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William H. Macy Biography

Birth Name:William Hall Macy

Birth Place:Miami, Florida, United States

Profession Actor, Writer, Director, Soundtrack, Producer

Fast Facts

  • Co-founded the St․ Nicholas Theater along with director David Mamet
  • Received a Carney Award in 2017
  • Received the Edgar Allen Poe Award in 2000 for his work in "A Slight Case of Murder․"
  • Received the Film Excellence Award at the 2002 Boston Film Festival
  • Was named ambassador of the "United Cerebral Palsy Association․"
  • Married actress Felicity Huffman in 1997
  • Studied acting at Goddard College after deciding to give up his aspirations in veterinary medicine
  • Quote: "A long time ago I realized that it's not an actor's job to be funny, it's the writers job to be funny․"
  • Quote: "Nobody became an actor because he had a good childhood․"
  • Frequently takes on roles in which his characters does not display good morals
  • Was in contention to voice the character Brian on "Family Guy․"
  • Originally provided the voice of Marlin in "Finding Nemo․"

Awards

  • 1992Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: nominated
  • 1995Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 1996ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
  • 1996ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
  • 1996ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 1997Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1997Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 1997American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1997CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: winner
  • 1997FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 1997OFTA Film Award-Best Comedy/Musical Actor: nominated
  • 1997Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1997Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
  • 1998Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast: nominated
  • 1998BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 1998FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 1998OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 1999American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 1999ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
  • 1999Lone Star Film & Television Award-Best TV Actor: winner
  • 1999Lone Star Film & Television Award-Best TV Teleplay: winner
  • 1999NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2000Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Theatrical Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2000American Comedy Award-Funniest Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2000Edgar-Best Television Feature or Miniseries: winner
  • 2000FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2000Jury Award-Best Supporting Male: winner
  • 2000NBR Award-Best Acting by an Ensemble: winner
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2000OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2000Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2000Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2001FFCC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2001OFCS Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2002Best Actor-: winner
  • 2003Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2003Christopher Award-Television & Cable: winner
  • 2003Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2003Humanitas Prize-90 Minute or Longer Category: nominated
  • 2003Humanitas Prize-90 Minute or Longer Category: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2003OFTA Television Award-Best Writing of a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries, Movie or a Dramatic Special: winner
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2003Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2003WGA Award (TV)-Original Long Form: nominated
  • 2004Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2004OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: nominated
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2005Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Made for Television Movie: nominated
  • 2005Prism Award-Performance in a TV Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2005WGA Award (TV)-Long Form - Adapted: nominated
  • 2006Hollywood Film Award-Ensemble of the Year: winner
  • 2006Best Actor-: winner
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2007Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2007Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2007Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2007OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2011Critics' Choice TV Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2011Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Drama: nominated
  • 2012Prism Award-Performance in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2012SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2012Special Jury Prize-Dramatic: winner
  • 2014OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2015BTVA Anime Dub Movie/Special Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in an Anime Feature Film/Special: nominated
  • 2015Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2015OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Felix-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2017Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2017Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2018Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series: winner
  • 2018Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
  • 2018National Film and Television Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2018OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2018Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2019Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2019Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2021Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Actor: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2025SFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2026PFCA Award-Best Featured Actor: winner