin Donahue on the Apple TV+ series For All Mankind. In 2020, Urbaniak played Professor Anthony in the film Tesla, opposite Ethan Hawke. Also in 2020, he played The Trinket Man on the Netflix series The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. In 2021, Urbaniak played Bram in the film Things Heard & Seen, opposite Amanda Seyfried. Also in 2021, he appeared on the television shows Dickinson, 9-1-1: Lone Star, and as the Backstage Manager on The Morning Show. In 2022, Urbaniak played the Principal of Grand View High School in the film The Fabelmans, directed by Steven Spielberg. Also in 2022, he appeared on the television series Made for Love and appeared as Norm Wakely in an episode of the series Better Call Saul. In 2023, Urbaniak played Kurt Godel in the film Oppenheimer, directed by Christopher Nolan. The film won 7 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. In 2024, Urbaniak played the character Kirby in the independent film Breakup Season, alongside an ensemble cast which included Chandler Riggs, Samantha Isler, and Jacob Wysocki. Urbaniak won Best Actor at the Mystic Film Festival for his work on the film.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1999 — Sex and the City — Buster — Episode: "La Douleur Exquise!" • 2003 — Ed — Gallery Owner — Episode: "Blips" • Law & Order: Criminal Intent — Dr. Roger Stern — Episode: "Zoonotic" • 2003–2018 — The — Dr. Venture / Phantom Limb / Jonas Venture Jr. / Various voices — Voice, main role • 2004 — Hi no tori — Susanoo — Voice, English dub • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit — Wade Donato — Episode: "Head" • 2006–2007 — Kidnapped — The Accountant — 7 episodes • 2007 — SuperNormal — Meowman/Mr. Tabby — Voice, episode: "Evil Barks and Wets the Carpet" • Numb3rs — Binky Moore — Episode: "Primacy" • 2008 — Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles — Cafe Manager / Sarkissian — 2 episodes • Without a Trace — Damon Lafloer — Episode: "Closure" • The — Gary — 4 episodes • CSI: Miami — Max Paulson — Episode: "Power Trip" • 2009 — NCIS — Dr. Rod Daniels — Episode: "Love & War" • Medium — Mr. Enright — Episode: "Soul Survivor" • Snake 'n' Bacon — Bacon — Voice, pilot • Weeds — The Wizard — Episode: "Van Nuys" • 2009–2013 — The — Rolf — 4 episodes • 2010 — The — Adam — Voice, episode: "The Salty Jazz/Jews Love to Laugh" • You Don't Know Jack — Jack Lessenberry — Television film • 2011 — Cinema Verite — Dick Cavett — Television film • Wizards of Waverly Place — Rob Robinson — Episode: "Alex the Puppetmaster" • 2011–2012 — Homeland — Larry — 2 episodes • 2011–2013 — H+: The Digital Series — Francis Peters — 5 episodes • 2012 — Metalocalypse — Dr. Fsmilejera Irlelwoll — Voice, episode: "Going Downklok" • Electric City — Mr. Orwell — Voice, episode: "What Aren't We Capable Of?"; web series • The Good Wife — Judge Bernard Temple — Episode: "And the Law Won" • The New Normal — Mr. Blakeney — Episode: "The XY Factor" • Unforgettable — Walter Morgan / John Fox — 3 episodes • Body of Proof — Daniel Grubstick — Episode: "Mind Games" • 2013 — Scandal — Mike Sylva — Episode: "Whiskey Tango Foxtrot" • Childrens Hospital — Future Doctor — Episode: "Old Fashioned Day" • The Mentalist — Aaron Kalinoski — Episode: "Black-Winged Redbird" • Monsters vs. Aliens — Rule-Bot — Voice, 2 episodes • Hawaii Five-0 — Gary Nathan — Episode: "Pukana" • 2014 — Teen Wolf — The Chemist — Episode: "Weaponized" • You're the Worst — Army Priest — Episode: "PTSD" • Comedy Bang! Bang! — Victor Kahn — Episode: "The Lonely Island Wear Holiday Sweaters & White Pants" • All Hail King Julien — Lemur #1 — Voice, episode: "Enter the Fanaloka" • Infomercials — Rev. Boxley Fryer — Episode: "Book of Christ" • 2014–2016 — Adventure Time — Various roles — Voice, 2 episodes • 2014–2017 — Review — Grant Grunderschmidt — 19 episodes • 2015 — Agent Carter — Miles Van Ert — 2 episodes • Newsreaders — Carob Landis — Episode: "The FMK Killer; Newsreaders: Behind the Scenes" • Pig Goat Banana Cricket — Nose Picker Fish — Voice, episode: "Pig Goat Banana Cricket High Five!" • Gigi Does It — Gigi's Attorney — Episode: "Glock Schlock" • Dr. Ken — James Miller — Episode: "The Seminar" • Brooklyn