William H. Macy

Acting

William H. Macy

Born March 13, 1950Miami, Florida, USA180 credits

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.

Known For

Brian

Brian

Movie

2026

Frontier Crucible
6.4

Frontier Crucible

Movie

2025

The Running Man
6.8

The Running Man

Movie

2025

Train Dreams
7.3

Train Dreams

Movie

2025

Soul on Fire
7.4

Soul on Fire

Movie

2025

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
7.1

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes

Movie

2024

Filmography

Brian
2026BrianMovie
Frontier Crucible
2025Frontier Crucibleas Major O'RourkeMovie
The Running Man
2025The Running Manas Molie JerniganMovie
Train Dreams
2025Train Dreamsas Arn PeeplesMovie
Soul on Fire
2025Soul on Fireas Jack BuckMovie
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes
2024Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesas TrevathanMovie
Ricky Stanicky
2024Ricky Stanickyas SummerhayesMovie
Maybe I Do
2023Maybe I Doas SamMovie
Accused
2023Accusedas RaymondTV
The Dropout
2022The Dropoutas Richard FuiszTV
Shameless Hall of Shame
2020Shameless Hall of Shameas Frank GallagherTV
Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson
2019Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlsonas SelfMovie
L
2018Lady Luck: The Making of The Cooleras SelfMovie
Krystal
2018Krystalas WyattMovie
The Layover
2017The LayoverDirectorMovie
Blood Father
2016Blood Fatheras Kirby CurtisMovie
Stealing Cars
2016Stealing Carsas Philip WyattMovie
Room
2015Roomas RobertMovie
Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter
2015Close Up with The Hollywood Reporteras SelfTV
Dial a Prayer
2015Dial a Prayeras BillMovie
Walter
2015Walteras Dr. CormanMovie
Two-Bit Waltz
2014Two-Bit Waltzas CarlMovie
Rudderless
2014Rudderlessas TrillMovie
Cake
2014Cakeas LeonardMovie
Off Camera with Sam Jones
2014Off Camera with Sam Jonesas SelfTV
A Single Shot
2013A Single Shotas PittMovie
Trust Me
2013Trust Meas GaryMovie
Citizen Hearst
2013Citizen Hearstas NarratorMovie
The Sessions
2012The Sessionsas Father BrendanMovie
Finding Your Roots
2012Finding Your Rootsas SelfTV
Curious George: Saves the Day
2012Curious George: Saves the Dayas The Narrator (voice)Movie
Portraits in Dramatic Time
2011Portraits in Dramatic TimeMovie
The Lincoln Lawyer
2011The Lincoln Lawyeras Frank LevinMovie
Return to Jurassic Park
2011Return to Jurassic Parkas SelfMovie
Shameless
2011Shamelessas Frank GallagherTV
Conan
2010Conanas SelfTV
Dirty Girl
2010Dirty Girlas RayMovie
Marmaduke
2010Marmadukeas Don TwomblyMovie
Shorts
2009Shortsas Dr. NoseworthyMovie
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
2009Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohenas Self - GuestTV
Heath Ledger: A Tribute
2009Heath Ledger: A Tributeas SelfMovie
The Maiden Heist
2009The Maiden Heistas George McLendonMovie
The Tale of Despereaux
2008The Tale of Despereauxas Lester (voice)Movie
The Deal
2008The Dealas Charlie BernsMovie
Bart Got a Room
2008Bart Got a Roomas Ernie SteinMovie
He Was a Quiet Man
2007He Was a Quiet Manas Gene ShelbyMovie
Lynch 2
2007Lynch 2as SelfMovie
Curious George: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures
2007Curious George: Rocket Ride and Other AdventuresMovie
Wild Hogs
2007Wild Hogsas Dudley FrankMovie
Inland Empire
2006Inland Empireas AnnouncerMovie
Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking'
2006Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking'as SelfMovie
Bobby
2006Bobbyas Paul EbbersMovie
Curious George
2006Curious Georgeas Narrator (voice)TV
Everyone's Hero
2006Everyone's Heroas Lefty Maginnis (voice)Movie
Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman
