William H. Macy
Acting
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.
Filmography
Acting (137)
2026
The Deputyas Chief Krueger
2026
Speed Demonas Father Novak
4.8
2026
2025
Frontier Crucibleas Major O'Rourke
6.5
2025
The Running Manas Molie
6.7
2025
Train Dreamsas Arn Peeples
7.3
2025
Soul on Fireas Jack Buck
7.4
2024
Kingdom of the Planet of the Apesas Trevathan
7.0
2024
Ricky Stanickyas Summerhayes
6.5
2023
Maybe I Doas Sam
5.5
2018
2018
Krystalas Wyatt
5.1
2016
Blood Fatheras Kirby Curtis
6.2
2016
Stealing Carsas Philip Wyatt
6.2
2015
Roomas Robert
8.0
2015
Dial a Prayeras Bill
5.0
2015
Walteras Dr. Corman
5.2
2014
Two-Bit Waltzas Carl
5.5
2014
Rudderlessas Trill
7.2
2014
Cakeas Leonard
6.3
2013
A Single Shotas Pitt
5.7
2013
Trust Meas Gary
5.8
2013
Citizen Hearstas Narrator
2012
The Sessionsas Father Brendan
6.9
2012
Curious George: Saves the Dayas The Narrator (voice)
9.5
8.0
2011
The Lincoln Lawyeras Frank Levin
7.2
2011
Return to Jurassic Parkas Self
6.6
2010
Dirty Girlas Ray
6.0
2010
Marmadukeas Don Twombly
5.3
2009
Shortsas Dr. Noseworthy
5.9
2009
Heath Ledger: A Tributeas Self
8.3
2009
The Maiden Heistas George McLendon
5.7
2008
The Tale of Despereauxas Lester (voice)
6.2
2008
The Dealas Charlie Berns
5.4
2008
Bart Got a Roomas Ernie Stein
5.7
2007
He Was a Quiet Manas Gene Shelby
6.4
2007
Lynch 2as Self
6.0
2007
Wild Hogsas Dudley Frank
6.0
2006
Inland Empireas Announcer
7.0
6.0
2006
Bobbyas Paul Ebbers
6.4
2006
Everyone's Heroas Lefty Maginnis (voice)
6.1
2006
Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowmanas Rudyard North (voice)
6.5
2006
Edmondas Edmond
6.0
2006
Doogalas Brian (voice)
4.9
2005
Thank You for Smokingas Senator Ortolan Finistirre
7.2
2005
Saharaas Admiral Jim Sandecker
5.9
2004
The Wool Capas Gigot
6.5
2004
Cellularas Sgt. Bob Mooney
6.4
2004
Reversible Errorsas Arthur Raven
6.2
2004
Spartanas Stoddard
6.2
2004
In Enemy Handsas Nathan Travers
5.8
2004
Dialing Up "Cellular"as Self
9.0
2003
The Cooleras Bernie Lootz
6.7
2003
The True Story of Seabiscuitas Narrator (voice)
8.0
2003
Seabiscuitas Tick Tock McGlaughlin
7.1
2003
2003
Minnesota Niceas Self
7.4
2003
Easy Riders, Raging Bulls: How the Sex 'n' Drugs 'n' Rock 'n' Roll Generation Saved Hollywoodas Self - Narrator (voice)
7.1
2003
Stealing Sinatraas John Irwin
5.5
2002
6.0
2002
Welcome to Collinwoodas Riley
6.1
2002
Door to Dooras Bill Porter
7.5
2001
5.0
2001
Focusas Lawrence 'Larry' Newman
6.5
2001
Jurassic Park IIIas Paul Kirby
6.2
2000
Panicas Alex
6.2
2000
The Coen Brothersas Self
7.8
2000
State and Mainas Walt Price
6.3
2000
That Moment: Magnolia Diaryas Self
7.7
1999
Magnoliaas Quiz Kid Donnie Smith
7.7
1999
Happy, Texasas Sheriff Chappy Dent
5.7
1999
The Night of the Headless Horsemanas Ichabod Crane
5.4
1999
A Slight Case of Murderas Terry Thorpe
6.5
1999
Mystery Menas Shoveler / Eddie
5.9
1999
Psycho Pathas Self - Actor / Milton Arbogast
7.2
1999
Batman Beyond: Tech Wars and Disappearing Inqueas Aaron Herbst