Nine-Nine — Nick Lingeman — Episode: "Boyle's Hunch" • 2015–2016 — The Adventures of Puss in Boots — Thriffith — Voice, 3 episodes • Gortimer Gibbon's Life on Normal Street — Dr. Grapehall — 2 episodes • 2015–2017 — Guardians of the Galaxy — Ebony Maw, Acolyte — Voice, 6 episodes • Difficult People — Arthur Tack — 28 episodes • 2016 — Dice — Director of the "Welcome to Vegas" Commercial — Episode: "Prestige" • 2017 — Supergirl — Maaldorian Doctor — Episode: "Supergirl Lives" • Lego Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures — M-OC — Voice, 10 episodes • Teachers — Carl Fromm — Episode: "Dire Straights" • Apollo Gauntlet — Dr. Benign, Prince Belenus — Voice, 5 episodes • 2017–2018 — OK K.O.! Let's Be Heroes — Mr. Logic, Joff the Shaolin Monk, Baby Ernesto — Voice, 4 episodes • 2018 — Criminal Minds — Special Agent Owen Quinn — 2 episodes • Elementary — Doctor Leo Demopoulos — Episode: "Our Time Is Up" • Big Hero 6: The Series — Art Teacher — Voice, episode: "Rivalry Weak" • 2019 — Fam — Tom — Episode: "It's Been a While" • At Home with Amy Sedaris — Denny Shnarks — Episode: "Creativity" • Documentary Now! — Howard Pine — Episode: "Original Cast Album: Co-Op" • Too Old to Die Young — Stevie Crockett — Episode: "The Fool" • Ollie & Scoops — Dr. Toodles — Voice, episode: "Gimmie a Hand" • Lodge 49 — Tony — 2 episodes • Just Add Magic — Pierce Hamilton — Episode: "New Protectors" • For All Mankind — Gavin Donahue — 3 episodes • 2020 — Just Add Magic: Mystery City — Pierce Hamilton — 9 episodes • Close Enough — Commercial Bot — Voice, episode: "Robot Tutor/Golden Gamer" • Chilling Adventures of Sabrina — The Trinket Man — 2 episodes • Red Bird Lane — Tanner — Pilot • 2021 — Dickinson — Ophthalmologist — Episode: "Before I Got My Eye Put Out" • 9-1-1: Lone Star — Imp — Episode: "Friends with Benefits" • The Morning Show — Backstage Manager — Episode: "My Least Favorite Year" • 2022 — Better Call Saul — Norm Wakely — Episode: "Wine and Roses" • Made for Love — Gogol Interviewer — 2 episodes • Bubble Guppies — Julius Rangoon — Voice, Episode: "Escape from Volcano Island!" • 2023 — History of the World, Part II — Roman Soldier — Episode: "II" • Carol & the End of the World — Voice, 2 episodes • 2024–2025 — Palm Royale — Palm Royale Manager — 5 episodes • 2024 — Code Geass: Rozé of the Recapture — Christoph Scissorman — Voice, English dub • FBI — Mike Holland — Episode: "Trusted" • 2026 — Batman: Caped Crusader — Hugo Strange — Voice, Episode: "Brute Force"
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Voice role • 2003 — Manhunt — Innocentz gang member • 2007 — Manhunt 2 — Bloodhound member • 2009 — Avatar: The Game — RDA • 2011 — Fallout New Vegas: Old World Blues — Dr. 0 • 2011 — Star Wars: The Old Republic — C2-D4, Needles • 2014 — Star Wars: The Old Republic – Shadow of Revan — C2-D4 • 2015 — Code Name: S.T.E.A.M. — Randolph Carter • 2015 — The Magic Circle — Ishmael Gilder • 2019 — Star Wars: The Old Republic - Onslaught — C2-D4 / Additional voices • 2022 — High on Life — Nipulon / Additional voices • 2023 — Redfall — Hollow Man / Kildere's Father • 2024 — Destiny 2: The Final Shape — Targe • 2025 — The Outer Worlds 2 — Officer Durban / Middle Manager Twombly • 2026 — High on Life 2 — Nipulon / Additional voices
Other works
Other works
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 2012 — Getting On With James Urbaniak — Narrator — Podcast • 2014 — God is Disappointed in You — Narrator — Audio book • 2014-2016, 2019, 2025 — Welcome to Night Vale — Intern James, Leonard Burton — Podcast (4 episodes, 1 live show recording, and 1 live show recording bonus track) • 2015 — Special Relativity — Mr. Wandell, Art Director — Radio • 2016 — A Night Called Tomorrow — Arch Hutton — Podcast; also writer and producer • 2016 — Apocrypha Now — Narrator — Audio book • 2017 — Patient Zero — The Dresser — Music Video Written and performed by Aimee Mann • 2021 — Suicide Is Murder — Man — Music Video Written and performed by Aimee Mann

James Urbaniak at a Breakup Season Q A in Glendale, California.
Kevin Paul
Life and career
Dated record
Life and career
The full dated record · 1 entries
1963
James Urbaniak born at Bayonne.
