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William Fichtner

Acting Born Nov 27, 1956 Mitchell Field Air Force Base, East Meadow, Long Island, New York, USA 104 credits

Biography

William Edward Fichtner is an American actor born on November 27, 1956. He was born at Mitchell Field Air Force Base in East Meadow, Long Island, New York, and was raised in the Buffalo, New York area. The son of Patricia A. Steitz and William E. Fichtner, he is of German, Irish, and English descent. Known for his work in film, television, and video games, Fichtner has established a career as a prolific character actor. He is recognized for his contributions to various high-profile projects throughout his decades-long career in the entertainment industry.

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Career

Career overview

Fichtner began his professional acting career in 1995 with supporting roles in the films Virtuosity, Heat, and Strange Days. Throughout the late 1990s and early 2000s, he appeared in a variety of notable motion pictures, including Contact, Armageddon, Go, The Perfect Storm, Black Hawk Down, Crash, The Longest Yard, and The Dark Knight. These performances helped establish his reputation as a versatile character actor in Hollywood.

In addition to his film work, Fichtner has maintained a significant presence on television. In 2005, he starred as Sheriff Tom Underlay in the science fiction series Invasion. He later took on prominent roles in several other television programs, including Alexander Mahone in Prison Break, Carl Hickman in Crossing Lines, and Adam Janikowski in the series Mom. With over 100 known credits to his name, Fichtner continues to be recognized for his extensive contributions to both television and film.

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Known for

Film

The Outer Threat

2026
Film

French Girl

as Peter Kinski

BEEF

as Troy
Film

Hypnotic

as Dellrayne
Film

12 Strong

as Colonel Mulholland
Film

Hot Summer Nights

as Shep
Film

Traffik

as Mr. Waynewright

Shooter

as O'Brien
Film

Independence Day: Resurgence

as General Adams

Empire

as Jameson Henthrop
Film

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

as Eric Sacks
Film

The Homesman

as Vester Belknap

Frequent co-stars

Dominic Purcell 3 shared titles
Tom Sizemore 3 shared titles
Wentworth Miller 2 shared titles
Robert Knepper 2 shared titles
Amaury Nolasco 2 shared titles
Sarah Wayne Callies 2 shared titles
Jodi Lyn O'Keefe 2 shared titles
Peter Stormare 2 shared titles
Jason Isaacs 2 shared titles
Will Arnett 2 shared titles

Career timeline

The Outer ThreatBEEF: The Official PodcastThe Plastic Men
Talamasca: The Secret OrderThe Gettysburg AddressThe SoundCutman
French Girl
BEEFThe Company You KeepHypnotic88
Joe vs CaroleSix
The Birthday CakeThe Space BetweenThat Night
The NeighborThe Neighbor · Producer
Finding Steve McQueenJosie & JackCold BrookCold Brook · WriterCold Brook · Director
12 StrongHot Summer NightsAll the Devil's MenO.G.Krystal
American Wrestler: The WizardTop Gear AmericaPorsche: Decades of DisruptionBlack Holes
ShooterIndependence Day: ResurgenceLast Day in LAAnother Day: The Making of 'Independence Day: Resurgence'The War of 1996: A United World News Special
EmpireFour Falls of Buffalo
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe HomesmanHell on Earth
MomCrossing LinesElysiumThe Lone RangerPhantom
VeepSeal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin LadenWrong
Drive AngryThe Big Bang
Date Night
Prison Break: The Final BreakStarz Inside - Unforgettably Evil
The Dark Knight
Blades of Glory
UltravioletFirst SnowThe AmateursUV Protection: The Making of 'Ultraviolet'
Prison BreakAmerican Dad!Mr. & Mrs. SmithInvasionThe Longest Yard
EntourageGrand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction
EquilibriumMDsWhat’s the Worst That Could Happen: Scene StealersJulie Walking Home
Black Hawk DownPearl HarborWhat's the Worst That Could Happen?
The Perfect StormPassion of MindDrowning Mona
The West WingGoThe Settlement
Armageddon
ContactSwitchbackAlbino Alligator
HeatStrange DaysVirtuosityThe UnderneathReckless

