William H. Macy

Biography

William H. Macy (born March 13, 1950) is an American actor and writer. He was nominated for an Academy Award for his role as Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo. He is also a teacher and director in theater, film and television. His film career has been built mostly on his appearances in small, independent films, though he has appeared in summer action films as well. Macy gained widespread popularity for portraying Frank Gallagher in Showtime's comedy-drama series Shameless (2011–2021). Macy has described his screen persona as "sort of a Middle American, WASPy, Lutheran kind of guy... Everyman". He has won two Emmy Awards and a Screen Actors Guild Award, being nominated for nine Emmy Awards and seven Screen Actors Guild Awards in total. He is also a three-time Golden Globe Award nominee.

Known For

Law & Order

Law & Order

The Simpsons

Shameless

Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen

ER

Frasier

King of the Hill

All Movies (135)

• Speed Demon2026 · as Father Novak
• Brian2026
• Frontier Crucible2025 · as Major O'Rourke
• The Running Man2025 · as Molie Jernigan
• Train Dreams2025 · as Arn Peeples
• Soul on Fire2025 · as Jack Buck
• Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes2024 · as Trevathan
• Ricky Stanicky2024 · as Summerhayes
• Maybe I Do2023 · as Sam
• Beyond the Headlines: The College Admissions Scandal with Gretchen Carlson2019 · as Self
• Lady Luck: The Making of The Cooler2018 · as Self
• Krystal2018 · as Wyatt
• Blood Father2016 · as Kirby Curtis
• Stealing Cars2016 · as Philip Wyatt
• Room2015 · as Robert
• Dial a Prayer2015 · as Bill
• Walter2015 · as Dr. Corman
• Two-Bit Waltz2014 · as Carl
• Rudderless2014 · as Trill
• Cake2014 · as Leonard
• A Single Shot2013 · as Pitt
• Trust Me2013 · as Gary
• Citizen Hearst2013 · as Narrator
• The Sessions2012 · as Father Brendan
• Curious George: Saves the Day2012 · as The Narrator (voice)
• Portraits in Dramatic Time2011
• The Lincoln Lawyer2011 · as Frank Levin
• Return to Jurassic Park2011 · as Self
• Dirty Girl2010 · as Ray
• Marmaduke2010 · as Don Twombly
• Shorts2009 · as Dr. Noseworthy
• Heath Ledger: A Tribute2009 · as Self
• The Maiden Heist2009 · as George McLendon
• The Tale of Despereaux2008 · as Lester (voice)
• The Deal2008 · as Charlie Berns
• Bart Got a Room2008 · as Ernie Stein
• He Was a Quiet Man2007 · as Gene Shelby
• Lynch 22007 · as Self
• Curious George: Rocket Ride and Other Adventures2007
• Wild Hogs2007 · as Dudley Frank
• Inland Empire2006 · as Announcer
• Unfiltered Comedy: The Making of 'Thank You For Smoking'2006 · as Self
• Bobby2006 · as Paul Ebbers
• Everyone's Hero2006 · as Lefty Maginnis (voice)
• Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman2006 · as Rudyard North (voice)
• Edmond2006 · as Edmond
• Doogal2006 · as Brian (voice)
• Thank You for Smoking2005 · as Senator Ortolan Finistirre
• Sahara2005 · as Admiral Jim Sandecker
• The Wool Cap2004 · as Gigot
• Cellular2004 · as Sgt. Bob Mooney
• Reversible Errors2004 · as Arthur Raven
• Spartan2004 · as Stoddard
• In Enemy Hands2004 · as Nathan Travers
• Dialing Up "Cellular"2004 · as Self
• Winners' Circle: The Heroes Behind the Legend2003 · as Self
• The Cooler2003 · as Bernie Lootz
• The True Story of Seabiscuit2003 · as Narrator (voice)
• Seabiscuit2003 · as Tick Tock McGlaughlin
• 'Seabiscuit': The Making of a Legend2003 · as Self
• Minnesota Nice2003 · as Self
• Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywood2003 · as Self - Narrator (voice)
• Stealing Sinatra2003 · as John Irwin
• It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie2002 · as Glenn
• Welcome to Collinwood2002 · as Riley
• Door to Door2002 · as Bill Porter
• The Making Of Jurassic Park III2001 · as Self
• Focus2001 · as Lawrence 'Larry' Newman
• Jurassic Park III2001 · as Paul Kirby
• Panic2000 · as Alex
• The Coen Brothers2000 · as Self
• State and Main2000 · as Walt Price
• That Moment: Magnolia Diary2000 · as Self
• Magnolia1999 · as Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
• Happy, Texas1999 · as Sheriff Chappy Dent
• The Night of the Headless Horseman1999 · as Ichabod Crane
• A Slight Case of Murder1999 · as Terry Thorpe
• Mystery Men1999 · as Shoveler / Eddie
• Psycho Path1999 · as Self - Actor / Milton Arbogast
• Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inque1999 · as Aaron Herbst
• The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue1999 · as Justin (voice)
• A Civil Action1998 · as James Gordon
• Psycho1998 · as Milton Arbogast
• Jerry and Tom1998 · as Karl
• Pleasantville1998 · as George Parker
• The Con1998 · as Bobby
• Macy On Mamet1998
• Wag the Dog1997 · as CIA Agent Charles Young
• Boogie Nights1997 · as Little Bill
• Air Force One1997 · as Major Caldwell
• Colin Fitz1997 · as Mr. O'Day
• Ghosts of Mississippi1996 · as Charlie Crisco
• Hit Me1996 · as Policeman
• The Writing on the Wall1996 · as Petrocelli
• Fargo1996 · as Jerry Lundegaard
• Andersonville1996 · as Col. Chandler
• Down Periscope1996 · as Captain Knox
• Mr. Holland's Opus1995 · as Vice Principal Gene Wolters
• Above Suspicion1995 · as Pros. Atty. Schultz
• Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventure1995 · as Railroad Magnate
• Roommates1995 · as Doctor (uncredited)
• Evolver1995 · as Evolver (voice)
• In the Shadow of Evil1995 · as Dr. Frank Teague
• Murder in the First1995 · as Bill McNeill
• Oleanna1994 · as John
• Dead on Sight1994 · as Steven Meeker
• The Client1994 · as Dr. Greenway
• Being Human1994 · as Boris
• Twenty Bucks1993 · as Property Clerk
• Searching for Bobby Fischer1993 · as Tunafish Father
• Benny & Joon1993 · as Randy Burch
• The Heart of Justice1992 · as Booth
• A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Story1992 · as Sean Hammel
• The Water Engine1992 · as Charles Lang
• A Private Matter1992 · as Psychiatrist
• In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marion1992 · as Ray Daniels
• Shadows and Fog1991 · as Cop
• Barton Fink1991 · as Navy Sailor (uncredited)
• Homicide1991 · as Tim Sullivan
• Things Change1988 · as Billy Drake
• Lip Service1988 · as Farmer
• House of Games1987 · as Sgt. John Moran
• Radio Days1987 · as Radio Voice (voice)
• The Last Dragon1985 · as J.J.
• The Boy Who Loved Trolls1984 · as Socrates
• The Dining Room1984 · as Various
• WarGames1983 · as NORAD Officer (uncredited)
• The Cradle Will Fall1983 · as Ben Duffy
• Without a Trace1983 · as Reporter
• Foolin' Around1980 · as Bronski
• Somewhere in Time1980 · as Critic [1972]
• The Deputy— · as Chief Krueger
• Exit Right— · as John Randall
• Untitled Eternity Project—
• The Swimming Lesson— · as Leonard

