Patrick Fabian (born December 7, 1964) is an American film, stage, and television actor. He is best known for his role as attorney Howard Hamlin in Better Call Saul (2015–2022). His film roles include End Game (2006), Cloud 9 (2014), The Last Exorcism (2010), Pig (2011) and Jimmy (2013).
Early life and education Patrick Fabian is the son of Tom and Mary Lou Fabian. He is of Slovak and Hungarian ancestry through his paternal grandfather. He was born in Pittsburgh and grew up in New Cumberland, Pennsylvania. His father worked for the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA). After graduating from Cedar Cliff High School in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, he attended Penn State University and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Performance. He moved to California, where he earned a master's degree from California State University, Long Beach.
Career One of Fabian's earliest prominent roles was as Professor Jeremiah Lasky on NBC's Saved by the Bell: The College Years (1993–1994). He was in the main cast of the short-lived television series Valentine (2008–2009), Working Class (2011), and Special (2019–2021). He had recurring roles on Joan of Arcadia, Veronica Mars, Gigantic, and Big Love. Fabian also appeared in the unaired 1997 Dilbert live action pitch pilot.
Fabian has appeared in a number of films including The Last Exorcism, and has had a number of guest appearances on high-profile TV shows including Will & Grace and Friends. Fabian was cast to play Howard Hamlin, a main role in the AMC television series, Better Call Saul.
Fabian's theatre work in New York includes The Food Chain by Nicky Silver, Humpty Dumpty by Eric Bogosian, Six Degrees of Separation (national tour), and, in Los Angeles, Diva by Howard Gould and Dinner with Friends by Donald Margulies, as well as two seasons at LA's Shakespeare Festival.
Personal life
Fabian has been a member of SAG-AFTRA's National and Los Angeles Local Board of Directors, running under the Unite for Strength slate.
He is married to writer and comedian Mandy Steckelberg. During Better Call Sauls principal photography, Fabian would live with cast members Bob Odenkirk and Rhea Seehorn in an Albuquerque house owned by Odenkirk and his wife. Odenkirk mentioned that this was for the actors to keep each other company after filming had finished for the day, as he had lived by himself during the first season and felt a sense of loneliness when he was home. Seehorn stated that the actors and their spouses all knew of and were friends with one another, so all parties were content with the living arrangement. Fabian was known to make his housemates dinner when they came home from filming.
Filmography
Film Year Title Role Notes 1998Jane Austen's Mafia! RiverdancerSour GrapesPalmer 2004CleanBobby FranklinSnowBuck2005Must Love DogsDonald2006End GameBrian Martin2009Spring BreakdownKevin 2010Cotton MarcusRussell2011PigInternist 2012Bad AssOfficer MalarkTales of Everyday MagicRyan KilgoreAtlas Shrugged: Part 2James Taggart2013JimmyLee Mitchell2014Bad Ass 2: Bad AssesOfficer Malark2017DriverXLeonard Moore2018The Death of Superman Hank Henshaw Voice role; direct-to-video film 2019Reign of the SupermenEat, Brains, LoveAlastaire 2023Snow FallsRiver's DadBatman: The Doom That Came to Gotham Harvey DentVoice role; direct-to-video filmThe Other ZoeyMatt MacLaren2024The Way We SpeakSimon Harrington2025The RitualBishop Edwards2026Howard FriedmanCompletedTBARandallCompleted
Television Year Title Role Notes 1992Bodies of EvidenceScott EastonEpisode: "The Edge"Silk StalkingsRon GerschakEpisode: "Bad Blood" 1993For Love and GloryUnsold television pilotBeverly Hills, 90210Charlie DixonEpisode: "The Little Fish"1993–1994 Saved by the Bell: The College YearsProf. Jeremiah LaskyRecurring role, 8 episodes1994Murder, She WroteLarry ShieldsEpisode: "Murder of the Month Club" 1995University HospitalKurt PalmerEpisode: "Endings and Beginnings"Melrose PlaceLowellEpisode: "To Live and Die in Malibu" 1996Boston CommonProf. Jack ReedEpisode: "Pilot"TowniesDannyEpisode: "Townies" 1997Star Trek: VoyagerTaymonEpisode: "Favorite Son"Weapons of Mass DistractionBrandon JoynerTelevision movieMillenniumRatfinkovichEpisode: "Jose Chung's Doomsday Defense"General HospitalTed Murty 1998Xena: Warrior PrincessRafeEpisode: "King Con"JennyParkerEpisode: "A Girl's Gotta Come Through in a Clutch"TimecopDean Cooke / Eric CookeEpisode: "Lost Voyage"FriendsDanEpisode: "The One Hundredth" 1999WastelandEpisode: "Great Expectations"CupidDon QuixoteEpisode: "Grand Delusions"Two of a KindAlex ReardonEpisode: "My Boyfriend's Back"Dharma & GregDougEpisode: "Looking for the Goodbars"1999–2000Time of Your LifeSpencer HallowayRecurring role, 6 episodes1999–2002ProvidenceJerry