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Tobin Bell
Tobin Bell At For The Love Of Horror 2019 (cropped 3).jpg
Bell in 2019
Born
Joseph Henry Tobin Jr.

(1942-08-07) August 7, 1942 (age 81)
Other names Joseph Tobin
Alma mater Boston University
Montclair State University
Occupation
  • Actor
  • producer
Years active 1979–present
Known for Saw franchise
Children 2

Tobin Bell (born Joseph Henry Tobin Jr.; August 7, 1942) is an American actor. He has appeared in a number of television shows and films but is most recognized for his role as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the Saw franchise.

He started his acting career in the late 1970s and early 1980s doing stand-ins and background work on feature films. He had his first feature film role in Mississippi Burning (1988). Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, Bell appeared in supporting roles in a number of films and television shows, including The Firm (1993), Unabomber: The True Story (1996), Walker, Texas Ranger (1998), The Sopranos (2001), and 24 (2003).

His breakout role came in 2004 when he was cast as the serial killer Jigsaw in Saw (2004). The film was a box office success, and Bell went on to portray the character in eight of the nine sequels: Saw II (2005), Saw III (2006), Saw IV (2007), Saw V (2008), Saw VI (2009), Saw 3D (2010), Jigsaw (2017), and Saw X (2023). The series has become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time and earned Bell recognition as a horror icon.

Early life and education

Joseph Henry Tobin Jr. was born on August 7, 1942, in Queens, New York and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts. His English mother, Eileen Julia (née Bell) Tobin, was an actress who worked at the Quincy Repertory Company. His American father, Joseph H. Tobin, built and established the radio station WJDA in Quincy, Massachusetts, in 1947 and once ran for mayor of Gloversville, New York. He has one sister and one brother.

Bell studied liberal arts and journalism in college, with the intention of becoming a writer and entering the broadcasting field. He also has an interest in environmental matters, holding a master's degree in environmental science from Montclair State University as well as having worked for the New York Botanical Garden. He credits hearing a seminar by Hume Cronyn and Jessica Tandy at Boston University with inspiring him to begin an acting career. Bell later joined the Actors Studio where he studied with Lee Strasberg and Ellen Burstyn, and joined Sanford Meisner's Neighborhood Playhouse.

Career

1979–2003: Work in background roles, film debut and television appearances

Tobin Bell Saw 3D premiere
Bell at the premiere of Saw 3D on October 27, 2010.

Bell played background roles in the late 1970s and early 1980s in over 30 films, including Woody Allen's Manhattan (1979), while also performing on off-Broadway and off-off-Broadway. Bell said that other actors at the Actors Studio thought doing stand-in and background work was "stupid or degrading", but he believed otherwise. In 1982, he had an uncredited scene in the Sydney Pollack film, Tootsie, playing a waiter at the Russian Tea Room that Pollack used as a tracking shot. He told Movieline, "You know, when you're talking about Tootsie, it's the tip of the iceberg, because those other twenty-nine films I did aren't even on IMDb."

He worked on The Verdict (1982) for two weeks as a courtroom reporter in the trial. He recollected it being a "great opportunity" watching Sidney Lumet and Paul Newman, while also learning the technical aspect of acting. For every role he plays, starting with the initial reading of the script to the final shot of a production, he keeps a journal of various questions about and motivations for his character. "I write all kinds of stream-of-consciousness things that help me." He would have his first speaking role in the 1983 film Svengali playing a waiter with three lines. The same year Bell had a small speaking role as a reporter in the drama Sophie's Choice. In the mid-1980s, Bell said "I was doing off-Broadway plays three nights a week, working on my craft. And a director at the Actors Studio said, 'You know, Tobin you've been doing that for a while. I think you should go to Hollywood and play bad guys'." Bell moved to Los Angeles and was cast in his first feature film, Mississippi Burning in 1988, as "tough and street smart" FBI Agent Stokes.

