Biography

William H. Macy came to acting by way of Bethany and Goddard Colleges. At the latter school, Macy studied under playwright David Mamet, with whom he would be frequently associated throughout his career. After college, Macy was a member of Mamet's theater troupe, the St. Nicholas Company. The actor performed in a number of productions, many of them written by Mamet, until 1978, when he left the company and went to New York. Some of his earliest work there included commercial voice-overs, such as the now infamous "Secret: Strong enough for a man, but made for a woman."

Macy also continued his theater work, forming the Atlantic Theatre Company with Mamet in 1985 and acting in Broadway and off-Broadway shows. In addition, he worked in television and began doing feature films, debuting in 1980's Foolin' Around. He continued to act in supporting roles throughout the decade, appearing in such films as Mamet's directorial debut, House of Games (1987) and Woody Allen's Radio Days (1987). In 1991, he won a more substantial role, in Mamet's Homicide, and subsequently began to find work in more well-known films, including Benny and Joon and The Client.

Macy finally got a shot at a leading role with his turn in Mamet's Oleanna. He won positive notices and an Independent Spirit Award nomination for his portrayal of a professor accused of sexual harassment. More acclaim followed with his starring role as a hapless car salesman in Joel Coen and Ethan Coen's Fargo (1996), for which he garnered a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination. The next year, Macy's star rose a little higher, thanks to his work in three high-profile films, Wag the Dog, Air Force One, and Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights. He was similarly lauded for his versatility through work in such films as Psycho and Pleasantville, and in 1999 he continued his winning streak as an unconventional superhero in Mystery Men, a gay sheriff in Happy, Texas, and a member of the ensemble cast of Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia.

Macy has also continued to do television work, appearing on such series as Spencer, Law & Order, and ER. ~ Rebecca Flint, All Movie Guide

Filmography

Minnesota Nice (2003) (V) .... Himself
Out of Order (2003) .... Steven
U-Boat (2003) .... Nate Travers
Seabiscuit (2003) .... Tick Tock McGlaughlin
Stealing Sinatra (2003) .... John Irwin
Cooler, The (2003) .... Bernie Lootz
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) (TV) .... Glenn
Door to Door (2002/I) (TV) .... Bill Porter
Welcome to Collinwood (2002) .... Riley
Focus (2001/I) .... Lawrence Newman
Jurassic Park III (2001) .... Paul Kirby
... aka JP3 (2001) (USA: promotional abbreviation)
State and Main (2000) .... Walt Price
... aka Séquences et conséquences (2001) (France)
Panic (2000) .... Alex
"Sports Night" (1998) TV Series .... Sam Donovan (1999-2000)
Psycho Path (1999) (V) .... Himself
Magnolia (1999) .... Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
... aka mag-no'li-a (1999) (USA: promotional title)
Night of the Headless Horseman, The (1999) (TV) (voice) .... Ichabod Crane
Slight Case of Murder, A (1999) (TV) .... Terry Thorpe
... aka Travesty, A (1999) (TV)
Mystery Men (1999) .... The Shoveller (Eddie)
Happy, Texas (1999) .... Sheriff Chappy Dent
"Lionhearts, The" (1998) TV Series .... Leo Lionheart
Civil Action, A (1998) .... James Gordon
Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue, The (1998) (V) (voice) .... Justin
Psycho (1998) .... Milton Arbogast
Pleasantville (1998) .... George Parker
Con, The (1998) (TV) .... Bobby Sommerdinger
Jerry and Tom (1998) .... Karl
Wag the Dog (1997) .... CIA Agent Charles Young
Boogie Nights (1997) .... Little Bill
Air Force One (1997) .... Major Caldwell
... aka AFO (1997)
Colin Fitz (1996) .... Mr. O'Day
Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) .... Charlie Crisco
... aka Ghosts From the Past (1996)
Hit Me (1996) .... The Cop
Fargo (1996) .... Jerry Lundegaard
Andersonville (1996) (TV) .... Col. Chandler
Down Periscope (1996) .... Captain Carl Knox (Orlando)
Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) (as W.H. Macy) .... Vice Principal Gene Wolters
Above Suspicion (1995) .... Prosecutor (DA)
... aka Rhinehart Theory, The (1995)
Tall Tale (1995) (uncredited) .... Railroad Magnate
... aka Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventures of Pecos Bill (1995)
Evolver (1995) (voice) (as W.H. Macy) .... Evolver
Roommates (1995) (uncredited) .... Doctor
In the Shadow of Evil (1995) (TV) .... Dr. Frank Teague
Murder in the First (1995) .... D.A. William McNeil
... aka Meurtre à Alcatraz (1995) (France)
"ER" (1994) TV Series .... Dr. David Morgenstern (1994-1998)
Dead on Sight (1994) .... Steven Meeker
Oleanna (1994) .... John
Writing on the Wall, The (1994/I) (TV) .... Petrocelli
... aka Operation Schmetterling (1994) (TV) (Germany)
Texan (1994) (TV) .... Doctor
ER (1994) (TV) .... Dr. David Morgenstern
Client, The (1994) .... Dr. Greenway
Being Human (1993) .... Boris
Twenty Bucks (1993) .... Property Clerk
Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) .... Tunafish Father
... aka Innocent Moves (1993)
Benny & Joon (1993) .... Randy Burch
Heart of Justice, The (1992) (TV) .... Booth
Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story, A (1992) (TV) .... Sean Hammel
... aka Lovers of Deceit: The Carolyn Warmus Story, The (1992) (TV) (USA: alternative title)
Water Engine, The (1992) (TV) .... Charles Lang
Private Matter, A (1992) (TV) (as W.H. Macy) .... Psychiatrist
... aka Miss Sherri (1992) (TV) (USA)
Shadows and Fog (1992) (as W.H. Macy) .... Cop with Spiro
In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) (TV) .... Ray Daniels
... aka Children of Fury (1992) (TV)
Homicide (1991) .... Tim Sullivan
Lip Service (1988) (TV) (as W.H.Macy) .... Farmer
Things Change (1988) .... Billy Drake
Murder of Mary Phagan, The (1988) (TV) (as W.H. Macy) .... Randy
House of Games (1987) (as W.H. Macy) .... Sergeant Moran
Radio Days (1987) (voice) (as W.H. Macy) .... Radio Voice
Last Dragon, The (1985) .... J.J.
... aka Berry Gordy's The Last Dragon (1985)
Dining Room, The (1984) (TV) (as W.H. Macy) .... Arthur/Charlie/Architect/Billy/Nick/Fred/Tony/Standish
Boy Who Loved Trolls, The (1984) (TV) (as W.H. Macy) .... Socrates
Cradle Will Fall, The (1983) (TV) (as W.H. Macy) .... Ben Duffy
Without a Trace (1983) (as W.H. Macy) .... Reporter
Foolin' Around (1980) (as W.H. Macy) .... Bronski
Somewhere in Time (1980) (as W.H. Macy) .... Critic
"Awakening Land, The" (1978) (mini) TV Series (as W.H. Macy) .... Will Beagle