Name	William H Macy
Height	5' 9"
Naionality	American
Date of Birth	13 March 1950
Place of Birth	Miami, Florida, USA
Famous for

While in college, William H Macy went to Washington, DC to take part in the play “Jesus Christ Superstar” (1971). He then became acquainted with Mamet and Steven Schacter, with whom he moved to Chicago and later built the St Nicholas Theater, in Vermont. Macy appeared in Mamet’s plays, the one-act “Squirrels” (1974) and “American Buffalo” (1975, starred as Bobby), before making his stage directing debut with “The Poet and the Rent” (1976).

The same year, he also debuted as a playwright in the children’s play “The Adventures of Captain Marbles and His Acting Squad” (1976). After having the supporting role of Will Beagle in the mini drama series “The Awakening Land” (1978), Macy relocated to New York City.

In New York, he directed the off-Broadway production of “Shoeshine” (1979), written by Mamet, and had a role in the off-Broadway play “The Man in 605” (1980). Macy then appeared as a critic in the Christopher Reeve-starring movie Somewhere in Time (1980) before acquiring a recurring turn as Frank Fisk in the NBC soap opera “Another World” (1982). He was also seen in a small role in the TV films The Cradle Will Fall (1983, as Ben Duffy) and The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984).

Macy, who at the time was also a professor at the New York University, co-founded the Atlantic Theatre Company with David Mamet. Still with Mamet, he joined the Chicago’s Goodman Theatre Company and played a role in an adaptation of “The Cherry Orchard” (1985) and “The Water Engine” (1985, as Charles Lang, later reprised his role in the 1992’s TV revival of the play).

Macy was also seen in the movie The Last Dragon (1985), the sitcom “Kate & Allie” (1986), the Mamet-helmed thriller House of Games (1987), as well as the TV comedy Lip Service (1988), which was his first and last screen directing attempt. Also in 1988, Macy went for his Broadway debut in the Tony-winning revival of "Our Town” (as Howie Newsome) and directed the play “Boy’s Life,” staged at the Lincoln Center’s Mitzi Newhouse Theater.

Relocating to L.A., the versatile actor landed a co-starring turn as Tim Sullivan, opposite Joe Mantegna, in Mamet’s film Homicide (1991) before trying a hand at screenwriting for an episode of the drama series “thirtysomething” (1991). A year later, Macy starred as John in the New York production of Mamet’s “Oleanna” (1992), which was then revived on an L.A. stage and on the big screen in 1994. He was also cast as Randy Burch in the romantic comedy Benny & Joon (1993), featuring rising actors Johnny Depp, Mary Stuart Masterson and Aidan Quinn.

Macy’s breakthrough role came a year later with the recurring turn of Dr. David Morgenstern in the hospital-set drama series “ER” (1994-1998). Later, his fine performance in the series brought him an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series. Subsequent to his titular character in the robot movie Evolver (1995), the actor superbly portrayed Jerry Lundegaard in the Coen brothers’ black comedy Fargo (1996). For his eye-catching performance in the movie, Macy won an Independent Spirit for Best Male Lead and brought home an Oscar nomination.

Following the accomplishment, the performer co-wrote the screenplay for Every Woman’s Dream (1996, based on Karen Kingsbury’s novel) and made $400,000 for his supporting turn as Major Caldwell in the action thriller Air Force One (1997). Still in 1997, he helmed the NY stage production of “The Joy of Being Somewhere Different.”

Joining director/screenwriter Gary Ross, Macy brilliantly costarred as repressed father George Parker, alongside Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon, in the fantasy movie Pleasantville (1998), where he netted a Boston Society of Film Critics award. Next, the actor took on double tasks as a screenwriter and actor in two TV films: The Con (1998, starred as Bobby Sommerdinger) and A Slight Case of Murder (1999, played Terry Thorpe, won an Edgar Allan Poe award for Best TV Movie).

The 1999 ShoWest Supporting Actor of the Year, Macy was nominated for an Emmy for his recurring performance as ratings expert Sam Donovan in the sitcom “Sports Night” (1999-2000), which featured wife Felicity Huffman. In 2000, he amazed London stage audiences with the role of Teach in the revival of Mamet’s play “American Buffalo.” His next captivating role was Lawrence ‘Larry’ Newman, a man mistaken for being Jewish, in the post-WWII set drama Focus (2001).

Macy took home an Emmy award and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor for his dramatic portrayal of Bill Porter, a man with cerebral palsy who became a prominent salesman, in the self-written TV romantic comedy Door to Door (2002). 2003 saw the actor gain praise for his convincing performance in Stealing Sinatra (had the Emmy-nominated role of John Irwin) and Seabiscuit (took the supporting role of Tick Tock McGlaughlin, earned a Golden Globe nomination).

Macy, who was previously handed the 2002 Boston Film Festival Film Excellence award and the 2003 Cinequest San Jose Film Festival Maverick Tribute award, was applauded after movingly delivering the lead role of Gigot, a mute befriending a recently orphaned little girl, in the TV drama The Wool Cap (2004, also wrote the screenplay). He collected two Emmy (one for Best Actor, one for Best TV Movie), a Golden Globe and a Screen Actors Guild nomination for his role.

The next year, Macy portrayed anti-smoking senator Ortolan Finistirre, opposite Aaron Eckhart, in Jason Reitman’s satirical comedy Thank You for Smoking (2005) before executive producing the indie movie Transamerica (2005), which starred his wife. Recently, he became involved in several family films, such as the animated series “Curious George” (2006, as the narrator), the animated picture Doogal (2006, voiced Brian) and the mini fantasy series “Nightmares and Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King” (2006, had multiple roles).

It has been announced that Macy will appear as Henry in the upcoming, self-produced, drama comedy A Hole in the Earth (2006). He will also join the cast of Emilio Estevez’ star-studded project Bobby (2006, as hotel manager Paul), have the part of Dr. Rocchio in the drama Conquistadora (2006), act alongside Elisha Cuthbert and Christian Slater in He Was a Quiet Man (2006) and lend his voice to Lefty in the animated movie Everyone’s Hero (2006).

In addition, Macy is assigned to take part in two animated motion pictures: Wild Hogs and Bee Movie, both of which are slated for release in 2007. Detouring to the horror genre, the multi-talented actor will portray The President of the United States in House of Re-Animator (2008).