In 1993, Bell was cast in another Pollack film, The Firm as an assassin called "The Nordic Man". The same year, he played Mendoza in In the Line of Fire, where he attempts to taunt an undercover Clint Eastwood into proving his loyalty by murdering his partner, played by Dylan McDermott. He went on to appear in an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld titled "The Old Man" playing a record store owner. He appeared in two episodes of NYPD Blue playing different characters in 1993 and 1996. In 1994, Bell played a hospital administrator in the second episode of the first season of ER and went on to appear in an episode of another medical drama Chicago Hope, playing a terminally ill inmate on death row. That same year, he portrayed Ted Kaczynski in the made-for-television film Unabomber: The True Story. In 1997, Bell guest starred in an episode of La Femme Nikita and Nash Bridges. The following year, he guest starred in an episode of Stargate SG-1 and a two-part episode of Walker, Texas Ranger. Bell made a one-scene appearance in the 2001 episode Army of One of The Sopranos playing Major Carl Zwingli. In 2003, he was cast as the villain Peter Kingsley Group during the second season of 24.

2004–2010: Saw breakthrough role and becoming a horror icon

Bell's breakthrough role came in 2003 when he was cast as John Kramer / Jigsaw in the horror film, Saw. The film is about John Kramer who is an engineer-turned-serial killer that wants others to appreciate the value of life by placing them in twisted "games" of physical and psychological torture. The film was James Wan's directorial debut and was shot in 18 days on a budget of $1.2 million. Bell spent two weeks lying on a floor and had very few lines, but his role was pivotal to the film. He credits two reasons he joined the film; the opportunity to work with Danny Glover for the first time and thought very highly of the film's ending. Lionsgate acquired the worldwide distribution rights for the film days before its release at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival. While initially getting a direct-to-video release, test screenings that March turned out positive prompting Lionsgate to release it theatrically that Halloween. It became a box office success, grossing $103 million worldwide. Even though Bell would join the first film with no intention of a second film being made, as a result of the financial success, six direct sequels were released on every October from 2005 to 2010.

The following year, Bell starred in Saw II, which he said was because "the character of John Kramer was not fully defined and he had an opportunity as an actor to take him to the next level". In 2006's Saw III his character was killed off, however he later signed on for up to five sequels. He would return to Saw IV, Saw V, Saw VI and Saw 3D where Jigsaw is featured in flashbacks, some focusing on his origin. He explained, "Saw doesn't happen in a straight line so, you know, in Hollywood everything's possible. It just depends on if you can do it well you can do it. There's a certain thing that we've done in Saw where it's like pieces of a puzzle. It happens out of sync. So that's how it's done." He provided his voice and likeness for the Jigsaw character in the 2009 Saw video game and its 2010 sequel, Saw II: Flesh & Blood.

Tobin Bell at Comic Con 2010 (Cropped)
Bell at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con.

For his role as Jigsaw, Bell received MTV Movie Awards nominations in 2006 and 2007 for "Best Villain". He won "Best Butcher" in the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards and was given the "Best Villain in a Film Series" title at the 2010 Chiller-Eyegore Awards. The Saw franchise went on to become one of the highest-grossing horror franchises of all time making, as of 2021, over $1 billion worldwide. The character Jigsaw has been labeled a horror icon.

2014–present: Later work and return to the Saw franchise

In March 2014, Bell played the antagonist Seth in Victor Salva's horror film Dark House. The following month he was featured in an episode of Criminal Minds, playing a farmer from West Virginia. In the comedy Manson Family Vacation Bell plays a guy who is one of Charlie Manson's followers and lives on his old property in Death Valley. It premiered at South by Southwest in March 2015 to positive reviews with Variety pointing out Bell's "creepy gravitas" take on the role.

In March 2016, Bell joined the soap opera Days of Our Lives for a five-episode arch playing Yo Ling, who is revealed to be John Black's long lost father. From 2016 and 2017, he guest starred as the voices of the villain Doctor Alchemy and the malicious speed god and main antagonist Savitar on the third season of The Flash, in which he was uncredited throughout the season until his last episode. He reprised his role in the ninth season for its season and series finale "A New World: Part Four". Bell was cast in April 2017 in a short film, My Pretty Pony based on Stephen King's short story My Pretty Pony. In October 2017, seven years after Saw 3D was released and marketed as the final Saw film, Bell reprises his role as Jigsaw in the standalone film Jigsaw. It grossed $103 million worldwide. Bell was also featured in other horror films released in October 2017, including the television film The Sandman, the Mexican film Belzebuth and Italian film Gates of Darkness.

