Jeffrey Tambor
A master of discomfort, he built a career on playing hilariously flawed men, from a sycophantic sidekick to a groundbreaking transgender parent.
Born 1944 (age 82)·American actor·Birthday: July 8·The Silent Generation
Biography
Jeffrey Tambor has made an art form out of capturing the profound unease of the modern male ego. His breakthrough came as the tragically insecure Hank Kingsley on 'The Larry Sanders Show,' a performance that mined cringe for deep pathos. He then perfected the archetype of the pompous, incompetent patriarch as twin brothers George and Oscar Bluth in 'Arrested Development.' In a dramatic pivot, he took on his most challenging role as Maura Pfefferman in 'Transparent,' bringing a searching, vulnerable humanity to a transgender woman's late-in-life transition. This role earned him major awards but was later overshadowed by allegations of misconduct on set, a complicated coda to a career defined by examining fragility. Through it all, his precise timing and ability to blend the ridiculous with the real left an indelible mark on television comedy.
The Silent Generation
1928–1945
Born between the Depression and the end of WWII. Too young to fight, old enough to remember. They became the conformist middle managers of the 1950s — and the civil rights leaders who quietly dismantled Jim Crow.
Jeffrey was born in 1944, placing them squarely in The Silent Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jeffrey Was Born
The biggest hits of 1944
#1 Movie
Going My Way
Best Picture
Going My Way
Jeffrey's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1944Born
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1949Started school
NATO founded; Mao proclaims the People's Republic of China
Gas: $0.27/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Riders in the Sky" — Vaughn MonroeBest Picture: All the King's Men
1957Became a teenager
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1960Could drive
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1962Could vote
Cuban Missile Crisis brings the world to the brink
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $12,800Min wage: $1.15/hrPresident: John F. Kennedy"Stranger on the Shore" — Acker BilkBest Picture: Lawrence of Arabia
1965Turned 21
US sends combat troops to Vietnam
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,600Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" — The Rolling StonesBest Picture: The Sound of Music
1974Turned 30
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1984Turned 40
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1994Turned 50
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2004Turned 60
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 70
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 80
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 82 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won two Primetime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in 'Transparent.'
- Received widespread critical acclaim for his portrayal of hapless sidekick Hank Kingsley on 'The Larry Sanders Show.'
- Played the dual roles of George Bluth Sr. and Oscar Bluth in the cult classic series 'Arrested Development.'
Did You Know?
He taught acting at the University of California, Santa Cruz before finding success in Hollywood.
He is a trained stage actor and performed in numerous Shakespearean productions early in his career.
He provided the voice for King Neptune in the animated film 'The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie.'
“I walked in there and I said, 'I'm your father.' And they said, 'You're hired.'”
