Stephen Root

Stephen Root (also credited as Steve Root) is an American screen and voice actor born on November 17, 1951, in Sarasota, Florida. Celebrated for disappearing into character roles, Root has built a career defined by sharp comedy, grounded drama, and unmistakable vocal work across film and television.

He became widely known on NBC’s NewsRadio as Jimmy James, and later turned a quiet office worker into a cult icon with his performance as Milton Waddams in Office Space. Animation fans also recognize Root for his long-running voice roles on King of the Hill, where he brought both Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland to life.

Root is a frequent presence in Coen brothers projects, appearing in films such as O Brother, Where Art Thou?, No Country for Old Men, The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, and The Tragedy of Macbeth. His filmography also includes titles like Ghost, Just Friends, Bicentennial Man, and voice turns in Finding Nemo and Ice Age.

On television, he has ranged from Star Trek: The Next Generation to The Man in the High Castle, with notable work in HBO series including Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Perry Mason, and Succession. He earned major acclaim as Monroe Fuches on HBO’s Barry, receiving a Primetime Emmy nomination in 2019.