2006Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowmanas Rudyard North (voice)Movie
Edmond
2006Edmondas EdmondMovie
Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King
2006Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen Kingas Clyde Umney / Sam Landry / George DemmickTV
The Unit
2006The Unitas President of the United StatesTV
Doogal
2006Doogalas Brian (voice)Movie
Thank You for Smoking
2005Thank You for Smokingas Senator Ortolan FinistirreMovie
Sahara
2005Saharaas Admiral Jim SandeckerMovie
Transamerica
2005TransamericaExecutive ProducerMovie
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
2005The Late Late Show with Craig Fergusonas SelfTV
The Wool Cap
2004The Wool Capas GigotMovie
Cellular
2004Cellularas Sgt. Bob MooneyMovie
Reversible Errors
2004Reversible Errorsas Arthur RavenMovie
Spartan
2004Spartanas StoddardMovie
In Enemy Hands
2004In Enemy Handsas Nathan TraversMovie
W
2003Winners' Circle: The Heroes Behind the Legendas SelfMovie
The Cooler
2003The Cooleras Bernie LootzMovie
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
2003The Ellen DeGeneres Showas SelfTV
T
2003The True Story of Seabiscuitas Narrator (voice)Movie
Seabiscuit
2003Seabiscuitas Tick Tock McGlaughlinMovie
'
2003'Seabiscuit': The Making of a Legendas SelfMovie
Out of Order
2003Out of Orderas StevenTV
Minnesota Nice
2003Minnesota Niceas SelfMovie
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood
2003Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywoodas Self - Narrator (voice)Movie
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
2003Jimmy Kimmel Live!as SelfTV
Stealing Sinatra
2003Stealing Sinatraas John IrwinMovie
It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie
2002It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movieas GlennMovie
Welcome to Collinwood
2002Welcome to Collinwoodas RileyMovie
Door to Door
2002Door to Dooras Bill PorterMovie
The Making Of Jurassic Park III
2001The Making Of Jurassic Park IIIas SelfMovie
Focus
2001Focusas Lawrence 'Larry' NewmanMovie
G
2001Good Day Liveas SelfTV
Jurassic Park III
2001Jurassic Park IIIas Paul KirbyMovie
Panic
2000Panicas AlexMovie
The Coen Brothers
2000The Coen Brothersas SelfMovie
State and Main
2000State and Mainas Walt PriceMovie
Psycho Path
2000Psycho Pathas Self - Actor / Milton ArbogastMovie
That Moment: Magnolia Diary
2000That Moment: Magnolia Diaryas SelfMovie
Magnolia
1999Magnoliaas Quiz Kid Donnie SmithMovie
Happy, Texas
1999Happy, Texasas Sheriff Chappy DentMovie
The Night of the Headless Horseman
1999The Night of the Headless Horsemanas Ichabod CraneMovie
A Slight Case of Murder
1999A Slight Case of Murderas Terry ThorpeMovie
Mystery Men
1999Mystery Menas Shoveler / EddieMovie
Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inque
1999Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inqueas Aaron HerbstMovie
Batman Beyond
1999Batman Beyondas Aaron Herbst (voice)TV
A Civil Action
1998A Civil Actionas James GordonMovie
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue
1998The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescueas Justin (voice)Movie
Psycho
1998Psychoas Milton ArbogastMovie
Jerry and Tom
1998Jerry and Tomas KarlMovie
Sports Night
1998Sports NightTV
The Lionhearts
1998The Lionheartsas Leo (voice)TV
Pleasantville
1998Pleasantvilleas George ParkerMovie
The Wild Thornberrys
1998The Wild Thornberrysas Skoot (voice)TV
The Con
1998The Conas BobbyMovie
M
1998Macy On MametMovie
Wag the Dog
1997Wag the Dogas CIA Agent Charles YoungMovie
Boogie Nights
1997Boogie Nightsas Little BillMovie
The View
1997The Viewas SelfTV
Air Force One
1997Air Force Oneas Major CaldwellMovie
Colin Fitz
1997Colin Fitzas Mr. O'DayMovie
King of the Hill
