William H. Macy
Acting • Born 1950-03-13
Biography
William H. Macy (born March 13, 1950) is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though he has appeared in summer action films as well. Macy has described his screen persona as "sort of a Middle American, WASPy, Lutheran kind of guy... Everyman". He has won two Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award, being nominated for nine Emmy Awards and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards in total. He is also a three-time Golden Globe Award nominee.
Filmography
177 credits
Fargo
Movie • 1996
Jerry Lundegaard
Jurassic Park III
Movie • 2001
Paul Kirby
Magnolia
Movie • 1999
Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
Wag the Dog
Movie • 1997
CIA Agent Charles Young
Mr. Holland's Opus
Movie • 1995
Vice Principal Gene Wolters
He Was a Quiet Man
Movie • 2007
Gene Shelby
Inland Empire
Movie • 2006
Announcer
Lynch 2
Movie • 2007
Self
Pleasantville
Movie • 1998
George Parker
The Client
Movie • 1994
Dr. Greenway
Bobby
Movie • 2006
Paul Ebbers
The Cooler
Movie • 2003
Bernie Lootz
Benny & Joon
Movie • 1993
Randy Burch
Bart Got a Room
Movie • 2008
Ernie Stein
Seabiscuit
Movie • 2003
Tick Tock McGlaughlin
Spartan
Movie • 2004
Stoddard
Andersonville
Movie • 1996
Col. Chandler
Boogie Nights
Movie • 1997
Little Bill
Panic
Movie • 2000
Alex
Wild Hogs
Movie • 2007
Dudley Frank
Ricky Stanicky
Movie • 2024
Summerhayes
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue
Movie • 1998
Justin (voice)
State and Main
Movie • 2000
Walt Price
Homicide
Movie • 1991
Tim Sullivan
Psycho
Movie • 1998
Milton Arbogast
Sahara
Movie • 2005
Admiral Jim Sandecker
Happy, Texas
Movie • 1999
Sheriff Chappy Dent
The Maiden Heist
Movie • 2009
George McLendon
In Enemy Hands
Movie • 2004
Nathan Travers
Above Suspicion
Movie • 1995
Pros. Atty. Schultz
Ghosts of Mississippi
Movie • 1996
Charlie Crisco
Murder in the First
Movie • 1995
Bill McNeill
The Dining Room
Movie • 1984
Various
Doogal
Movie • 2006
Brian (voice)
Shorts
Movie • 2009
Dr. Noseworthy
A Civil Action
Movie • 1998
James Gordon
Down Periscope
Movie • 1996
Captain Knox
Cellular
Movie • 2004
Sgt. Bob Mooney
Oleanna
Movie • 1994
John
Air Force One
Movie • 1997
Major Caldwell
Mystery Men
Movie • 1999
Shoveler / Eddie
Thank You for Smoking
Movie • 2005
Senator Ortolan Finistirre
House of Games
Movie • 1987
Sgt. John Moran
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
Movie • 2002
Glenn
Door to Door
Movie • 2002
Bill Porter
Searching for Bobby Fischer
Movie • 1993
Tunafish Father
Everyone's Hero
Movie • 2006
Lefty Maginnis (voice)
A Slight Case of Murder
Movie • 1999
Terry Thorpe
Stealing Sinatra
Movie • 2003
John Irwin
The Deal
Movie • 2008
Charlie Berns
Reversible Errors
Movie • 2004
Arthur Raven
Evolver
Movie • 1995
Evolver (voice)
Hit Me
Movie • 1996
Policeman
Heath Ledger: A Tribute
Movie • 2009
Self
Edmond
Movie • 2006
Edmond
The Heart of Justice
Movie • 1992
Booth
The Lincoln Lawyer
Movie • 2011
Frank Levin
Twenty Bucks
Movie • 1993
Property Clerk
Dirty Girl
Movie • 2010
Ray
The Water Engine
Movie • 1992
Charles Lang
The Wool Cap
Movie • 2004
Gigot
Jerry and Tom
Movie • 1998
Karl
Colin Fitz
Movie • 1997
Mr. O'Day
Foolin' Around
Movie • 1980
Bronski
Minnesota Nice
Movie • 2003
Self
The Sessions
Movie • 2012
Father Brendan
The Con
Movie • 1998
Bobby
A Single Shot
Movie • 2013
Pitt
Dead on Sight
Movie • 1994
Steven Meeker
Maybe I Do
Movie • 2023
Sam
Trust Me
Movie • 2013
Gary
Citizen Hearst
Movie • 2013
Narrator
Two-Bit Waltz
Movie • 2014
Carl
Rudderless
Movie • 2014
Trill
Focus
Movie • 2001
Lawrence 'Larry' Newman
The Making Of Jurassic Park III
Movie • 2001
Self
Soul on Fire
Movie • 2025
Jack Buck
Curious George: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures
Movie • 2007
Cake
Movie • 2014
Leonard
Macy On Mamet
Movie • 1998
The Tale of Despereaux
Movie • 2008
Lester (voice)
Room
Movie • 2015
Robert
Walter
Movie • 2015
Dr. Corman
Dial a Prayer
Movie • 2015
Bill
Blood Father
Movie • 2016
Kirby Curtis
WarGames
Movie • 1983
NORAD Officer (uncredited)
The Boy Who Loved Trolls
Movie • 1984
Socrates
Stealing Cars
Movie • 2016
Philip Wyatt
The Last Dragon
Movie • 1985
J.J.
