‘Groundhog Day’ star Stephen Tobolowsky makes Woodstock appearance for book signing

Hundreds of people lined up outside a bookstore in the Woodstock Square on Saturday afternoon hoping to meet actor and “Groundhog Day” star Stephen Tobolowsky.

The meet-and-greet book signing with Tobolowsky took place Saturday afternoon at Read Between the Lynes, 111 E. Van Buren St. Tobolowsky played the iconic and lovable character Ned Ryerson in the 1993 movie, some of which was filmed in the Woodstock Square.

The actor and writer signed movie posters, mugs, other “Groundhog Day” memorabilia and copies of his books, which include “The Dangerous Animals Club,” “Cautionary Tales” and “My Adventures With God.”

Hundreds of people packed into the bookstore and had time to chat and take pictures with Tobolowsky, who later joined one of the Woodstock Groundhog Days walking tours.

Read Between the Lynes owner Arlene Lynes prepared for the day with a full staff on deck plus five volunteers. She said people wanted to start lining up two hours before the event, but allowed a crowd to start forming outside the store 30 minutes before.

Des Plaines resident Vicky Willson said she arrived at the Woodstock Square two hours beforehand to make sure she got a good spot in line. She got one of Tobolowsky’s books signed by him as a gift for her dad.

“My dad always takes and uses his catch phrases from his podcast,” she said.

Tobolowsky has a significant list of credits throughout his career with roles in movies such as “Spaceballs,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Basic Instinct” and “Thelma & Louise,” and TV shows including “Californication,” “Glee,” “Silicon Valley” and “The Goldbergs.”

Tobolowsky has been to Woodstock for Groundhog Days before, and was at the groundhog winter prognostication in 2019. He said in an interview with the Northwest Herald that year that he would be at the Opera House talking about the film and his book that didn’t have anything to do with the movie.

Groundhog Days continues Sunday. The main event starts bright and early at 6:30 a.m. with the prognostication and another full day of groundhog-related events. See the entire Woodstock Groundhog Days schedule at woodstockgroundhog.org.