William H. Macy

Oscar® and Golden Globe nominee and Emmy and SAG Award winner, William H. Macy is one of the most distinguished talents of his generation. Macy is the executive producer of the acclaimed film TRANSAMERICA, and was most recently seen in SAHARA with Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz.

He recently completed production on EDMOND, an adaptation of the David Mamet play, directed by Stuart Gordon and produced by Muse Films.

Macy worked on BEE MOVIE for Dreamworks Animation, with Jerry Seinfeld, Renee Zellweger, Uma Thurman, Kathy Bates and Oprah Winfrey. Steve Hickner and Simon J. Smith will direct. The film, co-written and produced by Seinfeld, is slated for release on November 2, 2007.

Macy was seen in TNT's “The Wool Cap.” He was nominated for an Emmy, a Golden Globe, and a SAG Award for his performance. He and Steven Schachter were also nominated for a Writers Guild Award. In addition, the movie was nominated for an Emmy and a Critics' Choice Award.

In 2002, Macy received outstanding critical acclaim for his role as Bill Porter in TNT's “Door To Door,” opposite Kyra Sedgwick, Helen Mirren, Kathy Baker and Felicity Huffman. The movie, which Macy also co-wrote, aired to unprecedented ratings for a TNT original movie premiere and received a SAG Award, Peabody Award, an AFI Award, a Critic's Choice Award, a Golden Satellite Award, a Writer’s Guild nomination, an American Cinema Editors nomination and a Golden Globe nomination. The movie was nominated for 12 Emmys and won 6, including Outstanding Made for Television Movie as well as winning Macy the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Television Movie statue and Outstanding Writing for a Television Movie with Steven Schachter.

In 2003, Macy was seen in the Showtime Original Picture “Stealing Sinatra,” directed by Ron Underwood. Macy received an Emmy nomination in the category of “Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie” for his performance.

Macy received critical acclaim for his role in the romantic drama THE COOLER, alongside Alec Baldwin and Maria Bello. He also stole scenes in the critically acclaimed feature, SEABISCUIT, starring Tobey Maguire, Chris Cooper and Jeff Bridges. Macy was nominated for a Golden Globe for his role as Tick Tock McLaughlin and the movie was nominated for Best Picture.

Macy’s distinguished film credits include SPARTAN, IN ENEMY HANDS, MAGNOLIA,
PLEASANTVILLE, HAPPY TEXAS, STATE AND MAIN, JURASSIC PARK 3, FOCUS, WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD, PSYCHO, A CIVIL ACTION, BOOGIE NIGHTS, WAG THE DOG, AIR FORCE ONE, GHOSTS OF MISSISSIPPI, MR. HOLLAND’S OPUS, THE CLIENT, SHADOWS AND FOG, MURDER IN THE FIRST, SEARCHING FOR BOBBY FISCHER, RADIO DAYS, PANIC and CELLULAR.

Macy is best known for his portrayal of Jerry Lundergaard in FARGO, for which he received an Oscar® nomination and won an Independent Spirit Award as Best Supporting Actor. He also garnered nominations for Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture (American Comedy Awards), Best Actor (Chicago Film Critics), Best Supporting Actor (Dallas/ Fort Worth Film Critics), and Best Actor in a Drama (International Press Academy).

In the realm of television, Macy has been no less prolific. He received an Emmy nomination as Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his recurring role as ‘Dr. David Morgenstern’ on “ER.” Macy also had a recurring role on Aaron Sorkin's “Sports Night” and was nominated for an Emmy for his performance. His movie of the week credits include “Reversible Errors,” “A Murderous Affair,” “Heart Of Justice,” “Standoff At Marion,” and the miniseries “Andersonville,” “The Murder Of Mary Phagan” and “The Awakening Land.” In addition to the politically charged BBC telefilm “The Writing On The Wall,” Macy also appeared in two Mamet vehicles, “The Water Engine” and Showtime’s “Texan.” In 1999, he starred opposite his wife Felicity Huffman, on the TNT television film “A Slight Case Of Murder” and received another Emmy nomination. Macy and his writing partner Steven Schachter wrote the film and Schachter directed. Also with Schachter, Macy has written several television scripts, including an episode of “Thirtysomething,” the HBO movie “Above Suspicion” and the USA Networks movie “The Con” starring Macy and Rebecca DeMornay. Most recently, Macy was seen on the small screen in a regular guest role in the Showtime original series “Out Of Order,” also starring Eric Stoltz, Felicity Huffman, Kim Dickens and Justine Bateman.

Born in Miami, Macy lived in Georgia until age ten before moving to Cumberland, Maryland, where his love for acting spawned as Mordred in Camelot. Elected junior and senior high school class president, he set out to become a veterinarian at Bethany College in West Virginia, but after performing in "play after play" Macy transferred to Goddard College in Vermont, where he came under the tutelage of theater Professor David Mamet.

In 1972, Mamet, Macy and his writing partner Steven Schachter moved to Chicago, where they collectively created the St. Nicholas Theater. Macy originated roles for several of Mamet's classic original productions, among them, Bobby in “American Buffalo,” and Lang in “The Water Engine,” soon establishing his feature film presence with writer/director Mamet. His performance in “Oleanna,” as a college professor accused of sexual harassment and his detective in HOMICIDE earned Macy kudos. He continued with Mamet as a Mafioso driver in THINGS CHANGE, a Marine in HOUSE OF GAMES and an FBI agent in WAG THE DOG.

Moving to New York in 1980, he continued to build his reputation in the theater as an originator of new roles, in such off-Broadway productions as “Baby With the Bathwater,” “The Dining Room” (later filmed for PBS – “Great Performances”) “Life During Wartime,” “Mr. Gogol and Mr. Preen,” “Bodies, Rest and Motion,” and Mamet's “Prarie du Chen,” “Oh Hell,” and “Oleanna.” His stage credits, approaching fifty during his ten years in New York, also include the Broadway production of “Our Town,” Tony Award winner for Best Ensemble. Macy was also seen on the London stage in the spring of 2000, where he co-starred in the revival of David Mamet's “American Buffalo” at the Donmar Warehouse. Following the run in London, the play moved to the Atlantic Theater Company in New York for a record breaking run.

Along with his acting career, Macy has also earned respect as a teacher and director. Having led theater classes in Chicago and at New York University, today he serves as director in the
residence at the Atlantic Theater company in New York. His extensive directing resume includes “Boy's Life” at Lincoln Center, the LA production of “Oleanna” at the Tiffany Theater, as well as “Lip Service,” an HBO film which won an ACE Award for best Theatrical Production. Most recently, Macy directed the play “The Joy of Going Somewhere Definite” at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York.

In 1998, Macy was honored by Showest when he was named Best Supporting Actor of the Year for his body of work.

Macy is married to Golden Globe winning actress Felicity Huffman, who stars on "Desperate Housewives.” They live in Los Angeles with their two daughters.

The Weinstein Company and Pathé Pictures