Bob Balaban must have got a ton of shit after 9/11.

Originally uploaded by eppyad.

Poor bastard. The man spends years establishing himself as a solid character actor. Little Man Tate, City Slickers 2 (The Legend of Curly's Gold). He perfects his craft, becomes a go-to guy, the type of actor a director can go to in a pinch, the type of actor an audience can take into its collective heart. It's "all good," as the kids say.

And then 9/11 happens. And it all goes to hell.

"Bob Balaban? You mean 'Balaban,' like rhymes with 'Taliban'? You son of a bitch."

"Hey Bob!" Yeah you, towel head! How's the splinter cell going, Bob? You make me sick."

"Hey you! Mr. 'Taliban!' I thought you were sub-par in 'Jakob the Liar.' Burn in hell."

While other, weaker men such as Carl Krommunist, John Flatzi, and Theodore Shmal-Aqsa Shmartyr's Brigade, all immediately ran to the local courthouse and had their names legally changed, Mr. Balaban has shown an uncommon level of bravery and poise in the face of such unfortunate hostility.

He truly is an American hero.