Full filmography

  • The Outer Threat (2026)
  • BEEF: The Official Podcast (2026) as Self - Guest
  • The Plastic Men (2026) as The Narrator (voice)
  • Talamasca: The Secret Order (2025) as Jasper
  • The Gettysburg Address (2025) as John G. Nicolay (voice)
  • The Sound (2025) as Conner
  • Cutman (2025) as Emmerit
  • French Girl (2024) as Peter Kinski
  • BEEF (2023) as Troy
  • The Company You Keep (2023) as Leo Nicoletti
  • Hypnotic (2023) as Dellrayne
  • 88 (2023) as Ron Holt
  • Joe vs Carole (2022) as Rick Kirkham
  • Six (2022) as Davis
  • The Birthday Cake (2021) as Uncle Ricardo
  • The Space Between (2021) as Donny Rumson
  • That Night (2021) as Narrator
  • The Neighbor (2020) as Mike
  • The Neighbor (2020) Producer
  • Finding Steve McQueen (2019) as Enzo Rotella
  • Josie & Jack (2019) as Raeburn
  • Cold Brook (2019) as Ted Markham
  • Cold Brook (2019) Writer
  • Cold Brook (2019) Director
  • 12 Strong (2018) as Colonel Mulholland
  • Hot Summer Nights (2018) as Shep
  • All the Devil's Men (2018) as Brennan
  • O.G. (2018) as Danvers
  • Krystal (2018) as Dr. Farley
  • Traffik (2018) as Mr. Waynewright
  • Armed (2018) as Richard
  • American Wrestler: The Wizard (2017) as Coach Plyler
  • Top Gear America (2017) as Self - Presenter
  • Porsche: Decades of Disruption (2017) as Narrator (voice)
  • Black Holes (2017) as Youston (voice)
  • Shooter (2016) as O'Brien
  • Independence Day: Resurgence (2016) as General Adams
  • Last Day in LA (2016) as Narrator (voice)
  • Another Day: The Making of 'Independence Day: Resurgence' (2016) as Self
  • The War of 1996: A United World News Special (2016) as General Adams
  • Empire (2015) as Jameson Henthrop
  • Four Falls of Buffalo (2015) as Narrator (voice)
  • Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014) as Eric Sacks
  • The Homesman (2014) as Vester Belknap
  • Hell on Earth (2014) as Satan
  • Mom (2013) as Adam Janikowski
  • Crossing Lines (2013) as Carl Hickman
  • Elysium (2013) as John Carlyle
  • The Lone Ranger (2013) as Butch Cavendish
  • Phantom (2013) as Alex
  • Scatter My Ashes at Bergdorf's (2013) as Narrator (voice)
  • Veep (2012) as Felix Wade
  • Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden (2012) as Guidry
  • Wrong (2012) as Master Chang
  • Drive Angry (2011) as Accountant
  • The Big Bang (2011) as Poley
  • Date Night (2010) as DA Frank Crenshaw
  • Prison Break: The Final Break (2009) as Alex Mahone
  • Starz Inside - Unforgettably Evil (2009) as Self
  • The Dark Knight (2008) as Bank Manager
  • Blades of Glory (2007) as Darren MacElroy
  • Ultraviolet (2006) as Garth
  • First Snow (2006) as Ed Jacomoi
  • The Amateurs (2006) as Otis
  • UV Protection: The Making of 'Ultraviolet' (2006) as Self - Actor
  • Prison Break (2005) as Alexander Mahone
  • American Dad! (2005) as Harland (voice)
  • Mr. & Mrs. Smith (2005) as Dr. Wexler - Marriage Counselor (voice) (uncredited)
  • Invasion (2005) as Sheriff Tom Underlay
  • The Longest Yard (2005) as Captain Knauer
  • Crash (2005) as Flanagan
  • Empire Falls (2005) as Jimmy Minty
  • Nine Lives (2005) as Andrew
  • The Chumscrubber (2005) as Mr. Bill Stiffle
  • Entourage (2004) as Phil Yagoda
  • Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas - The Introduction (2004) as Rosenberg (voice)
  • Equilibrium (2002) as Jürgen
  • MDs (2002) as Dr. Bruce Kellerman
  • What’s the Worst That Could Happen: Scene Stealers (2002) as Self
  • Julie Walking Home (2002) as Henry
  • Black Hawk Down (2001) as SFC Jeff Sanderson
  • Pearl Harbor (2001) as Danny's Father
  • What's the Worst That Could Happen? (2001) as Detective Alex Tardio
  • The Perfect Storm (2000) as David "Sully" Sullivan
  • Passion of Mind (2000) as Aaron Reilly
  • Drowning Mona (2000) as Phil Dearly
  • The West Wing (1999) as Christopher Mulready
  • Go (1999) as Burke
  • The Settlement (1999) as Jerry
  • Armageddon (1998) as Willie Sharp
  • Contact (1997) as Kent
  • Switchback (1997) as Chief Jack McGinnis
  • Albino Alligator (1997) as Law
  • Heat (1995) as Roger Van Zant
  • Strange Days (1995) as Dwayne Engelman
  • Virtuosity (1995) as Wallace
  • The Underneath (1995) as Tommy Dundee
  • Reckless (1995) as Rachel's Father
  • Quiz Show (1994) as Stage Manager
  • Grace Under Fire (1993) as Ryan Sparks
  • Malcolm X (1992) as Cop at Harlem Station
  • Baywatch (1989) as Howard Ganza
  • That's Amore!
  • Bosch: Start of Watch as Calhern