Les Baumbach

A native of Red Oak, Iowa, Les Baumbach brought his talent for improvisational comedy to several of writer-director Scott Allen Nollen's early film productions. Using memories of fellow high school students as inspiration, Baumbach conceived the first "Joseph Lundgren Sax Clinic Telethon" in 1978. After appearing in the second episode in the series in 1983, the reins were turned over to his son, Ryan Baumbach, who has played "Joseph Lundgren, Jr." in subsequent entries (1987-2005) and the feature film "Lofty" (2005). "Les Baumbach was one of the easiest and most fun people I have ever worked with," recalled Nollen. "Ryan and I plan to shoot at least one more telethon, and hope to persuade his father to reprise his role as Joseph Lundgren, Sr., although he did commit suicide at the end of the 1983 show!"