William Macy is an American actor, screenwriter, director and producer. Winner of the Emmy Award and Oscar nominee in the category "Best Actor in a Supporting Role". Best known for his roles in the films Fargo, Boogie Nights and Real Boars, as well as for the 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 from the states of Georgia and Maryland. After graduating from high school, he entered college in West Virginia, where he studied as a veterinarian.
Soon he transferred to Goddard College in Vermont, where he studied theater skills. One of his teachers was the famous playwright, screenwriter and director David Mamet, with whom Macy would later work on several projects.
Carier start
After graduation, William Macy began to work actively in the theater, often playing in plays written by Mamet. In the early eighties starred in several commercials and television series. He moved to Los Angeles, where he tried to get movie roles, but a few years later he returned to New York, where he continued to work successfully on Broadway.
At this time, Macy starred in Mamet's directorial projects. Also appeared in two episodes of the popular series Law and Order. In 1994, he received a secondary role in the multi-part medical drama "Ambulance", where over the next years appeared in thirty episodes.
A year later, the first notable film appeared with William Macy in the title role. The actor participated in the filming of Mamet’s drama “Oleanna”, where he played a character whom 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 criminal tragicomedy of the Cohen brothers “Fargo”.
Career heyday
The Cohen project was a breakthrough in the William Macy 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 Cheating, the action movie The President’s Airplane and the fantasy melodrama Pleasantville.
These works finally confirmed for Macy the image of a “little man” and often began to offer him the roles of losers. He tried to expand his range by appearing in the commercial projects Jurassic Park 3 and Mysterious People. He also played prominent 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 box office hit and raised over one hundred and sixty million dollars. Three years later, the actor was finally able to prove himself in a new role, having received the main role in the remake of the British series Shameless. The role of the charismatic alcoholic Frank Gallager brought him a new wave of recognition and several nominations for prestigious television awards.
Recent projects
William Macy continues to work actively on feature films, appearing in several films a year, often playing supporting roles. The premiere of the ninth season of the series “Shameless” has recently taken place, which continues to show excellent ratings and receive positive reviews from critics.
In 2014, the actor decided to try himself as a director. The first film by William Macy as a director was the drama Uncontrollable. The film received excellent reviews from critics. However, Macy’s next two projects - the comedy "Parking" and the drama "Crystal" - were negatively received by both the press and ordinary viewers.
Personal life
William Macy met with actress Felicity Huffman, known for the series Desperate Housewives and the movie Transamerica, for fifteen years with several interruptions. In 1997, the couple decided to legalize their relationship. Spouses have two daughters.
In his free time, the actor plays the ukulele and enjoys woodwork. A photo of William Macy even appeared on the cover of one of the specialized publications on carpentry. After filming the movie "Real Boars" he became interested in riding a motorcycle.