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William H. Macy
WilliamHMacyTIFFSept2012.jpg
Macy in 2012
Born
William Hall Macy Jr.

(1950-03-13) March 13, 1950 (age 75)
Miami, Florida, U.S.
Other names W. H. Macy
Education Allegany High School
Alma mater Bethany College
Goddard College
HB Studio
Occupation Actor, director, writer
Years active 1975–present
Spouse(s)
(m. 1997)
Children 2
Awards Full list

William Hall Macy Jr. (born March 13, 1950) is an American actor, director, and writer. He has won many awards, including two Emmy Awards and four Screen Actors Guild Awards. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his acting.

Macy became well-known for working with playwright David Mamet. He then started acting in small, independent films. He became very famous after playing Jerry Lundergaard in the movie Fargo (1996). This role earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Some of his other big movie roles include Boogie Nights (1997), Air Force One (1997), Magnolia (1999), Mystery Men (1999), and Jurassic Park III (2001). From 2011 to 2021, he starred as Frank Gallagher in the TV show Shameless. Before that, he played Dr. David Morgenstern on the TV series ER.

Early life and education

William H. Macy was born in Miami, Florida. He grew up in different states like Georgia and Maryland. His father, William Hall Macy Sr., was a pilot in World War II. He later worked in construction and insurance. Macy's mother, Lois, was also very important in his life.

Macy finished high school in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1968. He first went to Bethany College to study veterinary medicine. He later moved to Goddard College in Vermont. There, he studied theater with playwright David Mamet. He graduated in 1972 and also studied acting at HB Studio in New York City.

Acting career highlights

After college, Macy started acting in plays by David Mamet, like American Buffalo. He got his first acting union card (AFTRA) from a TV commercial. This was a big step for him.

Macy moved to New York City in 1980. He acted in over 50 plays both Off Broadway and on Broadway plays. One of his first movie roles was in Somewhere In Time (1980). He used the name W.H. Macy to avoid confusion with another actor named Bill Macy. He also voiced a turtle named Socrates in a children's film called The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984).

William H. Macy at the 62nd Annual Peabody Awards
Macy at the 62nd Annual Peabody Awards in 2003

Macy appeared in many films that David Mamet wrote or directed. These include House of Games (1987), Things Change (1988), and Wag the Dog (1997).

His main role in Fargo (1996) made him much more famous. He often played characters who were worried or having a tough time. Other movies he appeared in during the 1990s and 2000s include Boogie Nights (1997), Air Force One (1997), Magnolia (1999), and Jurassic Park III (2001).

He also had regular roles on TV shows like ER (1994-2009) and Sports Night (1999-2000). These roles earned him nominations for the Emmy Awards.

In 2007, Macy starred in Wild Hogs. This movie was about middle-aged friends going on a motorcycle trip. Even though critics didn't love it, the movie made a lot of money. It also brought him back together with his A Civil Action co-star, John Travolta.

William H. Macy
Macy in 2010

In 2008, William H. Macy and his wife, Felicity Huffman, were honored with stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, Macy took over a role in a Broadway play called Speed-the-Plow.

In 2010, Macy joined the TV show Shameless as the main character, Frank Gallagher. The show became very popular, and Macy received an Emmy nomination for his performance in 2014.

Macy also started directing movies. His first movie as a director was Rudderless (2014). He also directed The Layover (2017). In 2015, he had a small part in the movie Room, which was nominated for an Oscar. In 2024, he appeared in Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.

Personal life and hobbies

FelicityHuffmanWilliamHMacyHWoFMar2012
Huffman and Macy at a ceremony where each received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame on March 7, 2012

William H. Macy and actress Felicity Huffman dated for 15 years before getting married on September 6, 1997. They have two daughters together.

Macy has many interesting hobbies. He plays the ukulele and loves woodturning. Woodturning is a craft where you use a machine to shape wood into different objects. He has even been featured in magazines about woodturning. He is also an ambassador for the United Cerebral Palsy Association, which helps people with cerebral palsy.

