Bill Pullman

Actor

Bill Pullman

Born December 17, 1953 in Hornell, New York, USA89 films

William James Pullman (born December 17, 1953) is an American actor. After graduating with a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre, he was an adjunct professor at Montana State University before deciding to pursue acting.

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Pullman made his film debut in Ruthless People (1986), and starred in Spaceballs (1987), The Accidental Tourist and The Serpent and the Rainbow (both 1988), Newsies (1992), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Wyatt Earp (1994), While You Were Sleeping (1995), Independence Day (1996), Lost Highway (1997), and Lake Placid (1999). He also voiced Captain Joseph Korso in Titan A.E. (2000). He has also appeared frequently on television, usually in TV films. Since the 21st century began, Pullman has also acted in miniseries and regular series such as Torchwood (2011), playing starring roles in 1600 Penn (2012–13) and The Sinner (2017–2021). In 2021, he had a recurring role in the miniseries Halston.

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

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The best way into Bill Pullman's work
Lost Highway posterFirst watchLost Highway19977.6as Fred MadisonA leading role in one of the best-rated films of their career.A tormented jazz musician finds himself lost in an enigmatic story involving murder, surveillance, gangsters, doppelgängers, and an impossible transformation inside a prison cell.View film

Essential films

Ranked by role, acclaim and reach
Independence Day poster6.9Independence Day1996Spaceballs poster6.9Spaceballs1987While You Were Sleeping poster7.0While You Were Sleeping1995Newsies poster6.7Newsies1992The Serpent and the Rainbow poster6.4The Serpent and the Rainbow1988Dark Waters poster7.5Dark Waters2019Lake Placid poster6.0Lake Placid1999The Coldest Game poster6.2The Coldest Game2019

Most loved on Nook

Rated by NookFilm members
The Equalizer poster7.3The Equalizer2014The Equalizer 2 poster6.8The Equalizer 22018

Filmography

89 films as actor
  1. TBAFamous
  2. TBAA Bridge BetweenBobby Verdun
  3. TBAPlaymatesHugh Hefner
  4. 2027Spaceballs: The New OneLone Starr
  5. 2026Everybody Digs Bill EvansHarry
  6. 2026The Basics of PhilosophyMelvyn Jorrisen
  7. 2025Killing FaithRoss
  8. 2020The High NoteMax
  9. 2019Dark WatersHarry Dietzler
  10. 2019The Coldest GameJoshua Mansky
  11. 2019National Theatre Live: All My SonsJoe Keller
  12. 2018TroubleBen
  13. 2018The Equalizer 2Brian Plummer
  14. 2017The Ballad of Lefty BrownLefty Brown
  15. 2017LBJRalph Yarborough
  16. 2017Battle of the SexesJack Kramer
  17. 2017A Thousand JunkiesBill Pullman
  18. 2017Walking OutClyde
  19. 2016The War of 1996: A United World News SpecialPresident Whitmore
  20. 2016Brother NatureJerry Turley
  21. 2016Independence Day: ResurgencePresident Whitmore
  22. 2015American UltraKrueger
  23. 2014The EqualizerBrian Plummer
  24. 2014CymbelineSicilius Leonatus
  25. 2014May in the SummerEdward
  26. 2014Red SkyJohn Webster
  27. 2012Lola VersusLenny
  28. 2011InnocentRusty Sabich
  29. 2011Too Big to FailJamie Dimon
  30. 2011Bringing Up BobbyKent
  31. 2010PeacockEdmund French
  32. 2010The Killer Inside MeBilly Boy Walker
  33. 2008Bottle ShockJim Barrett
  34. 2008Your Name HereWilliam J. Frick
  35. 2008SurveillanceSam Hallaway
  36. 2008Phoebe in WonderlandPeter Lichten
  37. 2007Nobel SonMax Mariner
  38. 2007You Kill MeDave
  39. 2006Scary Movie 4Henry Hale
  40. 2006Alien AutopsyMorgan Banner
  41. 2005Dear WendyKrugsby
  42. 2004The GrudgePeter Kirk
  43. 2004Tiger CruiseGary Dolan
  44. 2003RickRick O'Lette
  45. 2002Igby Goes DownJason
  46. 200229 PalmsThe Ticket Clerk
  47. 2002IgnitionConor Gallagher
  48. 2000Lucky NumbersDetective Pat Lakewood
  49. 2000A Man Is Mostly WaterParking Fascist
  50. 2000Titan A.E.Korso (voice)
  51. 2000The GuiltyCallum Crane
  52. 2000The VirginianThe Virginian
  53. 1999Spy GamesHarry Howe / Ernie Halliday
  54. 1999Brokedown PalaceHank Greene
  55. 1999Lake PlacidJack Wells
  56. 1998Zero EffectDaryl Zero
  57. 1997Merry Christmas, George BaileyGeorge Bailey
  58. 1997The End of ViolenceMike
  59. 1997Lost HighwayFred Madison
  60. 1996MistrialSteve Donohue
  61. 1996Independence DayPresident Thomas J. Whitmore
  62. 1996Mr. WrongWhitman Crawford
  63. 1995CasperDr. Harvey
  64. 1995While You Were SleepingJack Callaghan
  65. 1994Wyatt EarpEd Masterson
  66. 1994The Last SeductionClay Gregory
  67. 1994The FavorPeter
  68. 1993Mr. JonesConstruction Site Foreman (uncredited)
  69. 1993MaliceAndy Sarafian
  70. 1993Sleepless in SeattleWalter
  71. 1993SommersbyOrin Meecham
  72. 1992SinglesDr. Jeffrey Jamison
  73. 1992Crazy in LoveNick Symonds
  74. 1992A League of Their OwnBob Hinson
  75. 1992PhoneDuke
  76. 1992NewsiesBryan Denton
  77. 1992Nervous TicksYork Daley
  78. 1991LiebestraumPaul Kessler
  79. 1991Going UnderBiff Banner
  80. 1990Bright AngelBob
  81. 1990Sibling RivalryNicholas Meany
  82. 1990Brain DeadDr. Rex Martin
  83. 1989Cold FeetBuck
  84. 1989Home Fires BurningLt. Henry Tibbettes
  85. 1988The Accidental TouristJulian Hedge
  86. 1988Rocket GibraltarCrow Black
  87. 1988The Serpent and the RainbowDennis Alan
  88. 1987SpaceballsLone Starr
  89. 1986Ruthless PeopleEarl James Mott