David Paymer (born 30 August 1954; age 70) is an American actor, comedian, and television director who played Doctor Moritz Benayoun in the Star Trek: Picard first season episode "Maps and Legends".
Paymer's big screen debut was in The In-Laws (1979, with Ed Begley, Jr., Rosana DeSoto, John Hancock, John Hostetter, and Richard Libertini). In the 1980s Paymer was in Airplane II: The Sequel (1982, with Sam Anderson, Earl Boen, Bruce French, John Hancock, Louise Sorel, and Star Trek: The Original Series star William Shatner), Best Defense (1984, with John Hostetter, Raye Birk, Paul Comi, Gene Dynarski, Paul Eiding, Javier Grajeda, Darryl Henriques, and Joel Polis), Irreconcilable Differences (1984, with Ellen Geer and David Graf), Perfect (1985, with Ronnie Claire Edwards, Stefan Gierasch, and Rosalind Ingledew), Howard the Duck (1986, starring Lea Thompson, with Paul Comi, Paul Guilfoyle, John Fleck, and Richard McGonagle and the voice Richard Kiley), Night of the Creeps (1986, with Dick Miller), No Way Out (1987, featuring Darryl Henriques, John Hostetter, Iman, Leon Russom, and Nicholas Worth), and No Holds Barred (1989, with Tommy "Tiny" Lister, Jr.).
Paymer was more prolific in the decade that followed. 1990 began Crazy People with Robert Ito and Bill Smitrovich. By way of his friendship with Billy Crystal, Paymer co-starred in City Slickers (1991, with Walker Brandt, Robert Costanzo, Tracey Walter, and Noble Willingham), followed by the Crystal-directed Mr. Saturday Night (1992, with Mary Mara, Jason Marsden, Tim Russ, and Julie Warner). In 1994, Paymer appeared in City Slickers II: The Legend of Curly's Gold, with Noble Willingham, Quiz Show (1994, with Nicholas Kepros, Christopher McDonald, Paul Guilfoyle, Jeffrey Nordling and Hélène Cardona), Get Shorty (1995, co-starring John Cothran, Jr.), The American President (1995, with Beau Billingslea, Ron Canada, David Drew Gallagher, Googy Gress, Anne Haney, Jordan Lund, John Mahon, Wendie Malick, George Murdock, Gail Strickland, and Clement von Franckenstein, and Richard McGonagle), Nixon (1995, with Robert Beltran, Bill Bolender, Wilson Cruz, Richard Fancy, Annette Helde, Michelle Krusiec, Tony Plana, Victor Rivers, Saul Rubinek, and Paul Sorvino), Unforgettable (1996, with Christopher McDonald and Kim Cattrall), Carpool (1996, with Miriam Flynn), The 6th Man (1997, with Kirk Baily), Gang Related (1997, with "Tiny" Lister, Brad Greenquist, Gary Cole and Jimmie F. Skaggs). Amistad (1997, co-starring Victor Rivers, Harry Groener and Castulo Guerra) The Lesser Evil (1998, with Anne Haney, Jack Kehler, Richard Riehle, Adam Scott, and Marc Worden), Outside Ozona (1998, with Kirk Baily), Mighty Joe Young (1998, with Richard McGonagle, Richard Riehle, Tracey Walter, Robert Wisdom, Geoffrey Blake, Lily Mariye, and Lawrence Pressman), Payback (1999, with John Glover and Gregg Henry), Chill Factor (1999, with Daniel Hugh Kelly), Mumford (1999, with Kevin Tighe and Alfre Woodard), and The Hurricane (1999, with Clancy Brown and Harris Yulin).
In 2000, Paymer appeared in State and Main with Matt Malloy, and starred in Enemies of Laughter with Rosalind Chao, followed by Bounce, with Scott Alan Smith. In 2001, he starred in Bartleby with Seymour Cassel and Joe Piscopo. Paymer later appeared in Spartan (2004, co-starring Matt Malloy, Steven Culp, Margot Farley, and Natalia Nogulich). Paymer next appeared in Marilyn Hotchkiss' Ballroom Dancing & Charm School (2005 with Ian Abercrombie) and Checking Out (2005, with David Bowe, Alex Datcher, and Tony Todd). Paymer was next cast in Ocean's Thirteen (2007, with Ivar Brogger, Michael Harney, Tommy Hinkley, and Wayne Péré). Paymer also appeared in Redbelt (2008, with Matt Malloy) and Drag Me to Hell (2009, with Lorna Raver).
Paymer later co-starred in Bad Teacher (2011, with David Doty). In 2014, Paymer appeared in The Five-Year Engagement with Clement von Franckenstein, Jane Carr, Michael Ensign, and Aaron Lustig, Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit (starring Chris Pine), and Two-Bit Waltz (with Matt Malloy).
For the 2020s, Paymer so far has Horse Girl with Dendrie Taylor and Butterfly in the Typewriter with Brad Dourif.