William Macy: biography and filmography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

William Macy is an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. Emmy Award winner and Oscar nominee for Best Supporting Actor. He is best known for his roles in the films Fargo, Boogie Nights and Real Hogs, as well as the TV series Shameless. In total, during his career, he participated in more than one hundred and thirty projects.

Childhood and youth

William Macy was born March 13, 1950 in Miami, Florida. As a child, he often moved with his family, grew up in the states of Georgia and Maryland. After graduating from high school, he went to college in West Virginia, where he studied to be a veterinarian.

Soon transferred to Goddard College in Vermont, where he studied theater. One of his teachers was renowned playwright, screenwriter and director David Mamet, with whom Macy would later work on several projects.

Career start

After graduation, William Macy began to work actively in the theater, often acting in plays written by Mamet. ATIn the early eighties, he appeared in several commercials and television series. He moved to Los Angeles, where he tried to get film roles, but a few years later he returned to New York, where he continued to work successfully on Broadway.

At this time, Macy was mostly filming for Mamet's directorial projects. He also appeared in two episodes of the hit series Law & Order. In 1994, he received a minor role in the serial medical drama ER, where he appeared in thirty episodes over the following years.

A year later, the first notable film starring William Macy appeared. The actor took part in the filming of Mamet's drama Oleanna, where he played a character he had already portrayed in the theatrical version. For this work, he was nominated for the Independent Spirit Award. In 1996, the actor played a minor role in the historical drama The Ghosts of Mississippi and the comedy Raise the Periscope. He also appeared in the Coen brothers' crime comedy Fargo.

Career blossoming

The Coen Project was the breakthrough work in William Macy's filmography. For this role, he was nominated for an Oscar and several other prestigious awards. After this success, the actor began to appear more often in notable projects. Over the next few years, he starred in Paul Thomas Anderson's drama Boogie Nights, the political comedy Wagkin', the action movie The President's Plane and the fantasy melodrama Pleasantville.

These works finally approved the image of the “little man” for Macy and often began to offer him the role of losers. He attempted to expand his range by appearing in commercials such as Jurassic Park 3 and Mystery People. He also played notable roles in the dramas Magnolia and Brake, the crime comedy Welcome to Collinwood and the blockbuster Sahara.

In 2007, William Macy, along with John Travolta, Tim Allen and Martin Lawrence, appeared in the comedy Real Boars, which became a hit at the box office and collected more than one hundred and sixty million dollars. Three years later, the actor was finally able to prove himself in a new role, getting the lead role in a remake of the British TV series Shameless. The role of the charismatic alcoholic Frank Gallagher brought him a new wave of recognition and several nominations for prestigious television awards.

Recent Projects

William Macy continues to actively work on feature films, appearing in several films a year, often playing supporting roles. The ninth season of Shameless recently premiered and continues to have excellent ratings and critical acclaim.

In 2014, the actor decided to try himself as a director. William Macy's first film as a director was the drama Out of Control. The film received excellent reviews from critics. However, Maisie's next two projects, the comedy The Parking Lot and the drama Krystal, were met negatively by both the press and the general public.

Private life

William Macy dated actress Felicity Huffman,known for the series "Desperate Housewives" and the film "Transamerica", for fifteen years with several interruptions. In 1997, the couple decided to legalize their relationship. The couple have two daughters.

In his free time, the actor plays the ukulele and enjoys woodworking. A photo of William Macy even appeared on the cover of one of the profile publications about carpentry. After filming the movie "Real Boars" became interested in riding a motorcycle.