Stephen Root (born November 17, 1951) is an American actor notable for a wide range of roles and projects. His acting debut began in 1980 with his Broadway appearance in the play 'Journey's End' as Second Lieutenant Trotter, however, he is most famously known for starring as Jimmy James on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio and voicing Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland on the animated series King of the Hill. Root has also made a name for himself in numerous films such as 'Office Space', 'Dodgeball', and 'Get Out', along with his involvement in various Coen brothers' films like 'O Brother, Where Art Thou?' to 'The Tragedy of Macbeth'. He has an active voice acting career, highlighted by roles in animated films like Ice Age, Finding Nemo, and Rango, and various TV series such as King of the Hill. On top of this, Root has had supporting roles in multiple HBO series like Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Perry Mason, and Succession. His portrayal of Monroe Fuches in the HBO dark comedy series Barry garnered him a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.

Born in Sarasota, Florida, Root's upbringing was much like that of an Army brat due to the frequent relocations for his father's civil engineering projects. Despite this, he pursued his passion for acting, graduating from the University of Florida BFA acting program and later receiving recognition as one of its distinguished alumni in 2008. His career took off on stage and on Broadway before making his feature film debut in the 1988 film Crocodile Dundee II. He continued to make his mark in both film and television and remains a favorite hire of the Coen brothers and has made many guest appearances in television programs across several genres. Off the stage and screen, Root was married to Laura Joan Hase with whom he had a son, Cody, before their divorce in 1997. He later married actress Romy Rosemont in 2008, further cementing his active and prominent place within the television and film industry.