Bill Pullman
born on 17/12/1953 in Hornell, NY, United States
Bill Pullman
Bill Pullman | |
Pullman at the Tribeca Film Festival, April 2007
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Born | December 17 1953 Hornell, New York, U.S. |
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Education | Hornell High School |
Alma mater |
State University of New York at Delhi State University of New York at Oneonta |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1986present |
Spouse(s) | Tamara Hurwitz (1987present) |
William James "Bill" Pullman (born December 17, 1953) is an American actor. Pullman made his film debut in the supporting role of Earl Mott in the 1986 film Ruthless People. He has since gone on to star in other films, such as Spaceballs (1987), Independence Day (1996), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Casper (1995) and Lost Highway (1997). He has starred in a number of plays and is also a Jury Member for Filmaka.
Early life
Pullman was born in Hornell, New York, the son of James Pullman, a physician, and his wife Johanna (née Blaas), a nurse. His father's family descends from England, and his maternal grandparents immigrated from the Netherlands. 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 in the 1970s. He eventually received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Pullman taught theater at SUNY Delhi and Montana State University's School of Film and Photography, where he was convinced by his students to attempt film.
Career
During the 1980s, he primarily worked with theater companies around New York and Los Angeles. His first prominent film role was in Ruthless People (which starred 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 disaster 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 been The Grudge and Scary Movie 4 (the latter heavily spoofing The Grudge though Pullman's role spoofed The Village).
From February 2001 until February 2002, Pullman starred with Mercedes Ruehl, in Edward Albee's play The Goat, or Who is Sylvia? on Broadway. The play won several awards: 2002 Tony Award for Best Play; 2002 Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play; 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 End of Days miniseries, Revelations. Pullman starred in Edward Albee's Peter and Jerry, at Off-Broadway's Second Stage Theatre in New York. Pullman received a second Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play for Peter and Jerry in 2008.
In addition to acting, Pullman is a creative writer. His first play, Expedition 6, is about the International Space Station mission Expedition 6 that was in orbit at the time that the Space Shuttle Columbia was destroyed on reentry, grounding the U.S. space shuttle program, which was to provide the vehicle for the crew's return to earth. The play opened at San Francisco's Magic Theater in September 2007.[1]
He also appeared in the Broadway production of David Mamet's Oleanna, co-starring Julia Stiles.[2] The production opened at the John Golden Theatre October 11, 2009, and closed on December 6, 2009, playing 65 performances.[3]
He is also a Jury Member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.[4]
Pullman played murderer and paedophile Oswald Danes in Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth series of the BBC/Starz Entertainment television show Torchwood,[5] which began airing in July 2011. For his performance as Danes, Pullman has received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor In Television.[6]
In 2012-13, Pullman starred in the role of a U.S. president in the television comedy series 1600 Penn.
Personal life
Pullman is married to Tamara Hurwitz and they have three children.[7] He co-owns a cattle ranch with his brother in Montana, near the town of Whitehall, where he lives part-time.[8] He also serves on the Board of Trustees at Alfred University[9] and was awarded an honorary doctorate on May 14, 2011.[10]
Cultural references
In the American Dad! episode "Francine's Flashback", Pullman is portrayed as a forgettable actor who confuses himself with Bill Paxton.