Since filming Wild Hogs, Macy has become very interested in riding motorcycles. He also lives near and is a spokesperson for Woody Creek Distillers in Basalt, CO, which makes whiskey.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1980 Somewhere in Time Critic Credited as W.H. Macy
Foolin' Around Bronski Credited as W.H. Macy
1983 Without a Trace Reporter Credited as W.H. Macy
WarGames NORAD Officer Uncredited
1985 The Last Dragon J. J. Credited as W.H. Macy
1987 Radio Days Radio Actor Credited as W.H. Macy
House of Games Sgt. Moran Credited as W.H. Macy
1988 Things Change Billy Drake Credited as W.H. Macy
1991 Homicide Tim Sullivan
Shadows and Fog Cop with Spiro Credited as W.H. Macy
1993 Twenty Bucks Property Clerk
Benny & Joon Randy Burch
Searching for Bobby Fischer Petey's Father
1994 Being Human Boris
The Client Dr. Greenway
Dead on Sight Steven Meeker
Oleanna John
1995 Murder in the First D.A. William McNeil
Evolver Evolver (voice) Uncredited
Roommates Doctor Uncredited cameo
Tall Tale Railroad Magnate Uncredited cameo
Above Suspicion Pros. Atty. Schultz Also writer
Mr. Holland's Opus Vice-Principal Gene Wolters
1996 Down Periscope Commander Carl Knox
Fargo Jerry Lundegaard
Hit Me Policeman
Ghosts of Mississippi Charlie Crisco
1997 Colin Fitz Lives! Mr. O'Day, Colin Fitz
Air Force One Major Caldwell
Boogie Nights Little Bill Thompson
Wag the Dog CIA Agent Charles Young
1998 Jerry and Tom Karl
Pleasantville George Parker
Psycho Detective Milton Arbogast
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue Justin (voice)
A Civil Action James Gordon
1999 Happy, Texas Sheriff Chappy Dent
Mystery Men The Shoveler
Magnolia Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
2000 Panic Alex
State and Main Walt Price
2001 Jurassic Park III Paul Kirby
Focus Lawrence "Larry" Newman
2002 Welcome to Collinwood Riley
2003 The Cooler Bernie Lootz
Stealing Sinatra John Irwin
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls Narrator (voice) Documentary
Seabiscuit Tick Tock McGlaughlin
2004 Spartan Stoddard
In Enemy Hands Chief of Boat Nathan Travers
Cellular Sgt. Bob Mooney
2005 Sahara Admiral James Sandecker
Edmond Edmond Burke
Thank You for Smoking Senator Ortolan K. Finistirre
2006 Doogal Brian the Snail (voice)
Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman Rudyard North (voice) Also executive producer
Bobby Paul
Inland Empire Announcer
Everyone's Hero Lefty Maginnis (voice)
2007 Wild Hogs Dudley Frank
He Was a Quiet Man Gene Shelby
2008 The Deal Charlie Berns Also writer
Bart Got a Room Ernie Stein
The Tale of Despereaux Lester (voice)
2009 The Maiden Heist George McLendon
Shorts Dr. Noseworthy
2010 Marmaduke Don Twombly
Dirty Girl Ray
2011 The Lincoln Lawyer Frank Levin
Portraits in Dramatic Time Himself
2012 The Sessions Father Brendan
2013 A Single Shot Pitt
Trust Me Gary
2014 The Wind Rises Satomi (voice)
Ernest & Celestine Head Dentist (voice)
Rudderless Trill Also writer, director, and executive producer
Two-Bit Waltz Carl
Cake Leonard
2015 Walter Dr. Corman
Dial a Prayer Bill
Stealing Cars Philip Wyatt
Room Robert "Grandpa" Newsome
2016 Blood Father Kirby
2017 The Layover Director
Krystal Wyatt Also director
2023 Maybe I Do Sam
2024 Ricky Stanicky Ted Summerhayes
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes Trevathan
2025 Train Dreams TBA Post-production
The Running Man TBA Filming
TBA On Fire Jack Buck Post-production
Frontier Crucible TBA Filming

