William H. Macy

Born:March 13, 1950

Place of Birth:Miami, Florida, USA

Known For:Acting

Biography

William H. Macy, born on March 13, 1950, is a versatile American actor, writer, teacher, and director. His impressive career spans across theater, film, and television, where he has left a lasting impact with his remarkable performances. Macy's talent shines through in his ability to portray a wide range of characters, from the charming everyman to complex individuals with layers of depth.

One of Macy's most notable roles was as Jerry Lundegaard in the critically acclaimed film "Fargo," which earned him an Academy Award nomination. Known for his work in independent films, Macy has also showcased his acting prowess in mainstream movies, proving his versatility as an actor. His on-screen presence exudes a sense of relatability, making him a favorite among audiences.

Beyond his acting career, Macy is a dedicated teacher and director, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience with aspiring artists. His passion for storytelling and commitment to his craft are evident in the nuanced performances he delivers on screen. Macy's screen persona, as he describes it, embodies the essence of a "Middle American, WASPy, Lutheran kind of guy," resonating with viewers on a profound level.

Throughout his career, Macy has garnered numerous accolades, including two Emmy Awards, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and multiple nominations for prestigious honors such as the Golden Globe Awards. His contributions to the entertainment industry have solidified his reputation as a seasoned professional with a deep understanding of his craft. Macy's dedication to his artistry sets him apart as a respected figure in the world of acting.

With a career that spans decades, Macy continues to captivate audiences with his captivating performances and unwavering commitment to his craft. His ability to inhabit diverse roles with authenticity and depth has earned him a place among the most esteemed actors in Hollywood. Macy's talent transcends boundaries, allowing him to seamlessly transition between genres and mediums with ease.

As an actor, Macy possesses a rare gift for bringing characters to life with nuance and emotion, captivating viewers with his compelling portrayals. His work reflects a deep understanding of human nature, allowing him to delve into the complexities of the human experience with grace and authenticity. Macy's performances resonate with audiences on a profound level, leaving a lasting impression that lingers long after the credits roll.

In addition to his achievements on screen, Macy's contributions behind the camera as a director further showcase his multifaceted talents. His creative vision and insightful approach to storytelling have garnered acclaim, solidifying his reputation as a versatile artist with a keen eye for detail. Macy's directorial work reflects his passion for the craft and his dedication to bringing stories to life in a meaningful and impactful way.

With a career marked by excellence and a commitment to artistic integrity, Macy continues to inspire audiences and fellow artists alike with his unparalleled talent and dedication. His legacy in the entertainment industry serves as a testament to his enduring impact and influence as a consummate actor, writer, teacher, and director. Macy's contributions to film and television have left an indelible mark on the industry, solidifying his status as a true icon of the craft.

In an industry known for its ever-changing landscape, William H. Macy stands as a beacon of consistency and excellence, a true master of his craft whose talent knows no bounds. His ability to inhabit a diverse array of characters with depth and authenticity speaks to his unparalleled skill as an actor, captivating audiences with each nuanced performance. Macy's enduring legacy as a powerhouse in the world of entertainment cements his status as a true legend, whose contributions will continue to resonate for generations to come.

Images

Filmography

Acting

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Trevathan

2024

Several generations following Caesar's reign, apes – now the dominant species – live harmoniously while humans have been reduced to living in the shadows. As a new tyrannical ape leader builds his empire, one young ape undertakes a harrowing journey that will cause him to question all he's known about the past and to make choices that will define a future for apes and humans alike.

Fargo

Jerry Lundegaard

1996

Jerry, a small-town Minnesota car salesman is bursting at the seams with debt... but he's got a plan. He's going to hire two thugs to kidnap his wife in a scheme to collect a hefty ransom from his wealthy father-in-law. It's going to be a snap and nobody's going to get hurt... until people start dying. Enter Police Chief Marge, a coffee-drinking, parka-wearing - and extremely pregnant - investigator who'll stop at nothing to get her man. And if you think her small-time investigative skills will give the crooks a run for their ransom... you betcha!

