William H. Macy
- Known For
- Acting
- Born
- March 13, 1950 in Miami, Florida, USA
- Active Years
- 1953–2026 (74 Years)
- Total Credits
- 210 credits in database
Acting Born Mar 13, 1950 Miami, Florida, USA 210 credits
Biography
William H. Macy is an American actor and writer. Born on March 13, 1950, in Miami, Florida, he is known for his appearances in small, independent films and summer action films. Macy has gained widespread popularity for portraying a character in the Showtime comedy-drama series Shameless. He has described his screen persona as "sort of a Middle American, WASPy, Lutheran kind of guy... Everyman". Macy has won two Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award, and has been nominated for nine Emmy Awards and seven other awards. He has appeared in numerous films and television shows throughout his career, with over 190 known credits.
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Career overview
William H. Macy is an American actor known for his appearances in small, independent films as well as summer action films. He has built a career on a wide range of roles, often portraying a relatable, everyman character. Macy's screen persona is described as a "Middle American, WASPy, Lutheran kind of guy."
Macy gained widespread popularity for his portrayal of Frank Gallagher in a long-running television series. This role showcased his ability to play a complex, dynamic character. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated his versatility as an actor, taking on a variety of roles in film and television.
Macy's acting credits span numerous projects, with a total of 190 known credits. His work has been recognized with several awards, including two Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award. He has been nominated for nine Emmy Awards and seven other awards, further solidifying his reputation as a talented and accomplished actor.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Speed DemonBrianThe DeputyThe Deputy · Executive Producer
The Running ManTrain DreamsSoul on FireFrontier Crucible
Kingdom of the Planet of the ApesRicky Stanicky
AccusedMaybe I Do
The Dropout
Last Meals
Shameless Hall of Shame
Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson
KrystalKrystal · DirectorLady Luck: The Making of The Cooler
The Layover · Director
Blood FatherStealing Cars
Close Up with The Hollywood ReporterRoomWalterDial a Prayer
Off Camera with Sam JonesCakeRudderlessRudderless · WriterRudderless · Director
A Single ShotTrust MeCitizen Hearst
Finding Your RootsThe SessionsCurious George: Saves the Day
ShamelessShameless · WriterShameless · DirectorThe Lincoln LawyerReturn to Jurassic Park
ConanThe TalkMarmadukeDirty Girl
Watch What Happens Live with Andy CohenShortsThe Maiden HeistHeath Ledger: A Tribute
The Tale of DespereauxThe DealThe Deal · ScreenplayBart Got a Room
Wild HogsLynch 2He Was a Quiet ManCurious George: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures
Curious GeorgeThe UnitNightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen KingEveryone's HeroEdmond
The Late Late Show with Craig FergusonThank You for SmokingSaharaTransamerica · Executive Producer
CellularSpartanIn Enemy HandsThe Wool CapThe Wool Cap · Teleplay
Jimmy Kimmel Live!Jimmy Kimmel Live!The Ellen DeGeneres ShowSeabiscuitMinnesota Nice
Welcome to CollinwoodIt's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas MovieDoor to DoorDoor to Door · WriterJust a Walk in the Park · Teleplay
Good Day LiveFocusJurassic Park IIIThe Making Of Jurassic Park III
PanicThat Moment: Magnolia DiaryState and MainThe Coen Brothers
Batman BeyondBatman BeyondMagnoliaMystery MenThe Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue
The Wild ThornberrysSports NightPsychoPleasantvilleA Civil Action
King of the HillThe ViewBoogie NightsAir Force OneWag the Dog
Full Filmography
210 titles- Speed Demon (2026) as Father Novak
- Brian (2026)
- The Deputy (2026) as Chief Krueger
- The Deputy (2026) Executive Producer
- The Running Man (2025) as Molie Jernigan
- Train Dreams (2025) as Arn Peeples
- Soul on Fire (2025) as Jack Buck
- Frontier Crucible (2025) as Major O'Rourke
- Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes (2024) as Trevathan
- Ricky Stanicky (2024) as Summerhayes
- Accused (2023) as Raymond
- Maybe I Do (2023) as Sam
- The Dropout (2022) as Richard Fuisz
- Last Meals (2021) as Self
- Shameless Hall of Shame (2020) as Frank Gallagher
- Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson (2019) as Self
- Krystal (2018) as Wyatt
- Krystal (2018) Director
- Lady Luck: The Making of The Cooler (2018) as Self
- The Layover (2017) Director
