William H. Macy facts for kids
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.
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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).

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.
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

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
In Spanish: William H. Macy para niños