paymer's acting career began in 1979 with the film "the in-laws". paymer has appeared in over 90 films in his career. he has also appeared in many popular television shows, including "taxi", "happy days", "l.a. law", "ghost whisperer", "" and "entourage". he has had recurring roles on "cheers", "murphy brown", and "the larry sanders show". he has also appeared in such films as "amistad", "city hall", "rfk", and "into the west". paymer has also dabbled into the world of animation, lending his voice to the character "sheldon" in the kids' wb cartoon series "channel umptee-3" and in "" as neurotic welsh terrier mel.