David Paymer, a stalwart and dependable character actor in modern TV and film, has been pursuing his passion for acting since his early childhood. Despite his traditional middle-class Jewish family's encouragement to become a doctor or lawyer, Paymer felt an innate connection to the world of thespian.
Growing up in Oceanside, New York, Paymer's father was in the scrap metal business, while his mother, a homemaker, had fled Belgium with her family to escape the Nazis. When his father left the scrap metal business to pursue music, it inspired young Paymer to give his acting dream a try.
Paymer's early big break came when he was cast in the TV series St. Elsewhere, only to be promptly dumped and replaced by Howie Mandel. However, his real breakthrough came with the role of Ira Shalowitz in the Billy Crystal vehicle City Slickers. Crystal was so impressed with Paymer's work that he wrote the part of Stan Yankelman, the beleaguered brother of the titular character in the movie Mr. Saturday Night, specifically for Paymer. This role earned Paymer an Oscar nomination in 1993.
Paymer's versatility as an actor has allowed him to work with renowned directors such as Steven Spielberg, Robert Redford, Oliver Stone, David Mamet, Steven Soderbergh, and Sam Raimi, among others. He has since starred in numerous films and television shows, including The American President, Get Shorty, Payback, The Hurricane, In Good Company, Francis Ford Coppola's Twixt, and Kenneth Branagh's Jack Ryan: Shadow One.
Paymer has received Golden Globe nominations for Mr. Saturday Night and HBO's Crime of the Century. In 2002, he became a hyphenate, directing the acclaimed comedy short Candor City Hospital for Showtime. He has since directed over 60 episodes for broadcast television, including hits such as Grey's Anatomy, The Mentalist, Brothers & Sisters, Medium, and The Unit. Paymer is also a producer and director on the CW series Hart of Dixie.
Today, Paymer resides in Santa Monica, California with his wife and two daughters.
