James Urbaniak
ActingAbout James Urbaniak
James Christian Urbaniak (born September 17, 1963) is an American actor. Urbaniak was born in Bayonne, New Jersey. He lives in Santa Monica, California with his wife Julie and their twins, son Severn Jerzy and daughter Esme Maeve. 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 illustrator 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 and the super-villain Phantom Limb. In one of his lesser-known roles, Urbaniak played a pizza guy in the famous "Whassup?" television commercials for Budweiser. 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.
Career Statistics & Market Influence
Analyzing the cinematic journey of James Urbaniak reveals a career defined by diverse artistic exploration. With a total of 50 major appearances, the actor has established a significant footprint in global cinema.
Genre Dominance: Drama
The majority of James Urbaniak's filmography leans towards the Drama genre. Audience data suggests that viewers respond most favorably to this persona, though their versatility has allowed for successful crossovers into other categories.
The "Box Office" Signature
With a 36% Success Ratio (movies rated above 6.5), James Urbaniak remains a reliable draw for studios. Their peak performance was recorded in Oppenheimer, which continues to be the benchmark for their career rating-wise.
Best James Urbaniak Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from James Urbaniak's career based on audience ratings.
Complete Filmography & Success Status
Tracking the career evolution and box office verdicts of James Urbaniak.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Laws of Man | Proprietor Isaac | Average | Similar → |
| 2024 | Breakup Season | Kirby | Flop | Similar → |
| 2024 | Thelma the Unicorn | Confused Fan (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart | Dr. Venture / Phantom Limb / Jonas Venture Jr. (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | Oppenheimer | Kurt Gödel | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2023 | Taz: Quest for Burger | Rocky (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2023 | Invitation to a Murder | Gordon | Average | Similar → |
| 2023 | Condor's Nest | Heinrich Himmler | Flop | Similar → |
| 2022 | The Fabelmans | Grand View High School Principal | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2022 | Beauty | Irv Merlin | Flop | Similar → |
| 2021 | Things Heard & Seen | Bram | Average | Similar → |
| 2020 | For Madmen Only: The Stories of Del Close | Del Close | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | Tesla | Professor Anthony | Average | Similar → |
| 2019 | Where'd You Go, Bernadette | Agent Marcus Strang | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Suicide Squad: Hell to Pay | Professor Pyg (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Wonderstruck | Dr. Kincaid, Rose's Father | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Rebel in the Rye | Gus Lobrano | Hit | Similar → |
| 2017 | Dave Made a Maze | Harry | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Advantageous | Fisher | Average | Similar → |
| 2015 | Ned Rifle | Simon Grim | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Book of Christ | Rev. Boxley Fryer | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | The Boxtrolls | Sir Broderick / Male Workman 1 / Male Workman 2 (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2014 | Such Good People | Dr. Cooper Whitehead, Ph.D. | Flop | Similar → |
| 2013 | Bitter Orange | Sweetie | Flop | Similar → |
| 2012 | Electric City | Voice Actor (voice) | Hit | Similar → |
| 2012 | Advantageous | Dave Fisher | Flop | Similar → |
| 2011 | The Music Never Stopped | Mike Tappin | Hit | Similar → |
| 2011 | Sound of My Voice | Mr. Pritchett | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | You Don't Know Jack | Jack Lessenberry | Hit | Similar → |
| 2010 | Hello Lonesome | Gary | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Beware the Gonzo | Principal Roy | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | Drones | Pete | Average | Similar → |
| 2008 | Chicago 10 | Rennie Davis / Richard Schultz (voice) | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Across the Universe | Sadie's Manager | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Nanny Diaries | Educational Consultant | Average | Similar → |
| 2007 | Fay Grim | Simon Grim | Average | Similar → |
| 2006 | Death of a President | Dr. James Pearn | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | American Splendor | Robert Crumb | Hit | Similar → |
| 2003 | Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde | Lab Technician | Average | Similar → |
| 2003 | Plain Dirty | Druden Hunt | Flop | Similar → |
| 2002 | Confessions of a Dangerous Mind | Rod Flexner | Hit | Similar → |
| 2002 | No Such Thing | Concierge | Average | Similar → |
| 2002 | Upheaval | Martin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Sweet and Lowdown | Harry | Hit | Similar → |
| 1999 | Ride with the Devil | Poker Player | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | The Book of Life | True Believer | Average | Similar → |
| 1998 | Henry Fool | Simon Grim | Hit | Similar → |
| 1997 | The Other Also | Voice | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | NYC 3/94 | - | Average | Similar → |
| 1994 | Opera No. 1 | James | Average | Similar → |
James Urbaniak - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of James Urbaniak?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring James Urbaniak is "Oppenheimer" with a rating of 8.0/10.
How many movies has James Urbaniak acted in?
James Urbaniak has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by James Urbaniak?
Other notable films include "The Fabelmans", "American Splendor", and "The Venture Bros.: Radiant Is the Blood of the Baboon Heart".