7.4
1999
The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescueas Justin (voice)
4.7
1998
A Civil Actionas James Gordon
6.5
1998
Psychoas Milton Arbogast
5.1
1998
Jerry and Tomas Karl
6.2
1998
Pleasantvilleas George Parker
7.3
1998
The Conas Bobby
5.5
1998
1997
Wag the Dogas CIA Agent Charles Young
6.9
1997
Boogie Nightsas Little Bill
7.6
1997
Air Force Oneas Major Caldwell
6.5
1997
Colin Fitzas Mr. O'Day
6.3
1996
Ghosts of Mississippias Charlie Crisco
6.6
1996
Hit Meas Policeman
6.0
1996
The Writing on the Wallas Petrocelli
3.6
1996
Fargoas Jerry Lundegaard
7.8
1996
Andersonvilleas Col. Chandler
6.5
1996
Down Periscopeas Captain Knox
6.4
1995
Mr. Holland's Opusas Vice Principal Gene Wolters
7.0
1995
Above Suspicionas Pros. Atty. Schultz
6.4
1995
Tall Tale: The Unbelievable Adventureas Railroad Magnate
6.2
1995
Roommatesas Doctor (uncredited)
5.7
1995
Evolveras Evolver (voice)
5.2
1995
In the Shadow of Evilas Dr. Frank Teague
5.0
1995
Murder in the Firstas Bill McNeill
7.1
1994
Oleannaas John
6.2
1994
Dead on Sightas Steven Meeker
4.3
1994
ER: 24 Hoursas Dr. David Morgenstern
10.0
1994
The Clientas Dr. Greenway
6.7
1994
Being Humanas Boris
5.1
1993
Twenty Bucksas Property Clerk
5.7
1993
Searching for Bobby Fischeras Tunafish Father
7.1
1993
Benny & Joonas Randy Burch
7.0
1992
The Heart of Justiceas Booth
5.7
1992
A Murderous Affair: The Carolyn Warmus Storyas Sean Hammel
4.4
1992
The Water Engineas Charles Lang
5.8
1992
A Private Matteras Psychiatrist
5.5
1992
In the Line of Duty: Siege at Marionas Ray Daniels
4.2
1991
Shadows and Fogas Cop
6.7
1991
Barton Finkas Navy Sailor (uncredited)
7.5
1991
Homicideas Tim Sullivan
6.3
1990
All That Glittersas Store Clerk
1988
Things Changeas Billy Drake
6.2
1988
Lip Serviceas Farmer
4.3
1987
House of Gamesas Sgt. John Moran
6.8
1987
Radio Daysas Radio Voice (voice)
7.0
1985
The Last Dragonas J.J.
6.6
1984
The Boy Who Loved Trollsas Socrates
4.5
1984
The Dining Roomas Various
8.0
1983
WarGamesas NORAD Officer (uncredited)
7.1
1983
The Cradle Will Fallas Ben Duffy
4.0
1983
Without a Traceas Reporter
5.4
1980
Foolin' Aroundas Bronski
6.2
1980
Somewhere in Timeas Critic [1972]
7.5
—
Exit Rightas John Randall
—
The Swimming Lessonas Leonard
Production & Directing (22)
2026
The DeputyExecutive Producer
2018
KrystalDirector
5.1
2017
The LayoverDirector
5.4
2014
RudderlessDirector
7.2
2014
RudderlessWriter
7.2
2014
RudderlessExecutive Producer
7.2
2008
The DealScreenplay
5.4
2005
TransamericaExecutive Producer
7.0
2004
The Wool CapTeleplay
6.5
2004
The Wool CapProducer
6.5
2002
Just a Walk in the ParkTeleplay
4.8
2002
Door to DoorWriter
7.5
1999
A Slight Case of MurderTeleplay
6.5
1999
A Slight Case of MurderWriter
6.5
1998
The ConWriter
5.5
1996
Every Woman's DreamTeleplay
6.2
1995
Above SuspicionWriter
6.4
1988
Lip ServiceDirector
4.3
—
Exit RightExecutive Producer
—
Ashes to DustThanks
—
TemperanceWriter
—
TemperanceProducer