Michael Stuhlbarg Biography: Movies, TV, Height, Family
When Michael Stuhlbarg appears in a film, you instantly know you’re in good hands. Trained at Juilliard and honed on the New York stage, he became a go-to character actor for directors like the Coen Brothers, Martin Scorsese, and Guillermo del Toro.
Birth date: July 5, 1968 ·
Birth place: Long Beach, California, USA ·
Education: UCLA, Juilliard School ·
Notable award: Drama Desk Award ·
Known for: A Serious Man, Boardwalk Empire, The Shape of Water
Quick snapshot
- Born July 5, 1968, in Long Beach, California (Wikipedia)
- Married to Maya Stuhlbarg since 2013, one child (IMDb Portugal)
- Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) (Portuguese Wikipedia)
- Won Drama Desk Award for The Pillowman (IMDb Biography)
- Exact roles in future Marvel projects — none announced (IMDb)
- 1990s: Established stage actor in New York theater (Broadway.com)
- 2009: Breakout film role in A Serious Man (Wikipedia – A Serious Man)
- 2010-2013: Portrayed Arnold Rothstein in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (IMDb)
- 2017: Appeared in The Shape of Water and Call Me by Your Name (IMDb Filmography)
- 2019: Played Stern in Joker (Wikipedia – Joker)
- No confirmed upcoming Marvel or major franchise roles (The City Celeb)
Eight key facts about Michael Stuhlbarg, one pattern: a career that spans stage classics, HBO prestige drama, and Oscar-winning films.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Michael Stewart Stuhlbarg |
| Date of Birth | July 5, 1968 |
| Place of Birth | Long Beach, California, USA |
| Education | UCLA, Juilliard School |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Spouse | Maya Stuhlbarg (m. 2013) |
| Children | 1 |
| Notable Roles | Larry Gopnik (A Serious Man), Arnold Rothstein (Boardwalk Empire), Dr. Hoffstetler (The Shape of Water), Samuel Perlman (Call Me by Your Name) |
What is Michael Stuhlbarg famous for?
Breakout role in A Serious Man
- Stuhlbarg played Larry Gopnik, a physics professor unraveling in the Coen Brothers’ 2009 film A Serious Man (IMDb – A Serious Man).
- The role earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture (IMDb Awards).
Recurring role in Boardwalk Empire
- From 2010 to 2013, Stuhlbarg portrayed real-life gangster Arnold Rothstein in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (Wikipedia – Boardwalk Empire).
- The show’s writers reportedly used Stuhlbarg’s thorough research on Rothstein as a reference point (IMDb Trivia).
Award-winning stage career
- Before film, Stuhlbarg was a lauded Broadway actor, appearing in Cabaret, Taking Sides, Saint Joan, The Government Inspector, and The Pillowman (Wikipedia – Stage career).
- His performance in The Pillowman won a Drama Desk Award and earned a Tony nomination (Wikipedia – The Pillowman).
Stuhlbarg’s career is a masterclass in versatility: he can play a neurotic professor, a Prohibition-era mobster, or a tender father in the same year, and each feels lived-in, not performed.
The pattern: each role builds on his stage-honed ability to find the moral center of flawed characters.
Does Michael Stuhlbarg have children?
Family life
- Stuhlbarg married Maya Stuhlbarg (formerly Mai-Linh Lofgren) in 2013 (The City Celeb).
- The couple has one child, according to his Wikipedia biography (Wikipedia – Personal life).
Privacy
- Stuhlbarg keeps his family life very private; few public details about his child are available (Biography.com).
Some sources, including a 2024 profile, claim the couple has no children — a discrepancy that highlights how little Stuhlbarg shares about his personal life (Fortune Magazine).
The implication: even verified biographies differ on this private detail.
Is Michael Stuhlbarg in a Marvel movie?
Marvel appearances
- Stuhlbarg has no confirmed role in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (Rotten Tomatoes).
Roles in comic book adaptations
- He appeared in Men in Black 3 (2012) as a minor character, but that franchise is not Marvel (Wikipedia – Men in Black 3).
If Marvel ever casts Stuhlbarg, it would be a natural fit: he excels at morally ambiguous authority figures, a staple of the MCU’s supporting cast.
How tall is Michael Stuhlbarg?
Height measurement
- Stuhlbarg is listed at 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) (CelebHeights).
Comparison with co-stars
- His height is average for a leading man; he often appears shorter on screen due to his character-driven posture and demeanor (Famous Birthdays).
What this means: his physical presence is deliberately subservient to the character he inhabits.
Timeline: Key milestones in Michael Stuhlbarg’s career
- 1990s – Established stage actor in New York theater (Wikipedia – Stage career)
- 2009 – Breakout film role in A Serious Man (IMDb – A Serious Man)
- 2010-2013 – Portrayed Arnold Rothstein in HBO’s Boardwalk Empire (IMDb – Boardwalk Empire)
- 2017 – Appeared in The Shape of Water and Call Me by Your Name (Wikipedia – Call Me by Your Name)
- 2019 – Played Stern in Joker (IMDb – Joker)
Confirmed facts vs. what remains unclear
Confirmed facts
- Born July 5, 1968, in Long Beach, California (Wikipedia)
- Married to Maya Stuhlbarg, one child (IMDb Portugal)
- Height 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) (Portuguese Wikipedia)
- Won Drama Desk Award for The Pillowman (IMDb Biography)
- Starred in A Serious Man, Boardwalk Empire, The Shape of Water, Call Me by Your Name, Hugo, Joker, Men in Black 3 (Rotten Tomatoes)
What’s unclear
- Exact roles in future Marvel projects (none announced) (The City Celeb)
- Discrepancy about number of children (some sources say none) (Fortune Magazine)
What others say about Michael Stuhlbarg
“Michael Stuhlbarg is an American actor. Known for his character roles on stage and screen.”
— Wikipedia
“Michael Stewart Stuhlbarg was born in Long Beach, California. He attended UCLA, and then The Juilliard School.”
— IMDb Biography
“Stuhlbarg had long been a lauded actor in the New York theatre world, but it wasn’t until he played Larry Gopnik in the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man.”
For the viewer who cares about where a character actor’s face comes from, the takeaway is clear: Stuhlbarg’s quiet, meticulous work on stage and screen makes him one of the most reliable “that guy” actors in Hollywood. If you’re a fan of morally complex dramas, his filmography is a goldmine — and the best is likely yet to come.
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Frequently asked questions
What was Michael Stuhlbarg’s first major film role?
His first major film role was Larry Gopnik in the Coen Brothers’ A Serious Man (2009) (Broadway.com).
How many seasons did Michael Stuhlbarg appear in Boardwalk Empire?
He appeared in all five seasons (2010-2013) as Arnold Rothstein (IMDb).
Did Michael Stuhlbarg win an Oscar?
No, but he received a Golden Globe nomination for A Serious Man and a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Boardwalk Empire (Broadway.com).
What character did Michael Stuhlbarg play in Men in Black 3?
He played a minor role as an agent, but the character is not named in most cast lists (IMDb).
Is Michael Stuhlbarg in any upcoming movies?
As of 2025, no major projects are announced, but his stage-to-screen career suggests he will continue taking character roles (IMDb).
What is Michael Stuhlbarg’s net worth?
Net worth estimates vary significantly; no reliable public figure is available (The City Celeb).
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