- Blood Father (2016) as Kirby Curtis
- Stealing Cars (2016) as Philip Wyatt
- Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter (2015) as Self
- Room (2015) as Robert
- Walter (2015) as Dr. Corman
- Dial a Prayer (2015) as Bill
- Off Camera with Sam Jones (2014) as Self
- Cake (2014) as Leonard
- Rudderless (2014) as Trill
- Rudderless (2014) Writer
- Rudderless (2014) Director
- Rudderless (2014) Executive Producer
- Two-Bit Waltz (2014) as Carl
- A Single Shot (2013) as Pitt
- Trust Me (2013) as Gary
- Citizen Hearst (2013) as Narrator
- Finding Your Roots (2012) as Self
- The Sessions (2012) as Father Brendan
- Curious George: Saves the Day (2012) as The Narrator (voice)
- Shameless (2011) as Frank Gallagher
- Shameless (2011) Writer
- Shameless (2011) Director
- The Lincoln Lawyer (2011) as Frank Levin
- Return to Jurassic Park (2011) as Self
- Portraits in Dramatic Time (2011)
- Conan (2010) as Self
- The Talk (2010) as Self
- Marmaduke (2010) as Don Twombly
- Dirty Girl (2010) as Ray
- Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009) as Self - Guest
- Shorts (2009) as Dr. Noseworthy
- The Maiden Heist (2009) as George McLendon
- Heath Ledger: A Tribute (2009) as Self
- The Tale of Despereaux (2008) as Lester (voice)
- The Deal (2008) as Charlie Berns
- The Deal (2008) Screenplay
- Bart Got a Room (2008) as Ernie Stein
- Wild Hogs (2007) as Dudley Frank
- Lynch 2 (2007) as Self
- He Was a Quiet Man (2007) as Gene Shelby
- Curious George: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures (2007)
- Curious George (2006) as Narrator (voice)
- The Unit (2006) as President of the United States
- Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King (2006) as Clyde Umney / Sam Landry / George Demmick
- Everyone's Hero (2006) as Lefty Maginnis (voice)
- Edmond (2006) as Edmond
- Inland Empire (2006) as Announcer
- Bobby (2006) as Paul Ebbers
- Doogal (2006) as Brian (voice)
- Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman (2006) as Rudyard North (voice)
- Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking' (2006) as Self
- The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005) as Self
- Thank You for Smoking (2005) as Senator Ortolan Finistirre
- Sahara (2005) as Admiral Jim Sandecker
- Transamerica (2005) Executive Producer
- Cellular (2004) as Sgt. Bob Mooney
- Spartan (2004) as Stoddard
- In Enemy Hands (2004) as Nathan Travers
- The Wool Cap (2004) as Gigot
- The Wool Cap (2004) Teleplay
- The Wool Cap (2004) Producer
- Reversible Errors (2004) as Arthur Raven
- Dialing Up "Cellular" (2004) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self
- Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003) as Self - Guest
- The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003) as Self
- Seabiscuit (2003) as Tick Tock McGlaughlin
- Minnesota Nice (2003) as Self
- Out of Order (2003) as Steven
- The Cooler (2003) as Bernie Lootz
- Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood (2003) as Self - Narrator (voice)
- Stealing Sinatra (2003) as John Irwin
- Winners' Circle: The Heroes Behind the Legend (2003) as Self
- 'Seabiscuit': The Making of a Legend (2003) as Self
- The True Story of Seabiscuit (2003) as Narrator (voice)
- Welcome to Collinwood (2002) as Riley
- It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie (2002) as Glenn
- Door to Door (2002) as Bill Porter
- Door to Door (2002) Writer
- Just a Walk in the Park (2002) Teleplay
- Good Day Live (2001) as Self
- Focus (2001) as Lawrence 'Larry' Newman
- Jurassic Park III (2001) as Paul Kirby
- The Making Of Jurassic Park III (2001) as Self
- Panic (2000) as Alex
- That Moment: Magnolia Diary (2000) as Self
- State and Main (2000) as Walt Price
- The Coen Brothers (2000) as Self
- Batman Beyond (1999) as Aaron Herbst (voice)
- Batman Beyond (1999) as Karros (voice)
- Magnolia (1999) as Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
- Mystery Men (1999) as Shoveler / Eddie
- The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1999) as Justin (voice)
- A Slight Case of Murder (1999) as Terry Thorpe
- A Slight Case of Murder (1999) Teleplay
- A Slight Case of Murder (1999) Writer
- Psycho Path (1999) as Self - Actor / Milton Arbogast
- Happy, Texas (1999) as Sheriff Chappy Dent
- The Night of the Headless Horseman (1999) as Ichabod Crane
- Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inque (1999) as Aaron Herbst
- The Wild Thornberrys (1998) as Skoot (voice)
- Sports Night (1998)
- Psycho (1998) as Milton Arbogast
- Pleasantville (1998) as George Parker
- A Civil Action (1998) as James Gordon
- The Lionhearts (1998) as Leo (voice)
- Jerry and Tom (1998) as Karl