Ricky Stanicky

Summerhayes

2024

When three childhood best friends pull a prank gone wrong, they invent the imaginary Ricky Stanicky to get them out of trouble. Twenty years later, the trio still uses the nonexistent Ricky as a handy alibi for their immature behavior. But when their spouses and partners get suspicious and demand to finally meet the fabled Mr. Stanicky, the guilty trio decide to hire a washed-up actor and raunchy celebrity impersonator to bring him to life.

WarGames

NORAD Officer (uncredited)

1983

High school student David Lightman has a talent for hacking. But while trying to hack into a computer system to play unreleased video games, he unwittingly taps into the Department of Defense's war computer and initiates a confrontation of global proportions. Together with his friend and a wizardly computer genius, David must race against time to outwit his opponent and prevent a nuclear Armageddon.

The Lincoln Lawyer

Frank Levin

2011

Mick Haller is a charismatic defense attorney who does business out of his Lincoln Continental sedan. Mick spends most of his time defending petty crooks and other bottom-feeders, so it comes as quite a surprise when he lands the case of a lifetime: defending a Beverly Hills playboy who is accused of attempted murder. However, what Mick initially thinks is an open-and-shut case with a big monetary reward develops into something more sinister.

Magnolia

Quiz Kid Donnie Smith

1999

On one random day in the San Fernando Valley, a dying father, a young wife, a male caretaker, a famous lost son, a police officer in love, a boy genius, an ex-boy genius, a game show host and an estranged daughter will each become part of a dazzling multiplicity of plots, but one story.

Room

Robert

2015

Held captive for 7 years in an enclosed space, a woman and her young son finally gain their freedom, allowing the boy to experience the outside world for the first time.

Boogie Nights

Little Bill

1997

Set in 1977, back when sex was safe, pleasure was a business and business was booming, idealistic porn producer Jack Horner aspires to elevate his craft to an art form. Horner discovers Eddie Adams, a hot young talent working as a busboy in a nightclub, and welcomes him into the extended family of movie-makers, misfits and hangers-on that are always around. Adams' rise from nobody to a celebrity adult entertainer is meteoric, and soon the whole world seems to know his porn alter ego, "Dirk Diggler". Now, when disco and drugs are in vogue, fashion is in flux and the party never seems to stop, Adams' dreams of turning sex into stardom are about to collide with cold, hard reality.

The Client

Dr. Greenway

1994

A street-wise kid, Mark Sway, sees the suicide of Jerome Clifford, a prominent Louisiana lawyer, whose current client is Barry 'The Blade' Muldano, a Mafia hit-man. Before Jerome shoots himself, he tells Mark where the body of a Senator is buried. Clifford shoots himself and Mark is found at the scene, and both the FBI and the Mafia quickly realize that Mark probably knows more than he says.

Maybe I Do

Sam

2023

Michelle and Allen, who have reached the point in their relationship where they are considering next steps, decide to invite their parents to finally meet and to offer some understanding of why marriage works. Except the parents already know each other quite well, which leads to some very distinct opinions about the value of marriage.

Air Force One

Major Caldwell

1997

When Russian neo-nationalists hijack Air Force One, the world's most secure and extraordinary aircraft, the President is faced with a nearly impossible decision to give in to terrorist demands or sacrifice not only the country's dignity, but the lives of his wife and daughter.

Sahara

Admiral Jim Sandecker

2005

Seasoned adventurer and treasure hunter Dirk Pitt, a former Navy SEAL, sets out for the African desert with his wisecracking buddy Al in search of a confederate ironclad battleship rumored to have vanished long ago, the main draw being the treasure supposedly hidden within the lost vessel. When the daring duo come across Dr. Eva Rojas, a beautiful scientist who is juggling an escape from a warlord and a mission to stop the spread of a powerful plague, their desert expedition begins to heat up.