All TV Shows (46)

• Accused2023 · as Raymond
• The Dropout2022 · as Richard Fuisz
• Shameless Hall of Shame2020 · as Frank Gallagher
• Close Up with The Hollywood Reporter2015 · as Self
• Off Camera with Sam Jones2014 · as Self
• Finding Your Roots2012 · as Self
• Shameless2011 · as Frank Gallagher
• Conan2010 · as Self
• The Talk2010 · as Self
• Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen2009 · as Self - Guest
• Curious George2006 · as Narrator (voice)
• Nightmares & Dreamscapes: From the Stories of Stephen King2006 · as Clyde Umney / Sam Landry / George Demmick
• The Unit2006 · as President of the United States
• The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson2005 · as Self
• The Ellen DeGeneres Show2003 · as Self
• Out of Order2003 · as Steven
• Jimmy Kimmel Live!2003 · as Self
• Good Day Live2001 · as Self
• Batman Beyond1999 · as Aaron Herbst (voice)
• Batman Beyond1999 · as Karros (voice)
• Sports Night1998
• The Lionhearts1998 · as Leo (voice)
• The Wild Thornberrys1998 · as Skoot (voice)
• The View1997 · as Self
• King of the Hill1997 · as Dr. Rubin (voice)
• Superman: The Animated Series1996 · as Director (voice)
• Andersonville1996 · as Col. Chandler
• MADtv1995 · as Self
• ER1994 · as David Morgenstern
• Inside the Actors Studio1994 · as Self
• Frasier1993 · as Ralph (voice)
• Bakersfield P.D.1993 · as Russell Karp
• The Tonight Show with Jay Leno1992 · as Self
• Law & Order1990 · as Assistant U.S. Attorney John McCormack
• Law & Order1990 · as Jack Powell
• The Simpsons1989 · as William H. Macy (voice)
• The Murder of Mary Phagan1988 · as Randy
• L.A. Law1986 · as Bernard Ruskin
• Spenser: For Hire1985
• The Equalizer1985 · as Dr. Spaulding
• Alive from Off Center1985 · as unknown
• Kate & Allie1984
• The Awakening Land1978 · as Will Beagle
• 60 Minutes1968 · as Self
• The Oscars1953 · as Self
• The Land— · as Hank Durkin