Rob Moran
Rob Moran is an American actor and producer best known for his recurring roles in comedies directed by the Farrelly brothers, including appearances in Dumb and Dumber (1994), Kingpin (1996) as Stanley Osmanski, There's Something About Mary (1998) as Detective Stabler, Me, Myself & Irene (2000), and Hall Pass (2011) as Ed Long.[1][2] Over a career spanning more than three decades, he has amassed over 60 credits in film and television, often portraying supporting characters in both comedic and dramatic contexts, with additional notable roles in horror films like You're Next (2011) as the family patriarch Paul and in major blockbusters such as Star Trek Into Darkness (2013).[3][1] Born in Boston, Massachusetts, Moran was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, and earned a bachelor's degree in fine arts from Emerson College in Boston.[3][2] He began his professional training with an apprenticeship at the Actors Theatre of Louisville following college graduation, before transitioning to stage work in New York City and eventually relocating to California in the mid-1980s to pursue film and television opportunities.[3] His early screen debut came in the action film Navy Seals (1990), marking the start of a prolific run as a character actor.[3] On television, Moran gained recognition as a series regular portraying Arthur Carlin, the family patriarch, in the teen drama South of Nowhere (2005–2008) on The N network, and he has made guest appearances across shows including Men of a Certain Age, Cold Case, and various procedural dramas.[1][2] Beyond acting, he has worked as a producer on select projects and serves as director of production for SCENES Media, a production company.[3] Moran resides in Atlanta, Georgia, with his wife, television host Julie Moran, whom he married in 1987; the couple has two daughters.[3] His enduring collaboration with the Farrelly brothers underscores his niche in American comedy cinema, contributing to his reputation as a versatile supporting performer.[2]Early life
Birth and upbringing
Robert Moran was born on May 21, 1960, in Boston, Massachusetts.[3] He was raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, as the second of four brothers in a lower-middle-class Irish Catholic family.[4] Moran has maintained a private personal life, resulting in scant public details about his parents or siblings beyond these basics. This New England upbringing provided the backdrop for his developing interest in the performing arts, leading him to pursue formal training at Emerson College.[2]Education
Raised in Barrington, Rhode Island, Rob Moran developed an interest in theater that motivated him to seek formal training in performing arts.[5] He initially studied business but transferred to Emerson College in Boston to pursue a stronger acting program, changing his major to acting.[4] At Emerson, Moran engaged in the performing arts curriculum, which emphasized practical training in theater and honed his foundational skills as an actor.[6] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1982.[5][7] Immediately following graduation, Moran auditioned on the recommendation of a friend and was accepted into the Actors Theatre of Louisville's Apprentice Acting Program in 1982, serving as a crucial bridge from academic training to professional experience.[6][4]Career
Theater beginnings
Following his graduation from Emerson College in 1982, Rob Moran launched his professional acting career through an apprenticeship at the Actors Theater of Louisville, a renowned regional theater known for its intensive training programs for emerging performers.[6] In the early 1980s, Moran relocated to New York City to pursue opportunities in off-Broadway and regional theater, where he took on ensemble roles to hone his craft and build his professional resume.[6][2] Among his key early credits were small theater gigs and commercial work; notably, in 1985, he met actress Julie Bryan while paired as talent for a Ford automotive commercial shoot.[6]Film roles
Moran relocated to California in the mid-1980s to pursue opportunities in film after working in New York theater.[2] His screen debut came in the 1986 action thriller Quiet Cool, where he portrayed the character Briggs, a deputy involved in a marijuana bust gone wrong.[8] In the early stages of his film career, Moran appeared in supporting roles within action and thriller genres. Notable among these was his turn as a helicopter copilot in the 1990 military action film Navy SEALs, directed by Lewis Teague, which depicted U.S. Navy commandos on a high-stakes mission.[8] Moran's breakthrough arrived through his collaborations with directors Peter and Bobby Farrelly, marking a shift toward comedic character parts. He first worked with the brothers as the bartender in their 1994 road-trip comedy Dumb and Dumber, starring Jim Carrey and Jeff Daniels, where his brief scene at a dive bar contributed to the film's irreverent humor.[4] This led to recurring roles in their projects, including Stanley Osmanski, a bowler in the 1996 sports comedy Kingpin opposite Woody Harrelson; Detective Stabler in the 1998 romantic comedy There's Something About Mary, featuring Ben Stiller; Trooper Finneran in the 2000 split-personality comedy Me, Myself & Irene with Jim Carrey; the drag performer "2nd Hostess Tiffany" in the 2001 body-image satire Shallow Hal, again starring Carrey; and Ed Long, a hapless husband, in the 2011 marriage comedy Hall Pass. These performances highlighted Moran's knack for deadpan delivery and physical comedy in ensemble casts.