Randall Batinkoff

Last updated
Randall Batinkoff
Randall Batinkoff on RealTVfilms.jpg
Batinkoff in 2014
Born
Randall Matthew Batinkoff

(1968-10-16) October 16, 1968 (age 56)
Occupation(s)Film, stage, television
Years active1974–present
SpouseHilary Lambert (wife)
ChildrenIsabel Lambert Batinkoff (daughter)
Parents
  • Bruce Winston (father)
  • Barbara Winston (mother) (mother)
Relatives Stephanie Winston Wolkoff (sister), Harry Winston (grandfather)

Randall Matthew Batinkoff (born October 16, 1968) is an American actor. He began his career in commercials at the age of eight before transitioning to film and television. He gained recognition for his role opposite Molly Ringwald in the 1988 drama For Keeps. Throughout the 1990s, he appeared in notable films such as The Player(1992), Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), School Ties (1992), The Peacemaker (1997), and As Good as It Gets (1997). On television, he starred as Reverend David Grantland in the CBS series Christy (1994–1995).

Contents

In 2013, Batinkoff made his directorial debut with 37: A Final Promise, a psychological drama that he also co-wrote and starred in. He is set to produce and appear in the Nicolas Cage film, Gunslingers . Throughout his career, Batinkoff has taken on various roles in the entertainment industry, contributing as an actor, director, writer, and producer in both independent and mainstream cinema.

Personal life and education

Batinkoff was born in Monticello, New York, the son of Barbara Winston. His family is Jewish. [1] [2] He was raised in Ferndale, New York. [3] His sister is event planner Stephanie Winston Wolkoff. His step-father, Bruce Winston, is the son of world renowned jeweler Harry Winston. Batinkoff attended Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts, for his high school education. After graduating Brown University and receiving a Bachelor of Arts in international relations, Batinkoff moved to Los Angeles, California, where he met his wife, Hilary Lambert; also a Brown University graduate. In 2010, the two welcomed their daughter, Isabel Batinkoff. Batinkoff now resides in New York City, and is actively acting, producing, and directing.

Career

Randall Batinkoff began his career in the entertainment industry at the age of eight, starring in various commercials before making the transition to film and television. His early experience in front of the camera provided him with a strong foundation in acting, leading to significant opportunities in both film and television throughout his career.

Batinkoff's breakout film role came in 1988 when he starred opposite Molly Ringwald in the coming-of-age drama For Keeps. In the film, he played Stan Bobrucz, a high school student navigating the complexities of teenage pregnancy and responsibility. The film showcased Batinkoff's ability to bring emotional depth to his roles and helped establish him as a rising young actor in Hollywood. His performance, along with his charm and on-screen presence, cemented his status as a teenage heartthrob of the late 1980s.

Throughout the 1990s, Batinkoff continued to build his filmography with a series of notable performances. In 1992, he appeared in The Player, a satirical drama directed by Robert Altman that explored the inner workings of Hollywood. The same year, he had roles in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the original film that inspired the popular television series, and School Ties, a drama set in the 1950s that tackled themes of antisemitism and social class at a prestigious prep school. His performance in School Ties placed him alongside future stars such as Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, and Brendan Fraser.

Batinkoff's work continued into the late 1990s with roles in high-profile films. In 1997, he appeared in The Peacemaker, an action thriller starring George Clooney and Nicole Kidman. That same year, he had a supporting role in As Good as It Gets, the Academy Award-winning romantic comedy-drama starring Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt. The film received critical acclaim, and Batinkoff's involvement further solidified his presence in major Hollywood productions.

In addition to his work in film, Batinkoff took on a significant television role in Christy, a CBS drama series that aired from 1994 to 1995. Based on the novel by Catherine Marshall, Christy followed the journey of a young woman teaching in an Appalachian village. Batinkoff played Reverend David Grantland, a key character in the story's central love triangle. His performance in the series demonstrated his versatility as an actor and his ability to bring depth to period dramas.

After years of working in front of the camera, Batinkoff expanded his career into directing. In 2013, he made his directorial debut with 37: A Final Promise, a psychological drama that he also co-wrote and starred in. The film follows a rock star who has planned his own death but finds his outlook changed when he falls in love. This project marked an important milestone in Batinkoff's career, showcasing his talents beyond acting and proving his capability as a filmmaker.

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1985 Streetwalkin' Tim
1988 For Keeps Stan Bobrucz
1992 The Player Reg Goldman
Buffy the Vampire Slayer Jeffrey
School Ties Rip Van Kelt
1995 Higher Learning Chad Shadowhill
1996 Walking and Talking Peter
1997 The Peacemaker Ken
Mad City CTN Junior Executive
As Good as It Gets Carol's Date
1998 The Curve Rand
Heartwood Johnny Purfitt
1999 Let the Devil Wear Black Bradbury
The Last MarshalJamie
2000 Just Sue Me Gardner
Forever Lulu Terry Cowens
2001 Free Lawrence
2002The Month of AugustSam
2003DetonatorBeau Stoddard
I Love Your Work Frat Brat Date Rapist
April's Shower Pauly
2004 Blue Demon Nathan CollinsDirect-to-video
2005Walking on the SkyNick
TouchedScott Davis
Venice UndergroundSgt. Frank Mills
2006Ring Around the RosieJeffDirect-to-video
Love Hollywood StyleMax Sherman
Broken Cliff
2007 Bordertown Frank Kozerski
True LoveJim
2008 The Last Lullaby Rick
2010 Kick-Ass Tre Fernandez
Raspberry Magic Dylan
2011 X-Men: First Class Man In Black Suit Agent
Munger Road Deputy Hendricks
Ties That Bind Dan Dubick
2012Shadow WitnessTy Saunders
2014 37: A Final Promise AdamAlso director
2016 Who Gets the Dog? Glenn Hannon
2017 Bad Grandmas Detective Randall Mclemore
DriverXRyan
2020Angie: Lost GirlsDan
The Last Champion Bobby Baker
2023 Dead Man's Hand Winters
2025 Gunslingers DocAlso producer

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 Better Days Terence Dean11 episodes
1987 The Stepford Children David HardingTelevision film
1994–1995 Christy Rev. David Grantland20 episodes
1996–1997 Relativity Everett6 episodes
1999 Hefner: Unauthorized Hugh Hefner Television film
2000 Touched by an Angel Calvin ChilcuttEpisode: "Finger of God"
2002 Son of the Beach Guido GreasyEpisode: "Saturday Night Queefer"
2003 She Spies James GreenEpisode: "Learning to Fly"
2004 CSI: Miami Ken DawsonEpisode: "Rap Sheet"
2007 Dirt Jimmy RembarEpisode: "The Thing Under the Bed"
2008 Black Widow Danny KeeganTelevision film
Skip TracerScott Colbert
2010 Castle Brad WilliamsEpisode: "Nikki Heat"
2012 Touch Patrick McGrathEpisode: "1+1=3"
2014 Mind Games JonahEpisode: "Pet Rock"
2015 Allegiance Steven GallagherEpisode: "Chasing Ghosts"
2017 Legends of Tomorrow George Washington 2 episodes
TBAHead TripRandalPost-production

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
2010 Kick-Ass: The Game Kick-Ass / Big Daddy / Red Mist

References

  1. Kirkley, Jill (1998). "Interview with David Lambert" . Retrieved 2006-12-13.
  2. Silver, Stephen (2022-10-05). "'School Ties' at 30: How a film about antisemitism launched Brendan Fraser's career". www.timesofisrael.com. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  3. 44 mins ago. "Randall Batinkoff - Yahoo! TV". Tv.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2015-01-26.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)