Bill Pullman

William James Pullman was born on December 17, 1953, in Hornell, New York. The fifth of seven children, his father was a doctor and his mother was a nurse. Prior to his acting career, Pullman pursued an education in building construction at SUNY Delhi and later earned a BA in Theater from State University of New York College at Oneonta in 1975. He furthered his studies, receiving an MFA in Theater/Directing and an honorary PhD from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. During his time teaching Directing at Montana State University in Bozeman, one of his students, John Dahl, would later cast him in the film “The Last Seduction”. This early background in academia and exposure to various arts influenced his approach to his craft.

Pullman’s acting career commenced in the 1980s, primarily with theater companies in New York and Los Angeles. His film debut came in 1986 with “Ruthless People,” starring Danny DeVito and Bette Midler. This was quickly followed by significant roles in the Mel Brooks comedy “Spaceballs” (1987) as Lone Starr, and the critically acclaimed “The Accidental Tourist” (1988), which garnered an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress Geena Davis. He continued to build a diverse filmography throughout the 1990s, including “Newsies” (1992), “Sleepless in Seattle” (1993), “While You Were Sleeping” (1995), “Casper” (1995), and his iconic portrayal of President Thomas J. Whitmore in the blockbuster “Independence Day” (1996).

Beyond his screen work, Pullman has maintained a strong presence in theatre. He starred alongside Kathy Bates in “Curse of the Starving Class” early in his career and returned to Broadway frequently. Notably, he appeared in Edward Albee’s “The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?” in 2002, earning a Drama Desk Award nomination. His theatrical endeavors also include “Peter and Jerry” (2007) and David Mamet’s “Oleanna” (2009). On television, he is widely recognized for his leading role as Detective Harry Ambrose in “The Sinner” (2017-2021) and as President Dale Gilchrist in “1600 Penn” (2012–2013). Pullman also dedicates time to community involvement, including board work with Cornerstone Theater in Los Angeles and supporting local health services in his hometown of Hornell, New York.