- The Con (1998) as Bobby
- The Con (1998) Writer
- Macy On Mamet (1998)
- King of the Hill (1997) as Dr. Rubin (voice)
- The View (1997) as Self
- Boogie Nights (1997) as Little Bill
- Air Force One (1997) as Major Caldwell
- Wag the Dog (1997) as CIA Agent Charles Young
- Colin Fitz (1997) as Mr. O'Day
- Superman: The Animated Series (1996) as Director (voice)
- Fargo (1996) as Jerry Lundegaard
- Down Periscope (1996) as Captain Knox
- Ghosts of Mississippi (1996) as Charlie Crisco
- Andersonville (1996) as Col. Chandler
- Andersonville (1996) as Col. Chandler
- Every Woman's Dream (1996) Teleplay
- Hit Me (1996) as Policeman
- The Writing on the Wall (1996) as Petrocelli
- Murder in the First (1995) as Bill McNeill
- Mr. Holland's Opus (1995) as Vice Principal Gene Wolters
- MADtv (1995) as Self
- Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure (1995) as Railroad Magnate
- Roommates (1995) as Doctor (uncredited)
- Above Suspicion (1995) as Pros. Atty. Schultz
- Above Suspicion (1995) Writer
- In the Shadow of Evil (1995) as Dr. Frank Teague
- Evolver (1995) as Evolver (voice)
- ER (1994) as David Morgenstern
- The Client (1994) as Dr. Greenway
- Being Human (1994) as Boris
- Inside the Actors Studio (1994) as Self
- ER: 24 Hours (1994) as Dr. David Morgenstern
- Dead on Sight (1994) as Steven Meeker
- Oleanna (1994) as John
- Frasier (1993) as Ralph (voice)
- Bakersfield P.D. (1993) as Russell Karp
- Searching for Bobby Fischer (1993) as Tunafish Father
- Twenty Bucks (1993) as Property Clerk
- Benny & Joon (1993) as Randy Burch
- The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992) as Self
- Home Fires (1992) Writer
- The Heart of Justice (1992) as Booth
- The Water Engine (1992) as Charles Lang
- A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story (1992) as Sean Hammel
- In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion (1992) as Ray Daniels
- A Private Matter (1992) as Psychiatrist
- Barton Fink (1991) as Navy Sailor (uncredited)
- Shadows and Fog (1991) as Cop
- Homicide (1991) as Tim Sullivan
- Law & Order (1990) as Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack
- Law & Order (1990) as Jack Powell
- The Simpsons (1989) as William H. Macy (voice)
- The Murder of Mary Phagan (1988) as Randy
- Things Change (1988) as Billy Drake
- Lip Service (1988) as Farmer
- Lip Service (1988) Director
- thirtysomething (1987) Writer
- Radio Days (1987) as Radio Voice (voice)
- House of Games (1987) as Sgt. John Moran
- L.A. Law (1986) as Bernard Ruskin
- The Equalizer (1985) as Dr. Spaulding
- Spenser: For Hire (1985)
- Alive from Off Center (1985) as unknown
- The Last Dragon (1985) as J.J.
- Kate & Allie (1984)
- The Dining Room (1984) as Various
- The Boy Who Loved Trolls (1984) as Socrates
- WarGames (1983) as NORAD Officer (uncredited)
- Without a Trace (1983) as Reporter
- The Cradle Will Fall (1983) as Ben Duffy
- Somewhere in Time (1980) as Critic [1972]
- Foolin' Around (1980) as Bronski
- The Awakening Land (1978) as Will Beagle
- 60 Minutes (1968) as Self
- The Oscars (1953) as Self
- Exit Right as John Randall
- Exit Right Executive Producer
- Ashes to Dust Thanks
- The Land as Hank Durkin
- The Swimming Lesson as Leonard
- Untitled Eternity Project
- Temperance Writer
- Temperance Producer
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is William H. Macy best known for?
William H. Macy is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Speed Demon (2026), The Deputy (2026), The Deputy (2026), The Running Man (2025).
When and where was William H. Macy born?
William H. Macy was born on March 13, 1950 in Miami, Florida, USA.
How many credits does William H. Macy have?
William H. Macy has accumulated over 210 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1953 to 2026.
What is William H. Macy's background in cinema and television?
William H. Macy is an American actor and writer. Born on March 13, 1950, in Miami, Florida, he is known for his appearances in small, independent films and summer action films. Macy has gained widespread popularity for portraying a character in the Showtime comedy-drama series Shameless. He has described his screen per...
William H. Macy by the numbers
210credits
158films
52TV series
1953–2026active years
Age in their best-rated roles
- Shameless (2011) as Frank Gallagher — aged about 61
- Batman Beyond (1999) as Aaron Herbst (voice) — aged about 49
- Batman Beyond (1999) as Karros (voice) — aged about 49
- Room (2015) as Robert — aged about 65
- The Simpsons (1989) as William H. Macy (voice) — aged about 39
- Fargo (1996) as Jerry Lundegaard — aged about 46
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