Randall Batinkoff
Encyclopedia
Randall Matthew Batinkoff (born October 16, 1968) is an American
actor
.
Batinkoff was born in Monticello, New York
and was raised on an egg
farm near Ferndale
, New York
. He attended Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts
and Brown University
in Rhode Island
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
in international relations
.
Batinkoff made his television
debut in a 1974 commercial, after an agent spotted him at a toy store. He appeared in several made-for-television films in the 1980s, such as The Stepford Children
, before being cast opposite teen startlet Molly Ringwald
in the 1988 comedy, For Keeps. He starred as Terrance Dean on the short-lived CBS series, "Better Days (TV series)
" which only lasted 5 weeks before being canceled. In the early 1990s, Batinkoff had roles in several widely released films, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer
, The Player
, School Ties
(all released 1992) and 1995's Higher Learning
. From 1994 to 1995, he played Reverend David Grantland on the CBS
television series, Christy
(Batinkoff is Jewish in real life). He also appeared in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets
where he shared an on-screen kiss with Helen Hunt
.
Batinkoff still acts regularly in television, on stage, and in films. He most recently appeared in the made-for-television movies Skip Tracer and Black Widow, and the film The Last Lullaby.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Batinkoff was born in Monticello, New York
Monticello, New York
Monticello is a village located in the Town of Thompson in Sullivan County, New York, United States. The population was 6,512 at the 2000 census. It is the seat for the Town of Thompson and the county seat of Sullivan County...
and was raised on an egg
Egg (food)
Eggs are laid by females of many different species, including birds, reptiles, amphibians, and fish, and have probably been eaten by mankind for millennia. Bird and reptile eggs consist of a protective eggshell, albumen , and vitellus , contained within various thin membranes...
farm near Ferndale
Liberty, New York
Liberty, New York relates to two locations in Sullivan County, New York, United States:*Liberty , New York*Liberty , New York...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He attended Phillips Andover Academy in Andover, Massachusetts
Andover, Massachusetts
Andover is a town in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. It was incorporated in 1646 and as of the 2010 census, the population was 33,201...
and Brown University
Brown University
Brown University is a private, Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode Island, United States. Founded in 1764 prior to American independence from the British Empire as the College in the English Colony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations early in the reign of King George III ,...
in Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, receiving a Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in international relations
International relations
International relations is the study of relationships between countries, including the roles of states, inter-governmental organizations , international nongovernmental organizations , non-governmental organizations and multinational corporations...
.
Batinkoff made his television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
debut in a 1974 commercial, after an agent spotted him at a toy store. He appeared in several made-for-television films in the 1980s, such as The Stepford Children
The Stepford Children
The Stepford Children is the second of three made-for-television sequels to the 1975 cult film The Stepford Wives. The film premiered on the NBC network on March 15, 1987. The film was directed by Alan J...
, before being cast opposite teen startlet Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald
Molly Kathleen Ringwald is an American actress, singer and dancer. Having appeared in the John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles , The Breakfast Club , and Pretty in Pink , Ringwald has been frequently named the greatest teen star of all time...
in the 1988 comedy, For Keeps. He starred as Terrance Dean on the short-lived CBS series, "Better Days (TV series)
Better Days (TV series)
-Summary:Brian McGuire was a California teenager who moves in with his grandfather, Harry in Brooklyn, New York to ease his parents' financial problems. Helping Brian adjust to his new surroundings were Luther Cain and Anthony "The Snake" Johnson, two of his street-smart teammates on the Braxton...
" which only lasted 5 weeks before being canceled. In the early 1990s, Batinkoff had roles in several widely released films, including Buffy the Vampire Slayer
Buffy the Vampire Slayer (film)
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 1992 American action/comedy/horror film about a Valley girl cheerleader named Buffy who learns that it is her fate to hunt vampires. The original script for the film was written by Joss Whedon, who later created the darker and more acclaimed TV series of the same name...
, The Player
The Player
The Player is a 1992 American satirical film directed by Robert Altman from a screenplay by Michael Tolkin based on his own 1988 novel of the same name....
, School Ties
School Ties
School Ties is a 1992 film directed by Robert Mandel starring Brendan Fraser, Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Chris O'Donnell, Cole Hauser, Randall Batinkoff, and Anthony Rapp....
(all released 1992) and 1995's Higher Learning
Higher Learning
Higher Learning is a 1995 American drama film, starring an ensemble cast. It also featured Tyra Banks' first performance in a theatrical film...
. From 1994 to 1995, he played Reverend David Grantland on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television series, Christy
Christy (TV series)
Christy is an American drama series which aired on CBS from April 1994 to August 1995, for twenty episodes.Christy was based on the novel Christy by Catherine Marshall, the widow of Senate chaplain Peter Marshall...
(Batinkoff is Jewish in real life). He also appeared in the 1997 film As Good as It Gets
As Good as It Gets
As Good as It Gets is a 1997 American romantic comedy film directed by James L. Brooks and produced by Laura Ziskin. It stars Jack Nicholson as a misanthropic, obsessive-compulsive novelist, Helen Hunt as a single mother with an asthmatic son, and Greg Kinnear as a gay artist. The screenplay was...
where he shared an on-screen kiss with Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt
Helen Elizabeth Hunt is an American actress, film director, and screenwriter. She starred in the sitcom Mad About You for seven years, before being cast in the romantic comedy As Good as It Gets...
.
Batinkoff still acts regularly in television, on stage, and in films. He most recently appeared in the made-for-television movies Skip Tracer and Black Widow, and the film The Last Lullaby.