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Randall Batinkoff

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Randall Batinkoff
Batinkoff in 2014
Born (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)
RelativesStephanie Winston Wolkoff (sister), Harry Winston (step-grandfather)

Randall Matthew Batinkoff (born October 16, 1968) is an American actor, director, and producer. 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).

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 upcoming Nicolas Cage film The 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

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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 Angles, 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

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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.

Batinkoff continues to take on new and exciting projects. He is set to produce, as well as appear in the upcoming film The Gunslingers, starring Nicolas Cage. With this role, he remains active in the industry, taking on a variety of titles as actor, director, producer, and writer, contributing to both independent and mainstream cinema.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1985 Streetwalkin' Tim
1988 For Keeps Stan Bobrucz
1992 The Player Reg Goldman
1992 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Jeffrey
1992 School Ties Rip Van Kelt
1995 Higher Learning Chad Shadowhill
1996 Walking and Talking Peter
1997 The Peacemaker Ken
1997 Mad City CTN Junior Executive
1997 As Good as It Gets Carol's Date
1998 The Curve Rand
1998 Heartwood Johnny Purfitt
1999 Let the Devil Wear Black Bradbury
1999 The Last Marshal Jamie
2000 Just Sue Me Gardner
2000 Forever Lulu Terry Cowens
2001 Free Lawrence
2002 The Month of August Sam
2003 Detonator Beau Stoddard
2003 I Love Your Work Frat Brat Date Rapist
2003 April's Shower Pauly
2004 Blue Demon Nathan Collins Direct-to-video
2005 Walking on the Sky Nick
2005 Touched Scott Davis
2005 Venice Underground Sgt. Frank Mills
2006 Ring Around the Rosie Jeff Direct-to-video
2006 Love Hollywood Style Max Sherman
2006 Broken Cliff
2007 Bordertown Frank Kozerski
2007 True Love Jim
2008 The Last Lullaby Rick
2010 Kick-Ass Tre Fernandez
2010 Raspberry Magic Dylan
2011 X-Men: First Class Man In Black Suit Agent
2011 Munger Road Deputy Hendricks
2011 Ties That Bind Dan Dubick
2012 Shadow Witness Ty Saunders
2014 37: A Final Promise Adam Also director
2016 Who Gets the Dog? Glenn Hannon
2017 Bad Grandmas Detective Randall Mclemore
2017 DriverX Ryan
2020 Angie: Lost Girls Dan
2020 The Last Champion Bobby Baker
2023 Dead Man's Hand Winters
2025 Gunslingers TBA Also producer

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1986 Better Days Terence Dean 11 episodes
1987 The Stepford Children David Harding Television film
1994–1995 Christy Rev. David Grantland 20 episodes
1996–1997 Relativity Everett 6 episodes
1999 Hefner: Unauthorized Hugh Hefner Television film
2000 Touched by an Angel Calvin Chilcutt Episode: "Finger of God"
2002 Son of the Beach Guido Greasy Episode: "Saturday Night Queefer"
2003 She Spies James Green Episode: "Learning to Fly"
2004 CSI: Miami Ken Dawson Episode: "Rap Sheet"
2007 Dirt Jimmy Rembar Episode: "The Thing Under the Bed"
2008 Black Widow Danny Keegan Television film
2008 Skip Tracer Scott Colbert
2010 Castle Brad Williams Episode: "Nikki Heat"
2012 Touch Patrick McGrath Episode: "1+1=3"
2014 Mind Games Jonah Episode: "Pet Rock"
2015 Allegiance Steven Gallagher Episode: "Chasing Ghosts"
2017 Legends of Tomorrow George Washington 2 episodes
TBA Head Trip Randal Post-production

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2010 Kick-Ass: The Game Kick-Ass / Big Daddy / Red Mist

References

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  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)
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