Filmography
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Ruthless People | Earl Mott | |
1987 | Spaceballs | Lone Starr | |
1988 | The Serpent and the Rainbow | Dennis Alan | |
1988 | Rocket Gibraltar | Crow Black | |
1988 | The Accidental Tourist | Julian | |
1990 | Brain Dead | Dr. Rex Martin | |
1990 | Sibling Rivalry | Nicholas Meany | |
1990 | Bright Angel | Bob | |
1991 | Liebestraum | Paul Kessler | |
1992 | Newsies | Bryan Denton | |
1992 | A League of Their Own | Bob Hinson | |
1992 | Singles | Doctor Jamison | |
1993 | Sommersby | Orin Meecham | |
1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Walter | |
1993 | Malice | Andy Safian | |
1993 | Mr. Jones | Construction Site Foreman | Uncredited |
1994 | The Favor | Peter | |
1994 | Wyatt Earp | Ed Masterson | |
1994 | The Last Seduction | Clay Gregory | |
1995 | While You Were Sleeping | Jack Callaghan | |
1995 | Casper | Dr. James Harvey | |
1996 | Mr. Wrong | Whitman Crawford | |
1996 | Independence Day | President Thomas J. Whitmore | |
1997 | Lost Highway | Fred Madison | |
1997 | The End of Violence | Mike Max | |
1998 | Zero Effect | Daryl Zero | |
1999 | Lake Placid | Jack Wells | |
1999 | Brokedown Palace | 'Yankee' Hank Green | |
1999 | History Is Made at Night | Harry Howe/Ernie Halliday | |
2000 | The Guilty | Callum Crane | |
2000 | Titan A.E. | Captain Joseph Korso | Voice |
2000 | Lucky Numbers | Det. Pat Lakewood | |
2001 | Ignition | Conor Gallagher | |
2002 | Igby Goes Down | Jason Slocumb | |
2003 | Rick | Rick | |
2004 | The Grudge | Peter Kirk | |
2005 | Dear Wendy | Officer Krugsby | |
2006 | Scary Movie 4 | Henry Hale | |
2006 | Alien Autopsy | Morgan Banner | |
2007 | Nobel Son | Max Mariner | |
2007 | You Kill Me | Dave | |
2008 | Surveillance | Sam Hallaway | |
2008 | Bottle Shock | Jim Barrett | |
2008 | Phoebe in Wonderland | Peter Lichten | |
2008 | Your Name Here | William J. Frick | |
2010 | Peacock | Edmund French | |
2010 | The Killer Inside Me | Billy Bob Walker | |
2010 | Rio Sex Comedy | William | |
2011 | Bringing Up Bobby | Kent | |
2012 | Lola Versus | Lenny | |
2014 | Red Sky | ||
2014 | Cymbeline | Post-Production | |
2015 | American Ultra | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1986 | Cagney & Lacey | Doctor Giordano | Episode: "A Safe Place" |
1989 | Home Fires Burning | Henry Tibbets | Movie |
1990 | The Tracey Ullman Show | Sheldon Moss | Episode: "The Word" |
1992 | Crazy in Love | Nick Symonds | Movie |
1995 | Fallen Angels | Rich Thurber | Episode: "Tomorrow I Die" |
1996 | Mistrial | Steve Donohue | Movie |
1997 | Merry Christmas, George Bailey | George Bailey | Movie |
2000 | The Virginian | The Virginian | Movie |
2001 | Night Visions | Major Ben Darnell | Episode: "A View Through the Window" |
2004 | Tiger Cruise | Cmdr. Dolan | Movie |
2005 | Revelations | Richard Massey | 6 episodes |
2008 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Kurt Moss | Episode: "Closet" |
2010 | Nathan vs. Nature | Arthur | Movie |
2011 | Too Big to Fail | Jamie Dimon | Movie |
2011 | Innocent | Rusty Sabich | Movie |
2011 | Torchwood: Miracle Day | Oswald Danes | 8 episodes Nominated Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television |
2012-2013 | 1600 Penn | President Dale Gilchrist | 13 episodes |
References
- Bill Pullman's theatrical space odyssey, www.collectspace.com, September 20, 2007
- Pullman and Stiles Will Star in Mamet's Oleanna on Broadway, Opening Oct. 11, Playbill.com, June 30, 2009
- "Oleanna | Playbill Vault", PlaybillVault.com
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- Biography. - BillPullman.org.
- Associated Press (October 20, 2002). - Entertainment: "Yeltsin visits Armenian brandy distillery". - c/o Amarillo Globe-News.
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External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Bill Pullman
- Official website
- Bill Pullman at the Internet Movie Database
- Bill Pullman at FEARnet
This article uses material from the article Bill Pullman from the free encyclopedia Wikipedia and it is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.