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 2024
Trevathan
Portraits in Dramatic Time
Movie • 2011
The Deputy
Movie
Chief Krueger
Exit Right
Movie
John Randall
Krystal
Movie • 2018
Wyatt
In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion
Movie • 1992
Ray Daniels
Marmaduke
Movie • 2010
Don Twombly
Psycho Path
Movie • 2000
Self - Actor / Milton Arbogast
Somewhere in Time
Movie • 1980
Critic
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
Movie • 2003
Self - Narrator (voice)
Being Human
Movie • 1994
Boris
A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story
Movie • 1992
Sean Hammel
Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inque
Movie • 1999
Aaron Herbst
That Moment: Magnolia Diary
Movie • 2000
Self
Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman
Movie • 2006
Rudyard North (voice)
Curious George: Saves the Day
Movie • 2012
The Narrator (voice)
The Writing on the Wall
Movie • 1996
Petrocelli
Roommates
Movie • 1995
Doctor (uncredited)
The Night of the Headless Horseman
Movie • 1999
Ichabod Crane
Things Change
Movie • 1988
Billy Drake
Lip Service
Movie • 1988
Farmer
In the Shadow of Evil
Movie • 1995
Dr. Frank Teague
A Private Matter
Movie • 1992
Psychiatrist
Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking'
Movie • 2006
Self
Shadows and Fog
Movie • 1991
Cop
Radio Days
Movie • 1987
Radio Voice (voice)
Barton Fink
Movie • 1991
Navy Sailor (uncredited)
Lady Luck: The Making of The Cooler
Movie • 2018
Self
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure
Movie • 1995
Railroad Magnate
Without a Trace
Movie • 1983
Reporter
Return to Jurassic Park
Movie • 2011
Self
The Cradle Will Fall
Movie • 1983
Ben Duffy
The Running Man
Movie • 2025
Molie Jernigan
Frontier Crucible
Movie • 2025
Major O'Rourke
Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson
Movie • 2019
Self
The True Story of Seabiscuit
Movie • 2003
Narrator (voice)
Brian
Movie • 2026
Welcome to Collinwood
Movie • 2002
Riley
'Seabiscuit': The Making of a Legend
Movie • 2003
Self
Winners' Circle: The Heroes Behind the Legend
Movie • 2003
Self
Kaet Might Die
Movie
Untitled Eternity Project
Movie
Train Dreams
Movie • 2025
Arn Peeples
Shameless
Movie • 2011
Franck Gallagher
L.A. Law
TV • 1986
Bernard Ruskin
Batman Beyond
TV • 1999
Aaron Herbst (voice)
Inside the Actors Studio
TV • 1994
Self
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack
Kate & Allie
TV • 1984
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
TV • 2003
Self
Spenser: For Hire
TV • 1985
Curious George
TV • 2006
Narrator (voice)
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
TV • 2003
Self
The Unit
TV • 2006
President of the United States
Sports Night
TV • 1998
The View
TV • 1997
Self
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
TV • 1992
Self
Finding Your Roots
TV • 2012
Self
The Equalizer
TV • 1985
Dr. Spaulding
Superman: The Animated Series
TV • 1996
Director (voice)
MADtv
TV • 1995
Self
ER
TV • 1994
David Morgenstern
Bakersfield P.D.
TV • 1993
Russell Karp
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
TV • 2005
Self
Out of Order
TV • 2003
Steven
The Oscars
TV • 1953
Self
Good Day Live
TV • 2001
Self
Shameless
TV • 2011
Frank Gallagher
The Wild Thornberrys
TV • 1998
Skoot (voice)
Batman Beyond
TV • 1999
Karros (voice)
Frasier
TV • 1993
Ralph (voice)
The Awakening Land
TV • 1978
Will Beagle
Law & Order
TV • 1990
Jack Powell
The Murder of Mary Phagan
TV • 1988
Randy
The Dropout
TV • 2022
Richard Fuisz
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
TV • 2009
Self - Guest
Shameless Hall of Shame
TV • 2020
Frank Gallagher
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
TV • 2006
Clyde Umney / Sam Landry / George Demmick
The Lionhearts
TV • 1998
Leo (voice)
King of the Hill
TV • 1997
Dr. Rubin (voice)
The Simpsons
TV • 1989
William H. Macy (voice)
Andersonville
TV • 1996
Col. Chandler
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
TV • 2015
Self
Off Camera with Sam Jones
TV • 2014
Self
Conan
TV • 2010
Self
Accused
TV • 2023
Raymond
Alive from Off Center
TV • 1985
unknown
The Land
TV
Hank Durkin