Bill Pullman

William Pullman (born December 17, 1953) is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theater, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting. He made his film debut in ''Ruthless People'' (1986), and starred in '' Spaceballs'' (1987), ''The Accidental Tourist'' (1988), ''Sleepless in Seattle'' (1993), '' While You Were Sleeping'' (1995), ''Casper'' (1995), '' Independence Day'' (1996), '' Lost Highway'' (1997), and '' Lake Placid'' (1999). He has appeared frequently on television, usually in TV films. Starting in the 2000s he has also acted in miniseries and regular series, such as ''Torchwood'' (2011), starring roles in '' 1600 Penn'' (2012–13) and '' The Sinner'' (2017–2021). In 2021, he had a recurring role in the miniseries ''Halston''.

Pullman has also had a long stage acting career. He has appeared on Broadway several times, including in Edward Albee's ''The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?'' in 2002.

Early life

Pullman was born in Hornell, New York, the son of James Pullman, a physician, and Johanna ( née Blaas), a nurse.

After graduating from Hornell High School in 1971, he attended the State University of New York at Delhi (SUNY Delhi) and the State University of New York at Oneonta (SUNY Oneonta) in the 1970s. He eventually received his Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. He taught theater at SUNY Delhi and was an adjunct professor at Montana State University's School of Film and Photography in Bozeman, Montana, where his students persuaded him to pursue film roles.

Career

During the 1980s, Pullman worked primarily with theater companies around New York and Los Angeles. His first prominent film role was in ''Ruthless People'', starring Danny DeVito and Bette Midler. Other notable films included the lead in '' Spaceballs'' (1987), '' The Serpent and the Rainbow'' (with Zakes Mokae), and '' While You Were Sleeping'' (1995). In 1996, he played the President of the United States in the sci-fi film '' Independence Day''. A year later he had a major role in '' Lost Highway'' (1997), and voiced Korso in the animated post-apocalyptic film '' Titan A.E.'' His more recent films have included ''The Grudge'' and ''Scary Movie 4''. He also starred alongside Christian Bale in the musical '' Newsies''.

From February 2002 until September 2002, Pullman starred with Mercedes Ruehl in Edward Albee's play ''The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?'' on Broadway. It won the 2002 Tony Award for Best Play, the 2002 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play, and the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. Pullman was nominated for the 2002 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play.

He starred as Dr. Richard Massey in the miniseries '' Revelations,'' and in Albee's play '' Peter and Jerry'', at off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre in New York, for which he received a second Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play in 2008.

Pullman is also a creative writer. His first play, ''Expedition 6'', is about the International Space Station mission Expedition 6, in orbit at the time the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed on reentry, grounding the U.S. space shuttle program and requiring the ISS crew to remain in orbit an additional two months. The play opened at San Francisco's Magic Theater in September 2007.

He also appeared in the Broadway production of David Mamet's '' Oleanna'', co-starring Julia Stiles. It opened at the John Golden Theatre October 11, 2009, and closed on December 6, 2009 after 65 performances.

He is a jury member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.

Pullman played Oswald Danes, a pedophile and child killer, in '' Torchwood: Miracle Day'', the fourth series of the BBC
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