KaufmanRecurring role, 7 episodes 2000Arli$$JacquesEpisode: "Honoring Our Past"FreakyLinksWayneEpisode: "Subject: Edith Keeler Must Die" 2001EricEpisode: "Manhattan Transference"Rude AwakeningBrian2 episodesNash BridgesEthanEpisode: "Slam Dunk"Josh HowlettEpisode: "Herding Cats" 2003Jack's HouseTelevision movieWithout a TraceEpisode: "The Source"CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationRhone Kinsey-ConferEpisode: "Forever"Just Shoot Me!MartinEpisode: "A Simple Kiss of Fate"2003–2005Joan of ArcadiaGavin PriceRecurring role, 16 episodes 2004Crossing JordanBuddy Holly / Horned Rimmed GlassesEpisode: "Is That Plutonium in Your Pocket, or Are You Just Happy to See Me?"24William Cole2 episodesHelter SkelterJay SebringTelevision movieSummerlandIan StraubEpisode: "Pilot"North ShoreDr. BurtwhistleEpisode: "Meteor Shower"Medical InvestigationGary RiesenEpisode: "Escape"QuintupletsCoach ScalesEpisode: "Teacher's Pet"Will & GraceAlanEpisode: "Saving Grace, Again: Part 1"SnowBuck SegerTelevision movie 2005Blind JusticeClay SimmonsEpisode: "Four Feet Under"EyesDoug TaftEpisode: "Pilot"EverwoodDr. Henry ValidorEpisode: "Oh, the Places You'll Go"CSI: MiamiKen GannonEpisode: "Blood in the Water"RebaRev. ParksEpisode: "And God Created Van"TwitchesThantosTelevision movie 2006SharkDr. Charlie BenderEpisode: "Dr. Feelbad"Ugly BettyFashion TV AnchorEpisode: "The Lyin', the Watch and the Wardrobe" 2006–2007Veronica MarsProfessor Hank LandryRecurring role, 8 episodesClose to HomeMike Bachner / Mrs. Veeder's lawyer2 episodes 2007Pushing DaisiesMark ChaseEpisode: "Dummy"Twitches TooThantosTelevision movieViva LaughlinSteveEpisode: "Pilot"BonesTerry StinsonEpisode: "Boy in the Time Capsule"NCISRay VincentEpisode: "Corporal Punishment"Las VegasTed LeandrosEpisode: "The High Price of Gas" 2008Boston LegalAttorney Stanley GouldEpisode: "Mad About You"Burn NoticeZekeEpisode: "Trust Me"Tom D'AgostinoEpisode: "Rebecca"Snow 2: Brain FreezeBuck SegerTelevision movie2008–2009ValentineRay Howard / HephaestusMain role 2009LifeDr. StantonEpisode: "Mirror Ball"Rand FaulkEpisode: "Carnelian, Inc."According to JimDanielEpisode: "The Yoga Bear"Drop Dead DivaKevin HansonEpisode: "The Dress"CrashJonas Dixon2 episodes2009–2010Big LoveTed PriceRecurring role, 10 episodes 2010AttorneyEpisode: "Pilot"Rizzoli & IslesNateEpisode: "Boston Strangler Redux"SvetlanaPastorEpisode: "You're Svencome"CSI: NYCharles RichmoreEpisode: "Shop Till You Drop"2010–2011GiganticJohn MooreRecurring role, 13 episodes 2011Working ClassRob ParkerMain role, 8 episodesHot in ClevelandRichardEpisode: "Unseparated at Birthdates"Private PracticeRobert WestonEpisode: "Breaking the Rules" 2012Desperate HousewivesFrank2 episodesHawaii Five-0Tony DenisEpisode: "Kupale"LongmireDr. Dennis Nunn, DVMEpisode: "8 Seconds"CEO AndersonEpisode: "Little Green Men"Criminal MindsBarry FlynnEpisode: "Magnificent Light"2012–2013Tony Hart2 episodes 2013CastlePeter MonroeEpisode: "Reality Star Struck"The Good MotherScottTelevision movieScandalSenator MeyersEpisode: "Say Hello to My Little Friend" 2014Cloud 9Richard MorganTelevision movieFranklin & BashPaul LevyEpisode: "Deep Throat"Grey's AnatomyDr. Oliver LebackesEpisode: "You Be Illin'"2015ScorpionCaptain Stephen CaineEpisode: "Love Boat" 2015–2022 Better Call SaulHoward HamlinMain role 2016Casa VitaCoach WillisTelevision fimGrimmDr. Eugene ForbesEpisode: "Skin Deep"2017ElementaryLars VestergaardEpisode: "Dead Man's Tales"2017–2021LuciferReese Getty2 episodes 2018Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Senator Gaius PonarianEpisode: "Fun & Games"Code BlackOwen Edwards3 episodes 2019BarrySpace DadEpisode: "The Power of No"The ConnersJamesEpisode: "Nightmare on Lunch Box Street"2019–2021SpecialPhilMain role 2020Carol's Second ActDr. Lewis4 episodesBlack MondayGovernor Putnam3 episodes2021The Morning ShowJeffEpisode: "It's Like the Flu" 2022Gordita ChroniclesMr. Frank 4 episodesBig ShotMark3 episodes 2023Kung FuDavid Wheeler2 episodesMoonshineDick LonerganEpisode: "High Season"Cooper's BarPeterEpisode: "The Cast"2023–2024Magnum P.I.Sam Bedrosian2 episodes2024TrackerShane NiallEpisode: "Bloodlines"2025PluribusAnswering Machine Other (voice)3 episodes; uncredited 2026PoniesGeorge H. W. BushEpisode: "Second Hand News"WatsonOliver Day/Harrison DayEpisode: "A Third Act Surprise"TBAKevin McNeilUpcoming series
Podcasts Year Title Role Notes2021–2022Strange AirMalcolm Smith (voice)10 episodes
Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result 2021 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama SeriesBetter Call Saul 2022 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor on Television 2023 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
References
External links