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Dave Shalansky

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Dave Shalansky
Shalansky in 2024
EducationBoston University (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1996-present
Children1

Dave Shalansky is an American actor.

Early life and education

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Shalansky was born and raised in a Reform Jewish home in Warwick, Rhode Island. Shalansky's father, Len Shalansky, was a fine artist and an illustrator who studied briefly at Cooper Union and Pratt Institute in New York City. His artwork can be seen on many 1970s Hasbro toys. Namely, the Weeble. Shalansky's mother was a school teacher. [citation needed]

Shalansky earned a BFA in acting from Boston University.[1]

Dave also studied improv comedy at UCB Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles. He is also a Meisner trained method actor and studied the Meisner technique under noted Meisner teacher Sandy Marshall.[citation needed]

Career

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After moving to New York City immediately following graduation, he became successful in television commercials and continued his acting career by working regularly in New York and regional theatres. In 1997, he appeared in a production of Balm in Gilead.[2] In 2003, Shalansky moved to Los Angeles, and began building his career in television and film.[citation needed]

Actor, writer and director, Michael Raymond-James was Shalansky's roommate for a brief time in Brooklyn, NY when they were starting out as young actors. Years later, Raymond-James wrote a part for Shalansky in the award winning short film "The Missing Peace" for which Raymond-James also directed. Shalansky also became good friends with Dailyn Rodriquez and David Graziano when they were all coming up together back in New York. Both of whom became successful TV writers, producers and showrunners after moving to Los Angeles. Shalansky claims the reason he originally moved to Los Angeles was because of these three friends who found great success there. They all encouraged Shalansky to move "out west". Shalansky finally caved, drove across country, and soon began booking work on multiple TV series. The first major role Shalansky landed was the character of Harry on the Gilmore Girls.[citation needed]

In October 2016, Shalansky was asked by friend John Krasinski to join the cast in a staged reading of the screenplay Good Will Hunting. Shalansky joined Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Daveed Diggs, Tom McCarthy, Keegan-Michael Key, Margo Martindale and Harvey Weinstein at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City.[3]

In November 2016, Shalansky landed a recurring Guest Star role on Grey's Anatomy. In 2023, he made his Off-Broadway debut playing one of the leads in Leslie Epstein's Holocaust play "King of the Jews" which was adapted from Mr. Epstein's 1979 novel of the same name. In 2022, Dave was cast as Henry Kissinger in Paramount +'s limited drama series The Offer. Shalansky became the last actor to portray Kissinger in a film or tv show before Kissinger's 2023 death. Shalansky continues to work steadily in TV, Film, and theater on both coasts.[citation needed]

Shalansky is also an accomplished musician. Playing the drums in many rock and power-pop bands both in New York and in Los Angeles. One of which is Nice Guy Eddie with guitarist Chris Jackson and bass player Robbie Rist.[citation needed]

In 2023, Shalansky was cast in the feature film Rosemead which stars Lucy Liu.[citation needed]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2006 Idol The Agent
2009 According to Greta Cable Guy
2012 Divorce Invitation Victor
2013 How Sweet It Is Rogers
2015 Midnight Sex Run Jeff
2017 Doobious Sources Mr. X
2018 The Betrothed (short) Jim
2018 The Small (short) Graham
2019 Others (short) Ted
2022 My Cricket and Me Uncle Dave
2023 A Killer Romance Jerry
2023 The Missing Peace Ben Jacobs
2024 Rosemead Principal Stephens
2024 Double Happiness Rabbi Ben

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Six Feet Under Male Robber Episode: "Terror Starts at Home"
2005 NCIS Delivery Man Episode: "The Meat Puzzle"
2005 Entourage Nerd #6 Episode: "I Love You Too"
2005 Gilmore Girls Harry 3 episodes
2006 E-Ring Ricky Episode: "Friends and Enemies"
2006 Freddie Todd Episode: "Two Times a Lady"
2006 Help Me Help You Naked Dude #2 Episode: "Pink Freud"
2007 ER Mr. Saltzman Episode: "The Honeymoon Is Over"
2008 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Tim O'Shea Episode: "Grissom's Divine Comedy"
2008 Without a Trace Curtis Episode: "A Dollar and a Dream"
2008 Bones Joe Episode: "The Man in the Outhouse"
2009 Curb Your Enthusiasm Norm's Son Episode: "The Black Swan"
2010 Dark Blue Steve Episode: "High Rollers"
2011 Lie to Me Harvey Episode: "Fun House"
2011 From Rags to Reuben Gordon Television film
2011 Let It Go Already Max Miniseries
2012 Castle Tech #1 Episode: "Pandora"
2012 Ringer Accountant Episode: "P.S. You're an Idiot"
2012 Hollywood Heights Mr. Stephens 2 episodes
2013 Fitz and Slade Fitz Television film
2013 Southland Lucky Barnes Episode: "Hats and Bats"
2013 Perception Kurt Simpson Episode: "Caleidoscope"
2013 Firsts Dave 3 episodes
2013 Mob City Cop #3 Episode: "Oxpecker"
2014 Legends Doorman Episode: "Quicksand"
2014 Newsreaders Best Man Mike Episode: "Roswell, New Mexico; Skip Goes to a Wedding"
2015 Nurse Jackie Rick Episode: "Godfathering"
2015 The Mysteries of Laura William Davis Episode: "The Mystery of the Ghost in the Machine"
2016 So, Then Tell Me Jordan 4 episodes
2016 Vinyl Stuart Blume Episode: "The King and I"
2016 Divorce Brad Zimmer Episode: "Another Party"
2016, 2017 Grey's Anatomy Jeremy 2 episodes
2017 Famous in Love Dustin Episode: "Prelude to a Diss"
2019 How to Get Away with Murder Seth Keough Episode: "Don't Go Dark on Me"
2019 Elementary Tony Episode: "The Further Adventures"
2020 Law & Order: SVU Eddie Klein Episode: "I Deserve Some Loving Too"
2020 Big Dogs Agent Gilliard 3 episodes
2020–2022 Naysayer Austin 10 episodes
2022 The Offer Henry Kissinger Episode: "Brains and Balls"
2022 Law & Order: SVU Ethan Schmidt Episode: "Controlled Burn"
2023 FBI: Most Wanted Shawn Episode: "Wanted: America"

References

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  1. ^ "Theatre Training at BU Taught Alum How to Approach Characters | College of Fine Arts". www.bu.edu. Retrieved 2022-04-22.
  2. ^ Willis, John (2000). Theatre World 1997-1998. Hal Leonard Corporation. ISBN 978-1-55783-409-6.
  3. ^ Scheck, Frank (2016-10-08). "Critic's Notebook: Matt Damon and Ben Affleck Reprise 'Good Will Hunting' Roles for NYC Live Read". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2022-04-22.