# Patton Oswalt filmography
**Patton Oswalt's filmography** documents the screen work of [Patton Oswalt](https://www.edgepedia.org/patton-oswalt) (born 1969 in [Portsmouth, Virginia](https://www.edgepedia.org/portsmouth-virginia)), the American stand-up comedian, actor, and writer, across films, television series, voice roles, and stand-up specials from the late 1980s onward. One compiled listing counts 206 credited roles, 75 in films and 131 in television series, spanning 1989 to 2026.[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/patton-oswalt-filmography) His career splits between a long-running sitcom role, a large body of voice work, independent film leads, and comedy specials that earned him a Primetime Emmy Award and a Grammy Award.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1969, Portsmouth, Virginia, USA[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/patton-oswalt-507210/film-credits) |
| Defining sitcom role | Spencer Olchin on CBS's *The King of Queens* (1998–2007)[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) |
| Signature film role | Remy (voice) in Pixar's *Ratatouille* (2007), directed by Brad Bird[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) • [4](https://www.emol.org/film/archives/ratatouille/productionnotes.html) |
| Indie lead | Paul Aufiero in *Big Fan* (2009); Gotham Award nomination[5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/) |
| Awards | Emmy for *Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping* (2016) and a Grammy for its album[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) |
| Television output | Guest appearances on dozens of series; narrator of *The Goldbergs* (2013–present)[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) |
| Career scale | 206 credited roles, 75 film and 131 television, from 1989 to 2026[1](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/patton-oswalt-filmography) |
## Early screen work
Oswalt began performing stand-up in 1988, and by his own account he entered film and television through that background rather than through acting training.[6](https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/addicted-to-the-movies-patton-oswalt-on-silver-screen-fiend) His first film appearance came as the Stingray Radioman in the 1996 submarine comedy *Down Periscope*.[7](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/big-screen/2012/jul/10/patton-oswalt-talks-movies-with-emthe-big-screenem/?amp=&page=all) His television debut was a walk-on part as a video store clerk in the *Seinfeld* episode "The Couch," a role often cited as the start of his screen career.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) • [8](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/12/post-your-questions-for-patton-oswalt)
Supporting roles followed in major studio films, including *Magnolia* (1999), *Man on the Moon* (1999), and *Zoolander* (2001), plus comic parts in *Blade: Trinity* (2004) and *Starsky & Hutch* (2004).[9](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/patton-oswalt/) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652663/fullcredits) In parallel, Oswalt worked as a writer, spending two seasons on *MADtv* and writing for the MTV Music Video Awards.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652663/fullcredits)
## Television: sitcom regular and prolific guest
**The King of Queens.** From 1998 to 2007 Oswalt played Spence Olchin, one of Doug Heffernan's circle of friends, on the CBS sitcom *The King of Queens*. The role gave him steady mainstream exposure while he continued touring as a comedian.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt)
**Guest appearances.** After the sitcom, Oswalt accumulated guest credits across a wide range of series, including *Parks and Recreation*, *[Community](https://www.edgepedia.org/community-tv-series)*, *Two and a Half Men*, *Drunk History*, *Reno 911!*, *Mystery Science Theater 3000*, *Archer*, *Veep*, *A.P. Bio*, *Brooklyn Nine-Nine*, and *Justified*.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) On *Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.* (2014–2020) he played a recurring set of characters, the Koenigs.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) His guest work on *Parks and Recreation*, which included a 2013 appearance alongside [Amy Poehler](https://www.edgepedia.org/amy-poehler), earned him a TV Critics Choice Award.