Down Periscope

Captain Knox

1996

Maverick Navy Lieutenant Commander Tom Dodge will never be a textbook officer, but he's a brilliant seaman who's always wanted to command a nuclear submarine — he's been given one last chance to clean up his record. Unfortunately, Admiral Graham, his nemesis, would rather sink the fleet than give Dodge his own boat. So, Graham stacks the deck against him and assigns Dodge to the Stingray, a diesel-powered WW2 submarine that can barely keep afloat. To make matters worse, Dodge's crew is a collection of maladjusted, mistake-prone misfits. Then, he's tagged the "enemy" in a crucial war game, and ordered to take on the U.S. Navy's best.

Wild Hogs

Dudley Frank

2007

Restless and ready for an adventure, four suburban bikers leave the safety of their subdivision and head out on the open road. But complications ensue when they cross paths with an intimidating band of New Mexico bikers known as the Del Fuegos.

Cellular

Sgt. Bob Mooney

2004

A young man receives an emergency phone call on his cell phone from an older woman. She claims to have been kidnapped – and the kidnappers have targeted her husband and child next.

Pleasantville

George Parker

1998

Geeky teenager David and his popular twin sister, Jennifer, get sucked into the black-and-white world of a 1950s TV sitcom called "Pleasantville," and find a world where everything is peachy keen all the time. But when Jennifer's modern attitude disrupts Pleasantville's peaceful but boring routine, she literally brings color into its life.

Wag the Dog

CIA Agent Charles Young

1997

During the final weeks of a presidential race, the President is accused of sexual misconduct. To distract the public until the election, the President's adviser hires a Hollywood producer to help him stage a fake war.

Barton Fink

Navy Sailor (uncredited)

1991

A renowned New York playwright is enticed to California to write for the movies and discovers the hellish truth of Hollywood.

Marmaduke

Don Twombly

2010

When Phil and Debbie Winslow relocate from their native Kansas to the sunny climes of Orange County, their big-hearted, havoc-wreaking Great Dane gets a taste of the dog's life, California-style.

Psycho

Milton Arbogast

1998

A young female embezzler arrives at the Bates Motel, which has terrible secrets of its own.

Cake

Leonard

2014

After having visions of a member of her support group who killed herself, a woman who also suffers with chronic pain seeks out the widower of the suicide.

The Tale of Despereaux

Lester (voice)

2008

Once upon a time... in the far away kingdom of Dor... lived a brave and virtuous mouse with comically oversized ears who dreamt of becoming a knight. Banished from his home for having such lofty ambitions, Despereaux sets off on an amazing adventure with his good-hearted rat friend Roscuro, who leads him, at long last, on a very noble quest to rescue an endangered princess and save an entire kingdom from darkness.

Seabiscuit

Tick Tock McGlaughlin

2003

True story of the undersized Depression-era racehorse whose victories lifted not only the spirits of the team behind it but also those of their nation.

Mystery Men

Shoveler / Eddie

1999

When Champion City's hero Captain Amazing is kidnapped by the recently paroled supervillain Casanova Frankenstein, a trio of average, everyday superheroes -- Mr. Furious, the Shoveler and the Blue Raja -- assemble a new super team to save him.

Inland Empire

Announcer

2006

As a Hollywood actress begins to adopt the persona of her character in a film, her world becomes nightmarish and surreal.

The Sessions

Father Brendan

2012

Though a childhood bout with polio left him dependent on an iron lung, Mark O'Brien maintains a career as a journalist and poet. A writing assignment dealing with sex and the disabled piques Mark's curiosity, and he decides to investigate the possibility of experiencing sex himself. When his overtures toward a caregiver scare her away, he books an appointment with sex surrogate Cheryl Cohen-Greene to lose his virginity.

Searching for Bobby Fischer

Tunafish Father

1993

A seven-year-old chess prodigy refuses to harden himself in order to become a champion like the famous but unlikable Bobby Fischer.

A Civil Action

James Gordon

1998

Jan Schlickmann is a cynical lawyer who goes out to 'get rid of' a case, only to find out it is potentially worth millions. The case becomes his obsession, to the extent that he is willing to give up everything—including his career and his clients' goals—in order to continue the case against all odds.

Blood Father

Kirby Curtis

2016

An ex-con reunites with his estranged wayward 16-year old daughter to protect her from drug dealers who are trying to kill her.