Television roles

Year Title Role Notes
1978 The Awakening Land Will Beagle Miniseries; credited as W.H. Macy
1982 Another World Frank Fisk Credited as W.H. Macy
1983 The Cradle Will Fall Ben Duffy Television film, credited as W.H. Macy
Sitcom Chip Gooseberry Television film, credited as W.H. Macy
1984 The Boy Who Loved Trolls Socrates the Turtle Voice, television film; credited as W.H. Macy
The Dining Room Various characters Television film, credited as W.H. Macy
1985 Joanna Napoleon Flipper Short film; credited as W.H. Macy
Hometown Loring Dixwell Episode: "Mary's Yen"; credited as W.H. Macy
1985–88 Spenser: For Hire Efrem Connors 3 episodes; credited as W.H. Macy
1986 Kate & Allie Carl Episode: "General Hospital"; credited as W.H. Macy
1987 The Equalizer Dr. Spaulding Episode: "Hand and Glove"; credited as W.H. Macy
Alive from Off Center Uncredited Episode: "As Seen on TV"
1988 The Murder of Mary Phagan Randy Miniseries; credited as W.H. Macy
Lip Service Farmer Television film; also director; credited as W.H. Macy
1989 Tattingers Myron Episode: "Tour of Doody"; credited as W.H. Macy
1990 ABC Afterschool Specials Store Clerk Episode: "All That Glitters"
1990–92 Law & Order John McCormack, Powell 2 episodes
1992 In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion Ray Daniels Television film
Civil Wars Donald Patchen Episode: "Denise and De Nuptials"
A Private Matter Psychiatrist Television film
The Water Engine Charles Lang Television film
A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story Sean Hammel Television film
The Heart of Justice Booth Television film
1993 Bakersfield P.D. Russell Karp Episode: "Cable Does Not Pay"
L.A. Law Bernard Ruskin Episode: "Rhyme and Punishment"
1994–2009 ER Dr. David Morgenstern 31 episodes
1994 Texan Doctor TV short
1995 In the Shadow of Evil Dr. Frank Teague Television film
Mystery Dance Bob Wilson Episode: "Episode #1.1"
1996 Andersonville Col. Chandler Miniseries
The Writing on the Wall Petrocelli Television film
1998 Superman: The Animated Series The Director (voice) Episode: "Where There's Smoke"
The Con Bobby Sommerdinger Television film; also writer
The Lionhearts Leo Lionheart (voice) 13 episodes
King of the Hill Dr. Rubin (voice) Episode: "Pregnant Paws"
Hercules Jorgen Svenson, Sven Jorgenson (voices) Episode: "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods"
1999 Frasier Ralph Episode: "Good Samaritan"
A Slight Case of Murder Terry Thorpe Television film; also writer
The Wild Thornberrys Skoot (voice) Episode: "On the Right Track"
1999–2000 Batman Beyond Aaron Herbst, Karros (voices) 2 episodes
1999–2000 Sports Night Sam Donovan 6 episodes
1999 The Night of the Headless Horseman Ichabod Crane Television film
2001 Nature Narrator Episode: "Polar Bear Invasion"
2002 Door to Door Bill Porter Television film; also writer
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie Glenn Television film
2003 Out of Order Steven Miniseries
2004 Reversible Errors Arthur Raven Television film
The Wool Cap Charlie Gigot Television film; also writer and producer
2006 The Simpsons Himself (voice) Episode: "Homer's Paternity Coot"
Nightmares and Dreamscapes Clyde Umney, Sam Landry, George Demmick Miniseries
2006–07 Curious George Narrator (voice) 30 episodes (season 1)
2007 The Unit President of the United States Episode: "The Broom Cupboard"
2008 Family Man Todd Becker Television film; also writer and executive producer
2011–21 Shameless Frank Gallagher Main role, 11 seasons; directed 3 episodes, wrote 1 episode, showrunner from seasons 5-8, 11
2011 Versailles Bill 3 episodes
2022 The Dropout Richard Fuisz 5 episodes
2024 The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Himself Episode: "Bitter Pill to Swallow"
Accused Raymond Episode: "Lorraine's Story"

Awards and nominations

William H. Macy has received many awards and nominations throughout his career. You can find a full list of his awards and nominations by clicking on the link below: Full list of awards and nominations

See also

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