Bill Pullman
Birth Place: Hornell, NY, USA
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BIO
Bill Pullman began his career in the 1980s, working with theater companies in New York and Los Angeles before transitioning to film. His early screen credits include *Ruthless People* (1986), followed by leading roles in *Spaceballs* (1987), in which he played Lone Starr, and *The Serpent and the Rainbow* (1988). He later appeared in *A League of Their Own* (1992), *Malice* (1993), *Casper* (1995), and *While You Were Sleeping* (1995). In 1996, he portrayed the President of the United States in *Independence Day*, and went on to appear in *Lost Highway* (1997) and voice Korso in *Titan A.E.* (2000).
On stage, Pullman starred opposite Mercedes Ruehl in the Broadway production of Edward Albee’s *The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?* (2002), earning a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Actor in a Play. He received a second Drama Desk nomination for his performance in Albee’s *Peter and Jerry* at New York’s Second Stage Theatre (2008). He later appeared in the Broadway revival of David Mamet’s *Oleanna* (2009), opposite Julia Stiles.
In addition to acting, Pullman is a playwright. His first play, *Expedition 6*, premiered at San Francisco’s Magic Theatre in 2007.
His television credits include starring as Dr. Richard Massey in the miniseries *Revelations* (2005), portraying Oswald Danes in *Torchwood: Miracle Day* (2011), and playing the President of the United States in the comedy series *1600 Penn* (2012–2013). From 2017 to 2021, he starred as detective Harry Ambrose in the USA Network anthology series *The Sinner*.
More recent work includes portraying Alex Murdaugh in the Lifetime miniseries *Murdaugh Murders: The Movie* (2023). In 2025, Pullman was announced to reprise his role as Lone Starr in *Spaceballs: The New One*, scheduled for release in 2027. In 2026, he was announced to make his Royal Shakespeare Company debut as Gaev in *The Cherry Orchard* and to star as Jack Willard in the Netflix series *The Boroughs* (2026).
STAGE CREDITS
Movies
[ 1986 ] Earl
[ 1987 ] Lone Starr
[ 1988 ] Crow Black
[ 1988 ] Dennis Alan
[ 1988 ] Julian Hedge
[ 1989 ] Buck
[ 1990 ] Bob
[ 1990 ] Nichol Meany
[ 1990 ] Rex Martin
[ 1991 ] Biff Banner
[ 1991 ] Paul Kessler
[ 1992 ] Bob Hinson
[ 1992 ] Bryan Denton
[ 1992 ] Dr. Jeffrey Jamison
[ 1992 ] York Daley
[ 1993 ] Andy
[ 1993 ] Orin
[ 1993 ] Walter
[ 1994 ] Clay Gregory
[ 1994 ] Ed Mterson
[ 1994 ] Peter Whiting
[ 1995 ] Dr. Harvey
[ 1995 ] Jack
[ 1996 ] President Thom J. Whitmore
[ 1996 ] Whitman Crawford
[ 1997 ] Fred Madison
[ 1997 ] Mike Max
[ 1998 ] Daryl Zero
[ 1999 ] Hank Greene
[ 1999 ] Harry Howe, Ernie Halliday
[ 1999 ] Jack Wells
[ 2000 ] Callum Crane
[ 2000 ] Det. Pat Lakewood
[ 2000 ] Korso
[ 2000 ] Parking Fcist
[ 2001 ] Deputy Marshal Conor Gallagher
[ 2002 ] Jon
[ 2002 ] The Ticket Clerk
[ 2003 ] Rick O Lette
[ 2004 ] Peter
[ 2005 ] Krugsby
[ 2006 ] Henry Hale
[ 2006 ] Morgan Banner
[ 2007 ] Dave
[ 2007 ] Max Mariner
[ 2008 ] Jim Barrett
[ 2008 ] Peter Lichten
[ 2008 ] Sam Hallaway
[ 2008 ] William J. Frick
[ 2010 ] Billy Boy Walker
[ 2010 ] Edmund French
[ 2010 ] William
[ 2011 ] Kent
[ 2012 ] Lenny
[ 2013 ] Edward
[ 2014 ] Brian Plummer
[ 2014 ] John Webster
[ 2014 ] Sicilius Leonatus
[ 2015 ] Krueger
[ 2016 ] Jerry Turley
[ 2016 ] President Whitmore
[ 2016 ] Senator Ralph Yarborough
[ 2017 ] Ben
[ 2017 ] Bill Pullman
[ 2017 ] Clyde
[ 2017 ] Jack Kramer
[ 2017 ] Lefty Brown
[ 2018 ] Brian Plummer
[ 2019 ] Harry Dietzler
[ 2019 ] Joe Keller
[ 2019 ] Joshua Mansky
[ 2020 ] Max
[ 2025 ] Ross
TV Shows
President Dale Gilchrist
Harry Ambrose
Old Jack
Old Jack
Awards and Nominations
Bill Pullman, Sticks and Bones
Bill Pullman, Sticks and Bones
Bill Pullman, The Jacksonian
Bill Pullman, Peter and Jerry
winner
Bill Pullman, The Goat
Bill Pullman, The Goat
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Bill Pullman has appeared on Broadway in 3 shows.
Bill Pullman has appeared on London's West End in 3 shows.
Bill Pullman's first West End show was All My Sons which opened in 2019
Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Sticks and Bones, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (The Lortels) for Sticks and Bones, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Jacksonian, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Peter and Jerry, Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Goat and Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Goat.
Bill Pullman won the Outstanding Actor in a Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for his performance in The Goat.
Videos