Benny & Joon

Randy Burch

1993

A mentally ill young woman finds her love in an eccentric man who models himself after Buster Keaton.

Somewhere in Time

Critic

1980

Young writer Richard Collier is met on the opening night of his first play by an old lady who begs him to "Come back to me". Mystified, he tries to find out about her, and learns that she is a famous stage actress from the early 1900s. Becoming more and more obsessed with her, by self-hypnosis he manages to travel back in time—where he meets her.

Mr. Holland's Opus

Vice Principal Gene Wolters

1995

In 1965, passionate musician Glenn Holland takes a day job as a high school music teacher, convinced it's just a small obstacle on the road to his true calling: writing a historic opus. As the decades roll by with the composition unwritten but generations of students inspired through his teaching, Holland must redefine his life's purpose.

Murder in the First

Bill McNeill

1995

A young, inexperienced public defender is assigned to defend an inmate accused of committing murder while behind bars.

Thank You for Smoking

Senator Ortolan Finistirre

2005

Nick Naylor is a charismatic spin-doctor for Big Tobacco who'll fight to protect America's right to smoke -- even if it kills him -- while still remaining a role model for his 12-year old son. When he incurs the wrath of a senator bent on snuffing out cigarettes, Nick's powers of "filtering the truth" will be put to the test.

The Maiden Heist

George McLendon

2009

A comedy centered on three museum security guards who devise a plan to steal back the artworks to which they have become attached after they are transferred to another museum.

Everyone's Hero

Lefty Maginnis (voice)

2006

A boy begins a grand journey to return Babe Ruth's baseball bat before the deciding game of the 1932 World Series comes to a close.

The Last Dragon

J.J.

1985

A young man searches for the "master" to obtain the final level of martial arts mastery known as the glow. Along the way he must fight an evil martial arts expert and rescue a beautiful singer from an obsessed music promoter.

Radio Days

Radio Voice (voice)

1987

The Narrator tells us how the radio influenced his childhood in the days before TV. In the New York City of the late 1930s to the New Year's Eve 1944, this coming-of-age tale mixes the narrator's experiences with contemporary anecdotes and urban legends of the radio stars.

Spartan

Stoddard

2004

U.S. government agent Scott is assigned to rescue the daughter of a high-ranking government official. As willing as he is to bend the rules to get things done, though, Scott is shocked to find that others are willing to go even further to protect a political career.

State and Main

Walt Price

2000

A movie crew invades a small town whose residents are all too ready to give up their values for showbiz glitz.

Rudderless

Trill

2014

A grieving father in a downward spiral stumbles across a box of his recently deceased son's demo tapes and lyrics. Shocked by the discovery of this unknown talent, he forms a band in the hope of finding some catharsis.

It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie

Glenn

2002

The owner of a bank (Miss Bitterman) wants to own the Muppet Theatre so she can build a nightclub over it. After she tricks Pepe into giving her the only copy of the contract between her father and the Muppets, she changes it so the Muppets have very little time to pay a debt they owe. Meanwhile, the Muppets are trying to put on a Christmas show. After the Muppets are confronted by Bitterman, they make a lot of sacrifices to save up so they can keep the Theatre.

Homicide

Tim Sullivan

1991

A Jewish homicide detective investigates a seemingly minor murder and falls in with a Zionist group as a result.

House of Games

Sgt. John Moran

1987

A psychiatrist comes to the aid of a compulsive gambler and is led by a smooth-talking grifter into the shadowy but compelling world of stings, scams, and con men.

Jurassic Park III

Paul Kirby

2001

In need of funds for research, Dr. Alan Grant accepts a large sum of money to accompany Paul and Amanda Kirby on an aerial tour of the infamous Isla Sorna. It isn't long before all hell breaks loose and the stranded wayfarers must fight for survival as a host of new -- and even more deadly -- dinosaurs try to make snacks of them.

Production

The Layover

Director

2017

When their plane is rerouted due to a hurricane warning, two single female best friends find themselves competing for the same guy during an extended layover in St. Louis.