Steven Gilborn

A native of New Rochelle, NY, character actor Steven Gilborn built his reputation on the basis of an extensive number of series appearances, on programs including The Wonder Years, The West Wing, Law & Order, The Practice, and particularly Ellen, as Ellen DeGeneres' sweet-natured though slightly mixed-up father. He typically specialized in portrayals of slightly distinguished everyman types, often with a professional angle. Prior to acting, Gilborn received his bachelor's in English from Swarthmore and his Ph.D. in literature from Stanford, then in 1970 decided to enter the dramatic sphere and never turned back. Alongside his series work, he made feature appearances in projects including the 1995 Brady Bunch Movie and the 2000 Nurse Betty (as a physician on a soap opera). He grew even more prolific on-stage, in regional productions including The Tempest, Much Ado About Nothing, and Awake and Sing.