Dave Shalansky is an American actor, writer, and director, known for his role as Harry on Gilmore Girls. His television credits include Grey's Anatomy, The Offer, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and FBI: Most Wanted. His film work includes Rosemead and the short film The Missing Peace, written and directed by Michael Raymond-James. In 2026, Shalansky made his directorial debut with the dark comedy short film Dirt Down.
Early life and education Shalansky was born and raised in Warwick, Rhode Island, in a Reform Jewish family. He is the son of Leonard "Len" and Ruby Shalansky. His father was a fine artist and illustrator who studied at Cooper Union and Pratt Institute in New York City. His artwork appeared on several Hasbro toys during the 1970s, including the Weeble. His mother worked as an elementary school teacher and later served as executive director of Temple Beth-El (Providence, Rhode Island).
Shalansky earned a BFA in acting from Boston University. He later studied improv comedy at the Upright Citizens Brigade in Los Angeles and trained in the Meisner technique with acting teacher Sandy Marshall.
Career After graduating from Boston University, Shalansky moved to New York City, where he worked in television commercials and in New York and regional theater. In 1997, he appeared in a production of Balm in Gilead. He moved to Los Angeles in 2003 and subsequently began appearing regularly in television and film. Among his early television roles was Harry on Gilmore Girls.
In October 2016, Shalansky participated in a staged reading of the screenplay Good Will Hunting at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts in New York City. The cast included Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, John Krasinski, Emily Blunt, Daveed Diggs, Tom McCarthy, Keegan-Michael Key, and Margo Martindale.
Shalansky had a recurring guest role on Grey's Anatomy from 2016 to 2017. He later appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and FBI: Most Wanted. In 2022, he portrayed Henry Kissinger in the Paramount+ limited series The Offer.
In 2023, Shalansky made his Off-Broadway debut in King of the Jews, Leslie Epstein's stage adaptation of his 1979 novel of the same name.
Shalansky also appeared in The Missing Peace, a short film written and directed by Michael Raymond-James and executive produced by Jason Momoa. The film received Best Short Film and Best Acting Ensemble at the 2024 Indie Short Fest in Los Angeles and was selected for the New York Short Film Festival.
In 2025, Shalansky appeared as Principal Stephens in the feature film Rosemead (film), starring Lucy Liu.
In 2026, Shalansky made his directorial debut with the dark comedy short film Dirt Down, written by Barbara Moreno. Shalansky also received an additional writing credit on the film.
As a writer, Shalansky has written his first feature-length screenplay, a comedy-drama currently in development.
Shalansky has also worked as a drummer in rock and power-pop bands in New York and Los Angeles, including Nice Guy Eddie with guitarist Chris Jackson and bassist Robbie Rist.
Personal Life Shalansky resides in New York City. He and his wife, Cassandra, married in 2012 and they have one child. Cassandra serves as chief of staff to the president of Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts.
Filmography
Film +YearTitleRoleNotes2006IdolThe Agent2009According to GretaCable Guy2012Divorce InvitationVictor2013How Sweet It IsRogers2015Midnight Sex RunJeff2017Doobious SourcesMr. X2018The BetrothedJimShort Film2018The SmallGrahamShort Film2019OthersTedShort Film2022My Cricket and MeUncle Dave2023A Killer RomanceJerry2023The Missing PeaceBen JacobsAward Winning Short Film2024Rosemead (film)Principal Stephens2024Double HappinessRabbi BenShort Film2026Dirt DownDirector, Co-writerShort Film2026Coming Up NextWriterIn Development
Television YearTitleRoleNotes2004Six Feet UnderMale RobberEpisode: "Terror Starts at Home"2005NCISDelivery ManEpisode: "The Meat Puzzle"2005EntourageNerd #6Episode: "I Love You Too"2005Gilmore GirlsHarry3 episodes2006E-RingRickyEpisode: "Friends and Enemies"2006FreddieToddEpisode: "Two Times a Lady"2006Help Me Help YouNaked Dude #2Episode: "Pink Freud"2007ERMr. SaltzmanEpisode: "The Honeymoon Is Over"2008CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationTim O'SheaEpisode: "Grissom's Divine Comedy"2008Without a TraceCurtisEpisode: "A Dollar and a Dream"2008BonesJoeEpisode: "The Man in the Outhouse"2009Curb Your EnthusiasmNorm's SonEpisode: "The Black Swan"2010Dark BlueSteveEpisode: "High Rollers"2011Lie to MeHarveyEpisode: "Fun House"2011From Rags to ReubenGordonTelevision film2011Let It Go AlreadyMaxMiniseries2012CastleTech #1Episode: "Pandora"2012RingerAccountantEpisode: "P.S. You're an Idiot"2012Hollywood HeightsMr. Stephens2 episodes2013Fitz and SladeFitzTelevision film2013SouthlandLucky BarnesEpisode: "Hats and Bats"2013PerceptionKurt SimpsonEpisode: "Caleidoscope"2013FirstsDave3 episodes2013Mob CityCop #3Episode: "Oxpecker"2014LegendsDoormanEpisode: "Quicksand"2014NewsreadersBest Man MikeEpisode: "Roswell, New Mexico; Skip Goes to a Wedding"2015Nurse JackieRickEpisode: "Godfathering"2015The Mysteries of LauraWilliam DavisEpisode: "The Mystery of the Ghost in the Machine"2016So, Then Tell MeJordan4 episodes2016VinylStuart BlumeEpisode: "The King and I"2016DivorceBrad ZimmerEpisode: "Another Party"2016, 2017Grey's AnatomyJeremy2 episodes2017Famous in LoveDustinEpisode: "Prelude to a Diss"2019How to Get Away with MurderSeth KeoughEpisode: "Don't Go Dark on Me"2019ElementaryTonyEpisode: "The Further Adventures"2020Law & Order: SVUEddie KleinEpisode: "I Deserve Some Loving Too"2020Big DogsAgent Gilliard3 episodes2020–2022NaysayerAustin10 episodes2022The OfferHenry KissingerEpisode: "Brains and Balls"2022Law & Order: SVUEthan SchmidtEpisode: "Controlled Burn"2023FBI: Most WantedShawnEpisode: "Wanted: America"
Video games +YearTitleRoleNotes2011Super Star KartzB.O.B.
References