1997King of the Hillas Dr. Rubin (voice)TV
Ghosts of Mississippi
1996Ghosts of Mississippias Charlie CriscoMovie
Hit Me
1996Hit Meas PolicemanMovie
Superman: The Animated Series
1996Superman: The Animated Seriesas Director (voice)TV
The Writing on the Wall
1996The Writing on the Wallas PetrocelliMovie
Fargo
1996Fargoas Jerry LundegaardMovie
Andersonville
1996Andersonvilleas Col. ChandlerMovie
Andersonville
1996Andersonvilleas Col. ChandlerTV
Down Periscope
1996Down Periscopeas Captain KnoxMovie
Mr. Holland's Opus
1995Mr. Holland's Opusas Vice Principal Gene WoltersMovie
MADtv
1995MADtvas SelfTV
Above Suspicion
1995Above Suspicionas Pros. Atty. SchultzMovie
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure
1995Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventureas Railroad MagnateMovie
Roommates
1995Roommatesas Doctor (uncredited)Movie
Evolver
1995Evolveras Evolver (voice)Movie
In the Shadow of Evil
1995In the Shadow of Evilas Dr. Frank TeagueMovie
Murder in the First
1995Murder in the Firstas Bill McNeillMovie
Oleanna
1994Oleannaas JohnMovie
Dead on Sight
1994Dead on Sightas Steven MeekerMovie
ER
1994ERas David MorgensternTV
Inside the Actors Studio
1994Inside the Actors Studioas SelfTV
The Client
1994The Clientas Dr. GreenwayMovie
Being Human
1994Being Humanas BorisMovie
Twenty Bucks
1993Twenty Bucksas Property ClerkMovie
Frasier
1993Frasieras Ralph (voice)TV
Bakersfield P.D.
1993Bakersfield P.D.as Russell KarpTV
Searching for Bobby Fischer
1993Searching for Bobby Fischeras Tunafish FatherMovie
Benny & Joon
1993Benny & Joonas Randy BurchMovie
The Heart of Justice
1992The Heart of Justiceas BoothMovie
A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story
1992A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Storyas Sean HammelMovie
T
1992The Water Engineas Charles LangMovie
H
1992Home FiresWriterTV
A Private Matter
1992A Private Matteras PsychiatristMovie
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
1992The Tonight Show with Jay Lenoas SelfTV
In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion
1992In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marionas Ray DanielsMovie
Shadows and Fog
1991Shadows and Fogas CopMovie
Barton Fink
1991Barton Finkas Navy Sailor (uncredited)Movie
Homicide
1991Homicideas Tim SullivanMovie
Law & Order
1990Law & Orderas Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormackTV
The Simpsons
1989The Simpsonsas William H. Macy (voice)TV
Things Change
1988Things Changeas Billy DrakeMovie
Lip Service
1988Lip Serviceas FarmerMovie
The Murder of Mary Phagan
1988The Murder of Mary Phaganas RandyTV
House of Games
1987House of Gamesas Sgt. John MoranMovie
thirtysomething
1987thirtysomethingWriterTV
Radio Days
1987Radio Daysas Radio Voice (voice)Movie
L.A. Law
1986L.A. Lawas Bernard RuskinTV
Spenser: For Hire
1985Spenser: For HireTV
The Equalizer
1985The Equalizeras Dr. SpauldingTV
Alive from Off Center
1985Alive from Off Centeras unknownTV
The Last Dragon
1985The Last Dragonas J.J.Movie
The Boy Who Loved Trolls
1984The Boy Who Loved Trollsas SocratesMovie
The Dining Room
1984The Dining Roomas VariousMovie
Kate & Allie
1984Kate & AllieTV
WarGames
1983WarGamesas NORAD Officer (uncredited)Movie
The Cradle Will Fall
1983The Cradle Will Fallas Ben DuffyMovie
Without a Trace
1983Without a Traceas ReporterMovie
Foolin' Around
1980Foolin' Aroundas BronskiMovie
Somewhere in Time
1980Somewhere in Timeas Critic [1972]Movie
The Awakening Land
1978The Awakening Landas Will BeagleTV
The Oscars
1953The Oscarsas SelfTV
T
—The Deputyas Chief KruegerMovie
E
—Exit Rightas John RandallMovie
K
—Kaet Might DieMovie
U
—Untitled Eternity ProjectMovie
T
—The Landas Hank DurkinTV
T
—TemperanceWriterMovie