[1] Beyond the Farrelly films, Moran took on memorable supporting roles in other comedies and genre pieces. In the 2008 science-fiction comedy Meet Dave, directed by Brian Robbins and starring Eddie Murphy, he played an ER doctor treating the diminutive alien crew. His dramatic turn as the family patriarch Paul Davison came in the 2011 horror film You're Next, directed by Adam Wingard, where his character hosts a deadly reunion attacked by masked intruders.[1] In 2025, he appeared in the short horror film The Gap as Harold.[9] Throughout his career, Moran has established himself as a versatile character actor, appearing in over 60 feature films since 1986, predominantly in comedic supporting capacities that leverage his everyman presence and timing honed from stage work.[3]Television roles
Moran's early television career in the 1990s consisted primarily of guest appearances in popular series, where he portrayed supporting characters in both comedic and dramatic contexts. He appeared as Dennis Hammill, a potential bar buyer, in the Cheers episode "The Two Faces of Norm" in 1989.[10] In JAG, he played Cop #1 in the 1999 episode "The Colonel's Wife" and Cyrus Fortney in the 2001 episode "New Gun in Town."[11][12] One of his most prominent television roles was as Arthur Carlin, the supportive patriarch of the Carlin family, in the teen drama South of Nowhere from 2005 to 2008, appearing in 41 episodes across three seasons.[13] This recurring role marked a shift toward more substantial family-oriented characters in ensemble casts. Moran continued with significant guest spots in acclaimed series, including Art Hughes, a White House staffer, in the 2003 West Wing episode "Disaster Relief." He also portrayed John B. Floyd, the Governor of Virginia, in two episodes of the 2012 miniseries Hatfields & McCoys. Over his career, Moran has amassed more than 30 television credits, frequently cast as authoritative figures like law enforcement officers or family leaders, as well as comedic supporting roles in dramas and sitcoms.[3] His success in Farrelly brothers films helped open doors to these television opportunities.[14]Producing work
In the 2000s, Rob Moran began transitioning from primarily acting roles to producing, leveraging his extensive industry experience to contribute to independent films and media projects. His early producing efforts included co-producing the independent drama Long Nights Short Mornings in 2016, which explored themes of relationships and personal growth in New York City.[15] By the late 2010s, Moran's involvement expanded, with him serving as producer on the LGBTQ+-themed comedy Lez Bomb (2018), where he also appeared as an actor, highlighting his multifaceted role in smaller-scale productions. Moran's producing credits grew in the 2020s, focusing on executive and co-producing roles in genre films and dramas. Notable examples include executive producing the crime thriller Arkansas (2020), directed by Clark Duke and starring Liam Hemsworth, which drew from real-life inspirations for its narrative on small-time criminals. He also executive produced the action film Kandahar (2023), starring Gerard Butler, contributing to its oversight during post-production phases. Additional credits encompass co-producing the family adventure The Tiger Rising (2022) and executive producing the disaster thriller Supercell (2023), demonstrating his selective engagement in over a dozen projects that blend commercial and independent cinema.[16] Since around 2018, Moran has served as director of production for SCENES Media, a content creation company based in Atlanta, where he oversees production processes for various media outputs, including videos and promotional content.[4] In this capacity, he manages creative and logistical aspects of projects, emphasizing family-oriented and lifestyle media that align with the company's focus on engaging storytelling. His work at SCENES Media complements his film producing by extending into digital and commercial realms. Moran has collaborated with his wife, Julie Moran, on media projects through SCENES Media, incorporating family-oriented productions and commercials that draw on their shared entertainment background. These joint efforts often involve content creation for lifestyle and promotional purposes, building on their initial meeting during a commercial shoot in 1985.[5]Personal life
Marriage
Rob Moran met actress and television personality Julie Bryan during a commercial shoot in New York in 1985, where they were cast together as a couple.[5] The pair began dating shortly after the audition for the Ford automotive advertisement, marking the start of their personal and professional connection in the entertainment industry.[5] On April 12, 1987, Moran married Julie Bryan, who later adopted the professional name Julie Moran.[17] Their union has been characterized by mutual support amid demanding careers, with Rob pursuing acting roles and Julie establishing herself as a television host and correspondent.[5] The couple has maintained a strong partnership, balancing professional commitments with regular date nights to nurture their relationship.[5] Early in their marriage, the Morans shared professional overlaps through collaborative commercial work, including the initial Ford project that brought them together.[5] This shared experience in advertising laid the foundation for their ongoing encouragement of each other's endeavors in film, television, and broadcasting.[18]Family