Places
Named by the record
Places
Only places the record itself states, plotted where the house gazetteer settles their coordinates. Nothing is inferred from a name or a nationality.
- Los Angeles
Named but not plotted · 1
Bayonne.
Birth place
Film
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1994 — NYC 3/94 — Short film • Opera No. 1 — James — Short film • 1997 — Henry Fool — Simon Grim • The — Isaac • 1998 — Aphrodisiac — Deli Assistant • The — True Believer • 1999 — Ride with the Devil — Poker Player • Sweet and Lowdown — Harry • 2000 — Intern — Olivier Di Santo • 2001 — No Such Thing — Concierge • Upheaval — Martin — Short film • 2002 — Confessions of a Dangerous Mind — Rod Flexnor • Teknolust — Agent Hopper • Passengers — Man — Short film • Daypass — Simple Simon — Short film • 2003 — Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde — Lab Technician • Briar Patch — Druden Hunt • Grasshopper — James — Short film • American Splendor — Robert Crumb • 2004 — Thanksgiving — Willy — Short film • B Movie — Professor Friend • Boutique — Nick — Short film • 2005 — Fortunes — Lewis Croshere • Road — The Ranger • The — Funk • 2006 — Fay Grim — Simon Grim • The Last Romantic — Alex Scarvey • Death of a President — Dr. James Pearn • 2007 — Across the Universe — Sadie's Manager • The Nanny Diaries — Educational Consultant • Chicago 10 — Rennie Davis, Richard Schultz — Voice, documentary • 2008 — The Bentfootes — Jim Raritan • The Diagnosis — Dr. Besman — Short film • 2010 — Beware the Gonzo — Principal Roy • Hello Lonesome — Gary • Human Centipede Anonymous — James — Short film • Drones — Pete • 2011 — The — Mike Tapplin • Sound of My Voice — Mr. Pritchett • From the Head — Danny • 2012 — Pig Goat Banana Mantis — Mantis — Voice, short film • 2013 — iSteve — Bill Gates • Bitter Orange — Sweetie — Short film • 2014 — The Boxtrolls — Sir Broderick, Workers — Voice • Ned Rifle — Simon Grim • The Occupants — Glen • Such Good People — Dr. Cooper Whitehead • 2015 — Advantageous — Fisher • 2016 — After Adderall — The Agent • 2017 — Dave Made a Maze — Harry • Rebel in the Rye — Gus Lobrano • Wonderstruck — Dr. Kincaid • 2018 — Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay — Professor Pyg — Voice • 2019 — Where'd You Go, Bernadette — Marcus Strang • 2020 — Tesla — Professor Anthony • For Madmen Only — Del Close — Documentary • 2021 — Things Heard & Seen — Bram • 2022 — Beauty — Irv Merlin • The Fabelmans — Grand View High School Principal • 2023 — Condor's Nest — Heinrich Himmler • Invitation to a Murder — Gordon • Taz: Quest for Burger — Rocky — Voice • The Country Club — Victor Simmons • Oppenheimer — Kurt Gödel • The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart — Dr. Thaddeus "Rusty" Venture — Voice • Gonzo Girl — Lionel • 2024 — The Rainbow Bridge — Herb — Short film • Puddysticks — Boss • Breakup Season — Kirby • Thelma the Unicorn — Confused Fan — Voice • Test Screening — The Observer • Laws of Man — Proprietor Isaac • 2025 — Every Heavy Thing — William Shaffer • Theatre People — Drama Teacher • 2026 — Grind — Richard • The Last Temptation of Becky — Post-production
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article James Urbaniak, revision 1374101783 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.James Urbaniak. IMDb.
- 2.James Urbaniak: Actor. Turner Classic Movies.
- 3.James Urbanik on Letterman, 1983. Youtube. November 23, 2015 cbignore.
- 4.James Urbaniak on Venture Bros.' return and Hal Hartley's Lord Of The Rings. The A.V. Club. 2013-05-16.
- 5.2007 – Drama Desk Awards – Nominations.
- 6.Sternbergh, Adam. Thom Pain (Based on Nothing) is James Urbaniak's Great Leap to Success - Nymag. New York Magazine. 2005-03-03.
- 7.Del Signore, John. James Urbaniak, Actor. Gothamist. 2007-03-19.
- 8.Cormier, Roger. The Vine 5 Film Festival: Loneliness, Death, and Exercise. Vulture. 2013-05-28.
- 9.Human Centipede Anonymous. Funny or Die.
- 10.2024 Mystic Film Festival Winners Mystic Film Festival, Mystic, Connecticut. Mystic Film Festival.
- 11.Funny Or Die. 'iSteve. funnyordie.com. 15 April 2013.
- 12.Behind The Voice Actors. James Urbaniak (visual voices guide).
- 13.Getting On with James Urbaniak. gettingonwithju.libsyn.com.
- 14.Special Relativity – A Radio Comedy starring Alex Borstein.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 29 August 2026.
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