Bell guest starred in a September 2019 episode of Creepshow, alongside Giancarlo Esposito in the segment "Gray Matter" that is based on King's short story of the same name. In May 2021, he played Dr. Lasher in an eight-part found footage fictional podcast series, The Gloom. The series is about a string of unsolved crimes committed by a group of teens in the 1990s while an investigative journalist uncovers a supernatural cover-up that is tied to her past. In March 2023, he played Von in the indie psychological thriller ReBroken. Bell played Kramer once again in Saw X, released in September 2023. The film received positive reviews, with Bell's performance and his return as a main character being praised by critics.

Personal life

Bell has two sons. He has coached a Little League Baseball team and flag football, with other hobbies including hiking and playing guitar. He is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Credits

Film

List of films and roles
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Manhattan Man on Street Uncredited
1981 Tales of Ordinary Madness Bar Patron
1982 Sophie's Choice Reporter Credited as Joseph Tobin
Verdict, TheThe Verdict Courtroom Observer Uncredited
Tootsie Waiter
1983 Svengali
1985 Turk 182 Sergeant on Bridge Credited as Joseph Tobin
1988 Mississippi Burning FBI Agent Stokes
1989 Innocent Man, AnAn Innocent Man Zeke
1990 False Identity Marshall Errickson
Loose Cannons Gerber
Goodfellas Parole Officer
1992 Ruby David Ferrie
1993 Boiling Point Freddie Roth
Firm, TheThe Firm The Nordic Man
In the Line of Fire Marty Mendoza
Malice Earl Leemus
1995 Serial Killer William Lucian Morrano
Quick and the Dead, TheThe Quick and the Dead 'Dog' Kelly
1996 Cheyenne Marshal Toynbee
1998 Brown's Requiem Stan 'Stan The Man'
Overnight Delivery John Dwayne Beezly
Best of the Best 4: Without Warning Lukasz Slava
1999 The 4th Floor The Locksmith
2000 Road to El Dorado, TheThe Road to El Dorado Zaragoza (voice) Grouped under "Voice Talent"
2001 Good Neighbor Geoffrey Martin
2002 Power Play Clemens
Black Mask 2: City of Masks Moloch
2004 Saw John Kramer / Jigsaw
2005 Saw II
2006 Saw III
2007 Buried Alive Lester
Decoys 2: Alien ... Professor Erwin Buckton
The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It The Stranger
Boogeyman 2 Dr. Mitchell Allen
Saw IV John Kramer / Jigsaw
2008 Boogeyman 3 Dr. Mitchell Allen (voice) Uncredited
Saw V John Kramer / Jigsaw
2009 Saw VI
2010 Saw 3D
2014 Dark House Seth Also co-producer
Finders Keepers Dr. Freeman
2015 Phantom Halo 'Smashmouth'
Manson Family Vacation 'Blackbird'
2016 Rainbow Time Peter
2017 Jigsaw John Kramer / Jigsaw
61: Highway to Hell The Devil
12 Feet Deep McGradey
The Sandman Valentine
Belzebuth Vasilio Canetti
2019 The Way We Weren't Jerry Also producer
Ice Cream in the Cupboard Pop
Gates of Darkness Monsignor Canell
2020 The Call Edward Cranston
A Father's Legacy Billy Ford
2021 Let Us In Mr. Munch
Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman Lewis Fell
2022 Sleep No More 'Smashmouth'
2023 ReBroken Von
The Curse of Wolf Mountain Dr. Avery
The Cello Vincent
Saw X John Kramer / Jigsaw
TBD The Bunker Not yet released Mr. Riley Post-production
Clown Motel Not yet released TBA Post-production
Altered Reality Not yet released Cooper Mason Post-production
Key
Films that have not yet been released Denotes films that have not yet been released