Rob Moran and his wife Julie have two daughters: Maiya Dupree Moran, born in 1999, and Makayla-Amet Moran, born in 2004.[19][20] The family established their home in Santa Monica, California, in the 1990s, where they balanced their acting careers with raising their children, prioritizing family activities and education.[5][21] In the late 2010s, they relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, continuing to maintain a focus on their daughters' upbringing in a supportive environment.[22][23] The Morans have emphasized a private family life, shielding their daughters from the public eye while occasionally sharing moments tied to their professional events, such as attending charity benefits or premieres together.[19][20] This approach stems from their marriage, which has served as the foundation for their family dynamics since 1987.[5]Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Director(s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Quiet Cool | Briggs | Clay Borris[8] |
| 1989 | The Runnin' Kind | Jerk in Jeep | Max Tash[24] |
| 1990 | Navy Seals | U.S. Helicopter Co-Pilot | Lewis Teague |
| 1991 | Wedlock | First security guard | Lewis Teague[8] |
| 1991 | Ted & Venus | Second patient | Bud Cort[8] |
| 1994 | The Cowboy Way | Bartender at party | Gregg Champion[8] |
| 1994 | Dumb and Dumber | Bartender | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 1996 | Kingpin | Stanley Osmanski | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 1997 | Fallen Arches | Company representative | Ron Cosasco[8] |
| 1998 | Beach Movie | Reporter Brett Bronson | Douglas Schwartz |
| 1998 | There's Something About Mary | Detective Stabler | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 2000 | Me, Myself & Irene | Trooper Finneran | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 2001 | Shallow Hal | Tiffany (manly hostess) | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 2004 | The Almost Guys | Team security | Anthony Clark[8] |
| 2006 | Peaceful Warrior | Dan, Sr. | Victor Salva[8] |
| 2008 | Meet Dave | ER Doctor | Brian Robbins |
| 2009 | The Outside | Tim Evans | Fernando Colomo |
| 2011 | Hall Pass | Ed Long | Peter Farrelly, Bobby Farrelly (Farrelly brothers film) |
| 2011 | You're Next | Paul | Adam Wingard |
| 2013 | Movie 43 | Plastic Surgeon (segment "Truth or Dare") | Various |
| 2013 | Star Trek Into Darkness | U.S.S. Vengeance Ensign | J.J. Abrams[25] |
| 2014 | Blended | Baseball Dad | Frank Coraci[26] |
| 2014 | Heaven Is for Real | Dr. O'Holleran | Randall Wallace |
| 2018 | Lez Bomb | Ken | Stephen McChesney |
| 2019 | The Devil Has a Name | Wally | Robert McKinnon |
| 2019 | The Legend of 5 Mile Cave | William Davis | Darren Doane |
| 2020 | Arkansas | Business Manager | Clark Duke |
| 2020 | Hooking Up | Charlie | Vincent Grashaw |
| 2022 | One Way | Doctor | Lauren Guiteras |
| 2023 | Supercell | Teacher | Herbert James Winterstern |
| 2025 | Hunting Season | Dale | RJ Collins[27] |
Television
Rob Moran has appeared in various television series throughout his career, primarily in guest and recurring roles. His television credits span from the late 1980s to the early 2010s, with a notable recurring role in the teen drama South of Nowhere. Below is a chronological list of his verified television acting roles.[8][3]| Year(s) | Series | Character | Episodes/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Designing Women | Soldier #1 | 1 episode: "Keep the Homes Fires Burning"[28] |
| 1989 | Tour of Duty | Aide | 1 episode: "For What It's Worth"[8] |
| 1989 | Cheers | Dennis Hammill | 1 episode: "The Two Faces of Norm"[10] |
| 1990 | Matlock | Rick Allen | 1 episode: "The Witness"[29] |
| 1997 | Days of Our Lives | T.C. Greer | Recurring role (specific episode count unavailable)[8] |
| 1999 | JAG | First Police Officer | 1 episode: "The Colonel's Wife"[8] |
| 1999 | It's Like, You Know... | Slick Man | 1 episode[8] |
| 2001 | JAG | Cyrus Fortney | 1 episode: "New Gun in Town"[8] |
| 2002 | Days of Our Lives | Mayor Arthur Shepard | 1 episode: "#1.9389" |
| 2003 | The West Wing | Art Hughes | 1 episode: "Disaster Relief"[8] |
| 2004 | Cold Case | Max Tanner | 1 episode: "Lover's Lane"[8] |
| 2005 | Without a Trace | Scott | 1 episode: "Neither Rain nor Sleet"[8] |
| 2005 | CSI: Miami | Walter Rockingham | 1 episode: "Shootout"[8] |
| 2005–2008 | South of Nowhere | Arthur Carlin | 41 episodes (recurring role as family patriarch)[13] |
| 2006 | NUMB3RS | Jon Northrup | 1 episode: "Dark Matter"[30] |
| 2008 | 3Way | Brick Schtouse | 3 episodes (uncredited)[31] |
| 2008 | According to Jim | Director | 1 episode: "Two for the Money" |
| 2009 | United States of Tara | Pastor Hitch Maurio | 2 episodes: "Inspiration," "Abundance"[32][33] |
| 2009 | Men of a Certain Age | Harold | 1 episode: "The New Guy"[34] |
| 2012 | Hatfields & McCoys (miniseries) | John B. Floyd | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Don't Sweat the Small Stuff: The Kristine Carlson Story | Zach Avery | TV movie[35] |