[5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/) • [11](https://www.wm.edu/as/news/2015-2016/oswalt-91.php) He has narrated the sitcom *The Goldbergs* as adult [Adam F. Goldberg](https://www.edgepedia.org/adam-f-goldberg) since the show began in 2013.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt)
## Voice acting
Voice work forms a substantial and distinctive part of the filmography. Oswalt's breakthrough came with Pixar's *[Ratatouille](https://www.edgepedia.org/ratatouille-film)* (2007), in which he voiced Remy, a rat who dreams of becoming a chef. The voice of Remy had been difficult to cast until writer-director [Brad Bird](https://www.edgepedia.org/brad-bird) heard one of Oswalt's stand-up routines, about steakhouse menus, on the radio.[4](https://www.emol.org/film/archives/ratatouille/productionnotes.html) • [12](https://www.upr.org/2017-12-27/patton-oswalt-falling-in-love-again-was-like-getting-hit-by-lightning-twice) Bird directed him to use his natural voice, and Oswalt, a devoted foodie, said his own obsession with chefs effectively made him a "rat version" of himself.[13](https://freshairarchive.org/segments/brad-bird-and-patton-oswalt-telling-rats-tale) • [14](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ratatouille-wondercon-jar-jar-binks-patton-oswalt-talks)
Subsequent voice credits include Max the dog in Illumination's *The Secret Life of Pets 2* (2019), Nom Nom in *We Bare Bears: The Movie* (2020), Matthew the Raven in Netflix's *The Sandman* (2022), the lead role of Jesse in the video game *Minecraft: Story Mode*, and the co-creator and voice lead of Marvel's stop-motion comedy *M.O.D.O.K.*.[5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/) • [15](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/patton-oswalt) In 2026 he joined the voice cast of Brad Bird's Netflix animated noir *Ray Gunn*, voicing a hologram.[16](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/ray-gunn-full-voice-cast-guide/)
## Independent film leads
**Big Fan.** In Robert D. Siegel's *Big Fan* (2009), Oswalt played Paul Aufiero, a [New York Giants](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-york-giants) superfan whose life unravels after a violent encounter with his favorite player. It was his first on-camera leading role, and he received a Gotham Award nomination for the performance; the film was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.[5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/) • [17](https://dcist.com/story/09/02/26/dcist-interview-patton-oswalt/) The film premiered around the 2009 [Sundance Film Festival](https://www.edgepedia.org/sundance-film-festival), where Oswalt promoted it as a dramatic feature.[18](https://www.slugmag.com/pdf/242-February-2009.pdf)
**Young Adult.** Oswalt co-starred opposite [Charlize Theron](https://www.edgepedia.org/charlize-theron) in [Jason Reitman](https://www.edgepedia.org/jason-reitman)'s *Young Adult* (2011) as Matt Freehauf, and received a Critics Choice Award nomination for the performance.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) • [5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/)
Other notable film credits include *Nature Calls* (2012), *The Secret Life of Walter Mitty* (2013), *[Odd Thomas](https://www.edgepedia.org/odd-thomas-film)* (2013), *Freaks of Nature* (2015), *Donald Trump's The Art of the Deal: The Movie* (2016), *The Circle* (2017), *Nostalgia* (2018), *I Love My Dad* (2022), and *[Ghostbusters](https://www.edgepedia.org/ghostbusters-franchise): Frozen Empire* (2024).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) • [3](https://www.fandango.com/people/patton-oswalt-507210/film-credits)
## Stand-up specials
Because Oswalt performs stand-up continuously, his special releases form their own sub-filmography. He has headlined comedy clubs across the United States since 1996 and released his specials on [Comedy Central](https://www.edgepedia.org/comedy-central), HBO, and later Netflix.[10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652663/fullcredits) The Television Academy counts six stand-up specials among his credits as a comedian.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) *Patton Oswalt: My Weakness Is Strong* premiered on Comedy Central on August 23, 2009.[19](https://ir.paramount.com/static-files/1286767f-6ff8-436f-9a65-afb358cbb4de) *Patton Oswalt: Talking for Clapping* (2016) won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special, and the album won the [Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album](https://www.edgepedia.org/grammy-award-for-best-comedy-album).[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) Later specials *Annihilation* (2017) and *I Love Everything* (2020) both earned Emmy nominations for writing.[2](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt) • [5](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/)