Television

List of television appearances and roles
Year Title Role Notes
1987–1988 Equalizer, TheThe Equalizer
  • Cronin, Weber, Deputy Secretary
  • Episodes: "Mission: McCall: Part 1", "Mission: McCall: Part 2", "Day of the Covenant"
1989 Perfect Witness Dillon Television film
1990 Alien Nation Brian Knox / Dr. Death Episode: "Crossing the Line"
Nasty Boys Finley Episode: "The Line"
Jake and the Fatman Vic Episode: "More Than You Know"
Broken Badges Martin Valentine Episode: "Pilot"
Vendetta: Secrets of a Mafia Bride Barman Television mini series; 3 episodes
1991 Love, Lies and Murder Al Stutz Television mini series; 2 episodes
The 100 Lives of Black Jack Savage Tony Gianini Episode: "Pilot"
1992 Mann & Machine Richards Episode: "No Pain, No Gain"
Calendar Girl, Cop, Killer? The Bambi Bembenek Story Unknown Television film
Silk Stalkings Emil Rossler Episode: "Hot Rocks"
1993 Seinfeld Ron Episode: "The Old Man"
..., Love, and Cold Hard Cash Mansfield Television film
NYPD Blue Jerry the Artist Episode: "Personal Foul"
1994 Deep Red Warren Rickman Television film
Dead Man's Revenge Bullock
ER Hospital Administrator Episode: "Day One"
Mortal Fear Dr. Alvin Hayes Television film
New Eden Ares
1995 Under Suspicion Ron O'Keefe Episode: "A Haunting Case"
1996 Babysitter's ..., TheThe Babysitter's ... Detective Frank O'Keefe Television film
Lazarus Man, TheThe Lazarus Man N/A Episode: "Among the Dead"
Murder One Jerry Albanese Episode: "Chapter Twenty-Two"
NYPD Blue Donald Selness Episode: "He's Not Guilty, He's My Brother"
Unabomber: The True Story Theodore Kaczynski Television film
Chicago Hope Luther Evans Episode: "A Time to Kill"
1997 La Femme Nikita Perry Bauer Episode: "Love"
Nash Bridges William Boyd Episode: "Payback"
1998 Stargate SG-1 Omoc Episode: "Enigma"
One Hot Summer Night Vincent 'Coupe' De Ville Television film
Walker, Texas Ranger Karl Storm
  • Episode: "The Wedding: Part 1"
  • Episode: "The Wedding: Part 2"
Vengeance Unlimited Teddy Hix Episode: "Bitter End"
1999 Strange World Owen Sassen Episode: "Eliza"
Pretender, TheThe Pretender Mr. White Episode: "The World's Changing"
2000 X-Files, TheThe X-Files Ashman / Darryl Weaver Episode: "Brand X"
Harsh Realm Slater Episode: "Reunion"; uncredited
2001 Once and Again Man In Suit Episode: "Aaron's Getting Better"
Sopranos, TheThe Sopranos Major Carl Zwingli Episode: "Army of One"
Guardian, TheThe Guardian Mr. Pierce Episode: "The Funnies"
Alias SD-6 Agent Karl Dreyer
  • Episode: "Time Will Tell"
  • Episode: "Mea Culpa"
2002 Charmed Orin Episode: "The Eyes Have It"
West Wing, TheThe West Wing Colonel Whitcomb Episode: "Process Stories"
2003 24 Peter Kingsley Group 4 episodes
2005 Revelations Nathan Volk Television mini series; 5 episodes
2006 Casino Cinema Himself Episode: "31 October 2006"
2007 Kill Point, TheThe Kill Point Alan Beck 6 episodes
2014 Criminal Minds Malachi Lee Episode: "Blood Relations"
Wilfred Charles Episode: "Happiness"
2015 Skin Wars Himself/Guest Judge Episode: "Emotional Rollercoaster"
2016 Days of Our Lives Yo Ling 5 episodes
2016–2017, 2023 The Flash Doctor Alchemy / Savitar Voice role, 16 episodes
2019 Creepshow Chief (segment "Gray Matter") Episode: "Gray Matter/The House of the Head"
2020 MacGyver Leland
  • Episode: "Save + The + Dam + World"
  • Episode: "Eclipse + USMC-1856707 + Step Potential + Chain Lock + Ma"

Video games

List of video game roles
Year Title Role Notes
2009 Saw John Kramer / Jigsaw Voice
2010 Saw II: Flesh & Blood

Podcasts

List of podcast series roles
Year Title Role(s) Notes
2021 The Gloom Dr. Lasher 8 episodes

See also

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