## Recent projects
Into the mid-2020s Oswalt continued adding film roles, including *I Love My Dad* (2022), the animated *GOAT* (2026), and *The Dink* (2026).[3](https://www.fandango.com/people/patton-oswalt-507210/film-credits) • [10](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652663/fullcredits) His 2026 stand-up special *Tea & Scotch* was released on YouTube, and he told interviewers he would reprise Remy in a *Ratatouille* sequel only if Brad Bird supplied an idea strong enough to make the film.[20](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/patton-oswalt-id-reprise-iconic-ratatouille-role-on-one-condition/) • [21](https://www.vice.com/en/article/patton-oswalt-on-his-new-stand-up-special-things-that-havent-aged-well-and-doing-comedy-for-almost-40-years-exclusive/)
## References
1. [Patton Oswalt Filmography: Every Movie and TV Show in Order, Pop Culture Files](https://popculturefiles.com/filmographies/patton-oswalt-filmography)
2. [Patton Oswalt | Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/patton-oswalt)
3. [Patton Oswalt Filmography and Movies, Fandango](https://www.fandango.com/people/patton-oswalt-507210/film-credits)
4. [Ratatouille Production Notes, emol.org](https://www.emol.org/film/archives/ratatouille/productionnotes.html)
5. [Patton Oswalt Talent Bio, Hulu Press](https://press.hulu.com/bios/patton-oswalt-1/)
6. [Addicted to the Movies: Patton Oswalt on Silver Screen Fiend, RogerEbert.com](https://www.rogerebert.com/interviews/addicted-to-the-movies-patton-oswalt-on-silver-screen-fiend)
7. [Patton Oswalt Talks Movies With The Big Screen, San Diego Reader](https://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/big-screen/2012/jul/10/patton-oswalt-talks-movies-with-emthe-big-screenem/?amp=&page=all)
8. [Post your questions for Patton Oswalt, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/jan/12/post-your-questions-for-patton-oswalt)
9. [Patton Oswalt - Actor, Comedian, Writer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/patton-oswalt/)
10. [Patton Oswalt Full Credits, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0652663/fullcredits)
11. [The craft behind the comedy of Patton Oswalt '91, William & Mary](https://www.wm.edu/as/news/2015-2016/oswalt-91.php)
12. [Patton Oswalt: Falling In Love Again, Utah Public Radio](https://www.upr.org/2017-12-27/patton-oswalt-falling-in-love-again-was-like-getting-hit-by-lightning-twice)
13. [Brad Bird and Patton Oswalt, Telling a Rat's Tale, Fresh Air Archive](https://freshairarchive.org/segments/brad-bird-and-patton-oswalt-telling-rats-tale)
14. ['Ratatouille', WonderCon, Jar Jar Binks: Patton Oswalt Talks, Animation World Network](https://www.awn.com/animationworld/ratatouille-wondercon-jar-jar-binks-patton-oswalt-talks)
15. [Patton Oswalt Filmography, Plex](https://watch.plex.tv/en-GB/person/patton-oswalt)
16. ['Ray Gunn' Full Voice Cast Revealed, What's on Netflix](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/ray-gunn-full-voice-cast-guide/)
17. [DCist Interview: Patton Oswalt](https://dcist.com/story/09/02/26/dcist-interview-patton-oswalt/)
18. [Two Decades! Salt Lake City Weekly (Slug Magazine) PDF](https://www.slugmag.com/pdf/242-February-2009.pdf)
19. [Comedy Central press release: Patton Oswalt: My Weakness Is Strong, Paramount IR](https://ir.paramount.com/static-files/1286767f-6ff8-436f-9a65-afb358cbb4de)
20. [Patton Oswalt Says He'd Return for 'Ratatouille' Sequel if Director Has New Idea, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/patton-oswalt-id-reprise-iconic-ratatouille-role-on-one-condition/)
21. [Patton Oswalt on His New Stand-Up Special, Vice](https://www.vice.com/en/article/patton-oswalt-on-his-new-stand-up-special-things-that-havent-aged-well-and-doing-comedy-for-almost-40-years-exclusive/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Awards and screen reference › Individual filmographies › Western and East Asian filmographies*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license