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Bill Pullman

Actor

Bill Pullman

Born December 17, 1953 in Hornell, New York, USA90 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
The Equalizer posterFirst watchThe Equalizer20147.3as Brian PlummerMcCall believes he has put his mysterious past behind him and dedicated himself to beginning a new, quiet life. But when he meets Teri, a young girl under the control of ultra-violent…View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Independence Day poster6.9Independence Day1996Lost Highway poster7.6Lost Highway1997The Equalizer 2 poster6.8The Equalizer 22018Dark Waters poster7.5Dark Waters2019Spaceballs poster6.9Spaceballs1987Casper poster6.3Casper1995While You Were Sleeping poster7.0While You Were Sleeping1995Sleepless in Seattle poster6.7Sleepless in Seattle1993

Filmography

90 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. 2010Rio Sex ComedyWilliam
  32. 2010PeacockEdmund French
  33. 2010The Killer Inside MeBilly Boy Walker
  34. 2008Bottle ShockJim Barrett
  35. 2008Your Name HereWilliam J. Frick
  36. 2008SurveillanceSam Hallaway
  37. 2008Phoebe in WonderlandPeter Lichten
  38. 2007Nobel SonMax Mariner
  39. 2007You Kill MeDave
  40. 2006Scary Movie 4Henry Hale
  41. 2006Alien AutopsyMorgan Banner
  42. 2005Dear WendyKrugsby
  43. 2004The GrudgePeter Kirk
  44. 2004Tiger CruiseGary Dolan
  45. 2003RickRick O'Lette
  46. 2002Igby Goes DownJason
  47. 200229 PalmsThe Ticket Clerk
  48. 2002IgnitionConor Gallagher
  49. 2000Lucky NumbersDetective Pat Lakewood
  50. 2000A Man Is Mostly WaterParking Fascist
  51. 2000Titan A.E.Korso (voice)
  52. 2000The GuiltyCallum Crane
  53. 2000The VirginianThe Virginian
  54. 1999Spy GamesHarry Howe / Ernie Halliday
  55. 1999Brokedown PalaceHank Greene
  56. 1999Lake PlacidJack Wells
  57. 1998Zero EffectDaryl Zero
  58. 1997Merry Christmas, George BaileyGeorge Bailey
  59. 1997The End of ViolenceMike
  60. 1997Lost HighwayFred Madison
  61. 1996MistrialSteve Donohue
  62. 1996Independence DayPresident Thomas J. Whitmore
  63. 1996Mr. WrongWhitman Crawford
  64. 1995CasperDr. Harvey
  65. 1995While You Were SleepingJack Callaghan
  66. 1994Wyatt EarpEd Masterson
  67. 1994The Last SeductionClay Gregory
  68. 1994The FavorPeter
  69. 1993Mr. JonesConstruction Site Foreman (uncredited)
  70. 1993MaliceAndy Sarafian
  71. 1993Sleepless in SeattleWalter
  72. 1993SommersbyOrin Meecham
  73. 1992SinglesDr. Jeffrey Jamison
  74. 1992Crazy in LoveNick Symonds
  75. 1992A League of Their OwnBob Hinson
  76. 1992PhoneDuke
  77. 1992NewsiesBryan Denton
  78. 1992Nervous TicksYork Daley
  79. 1991LiebestraumPaul Kessler
  80. 1991Going UnderBiff Banner
  81. 1990Bright AngelBob
  82. 1990Sibling RivalryNicholas Meany
  83. 1990Brain DeadDr. Rex Martin
  84. 1989Cold FeetBuck
  85. 1989Home Fires BurningLt. Henry Tibbettes
  86. 1988The Accidental TouristJulian Hedge
  87. 1988Rocket GibraltarCrow Black
  88. 1988The Serpent and the RainbowDennis Alan
  89. 1987SpaceballsLone Starr
  90. 1986Ruthless PeopleEarl James Mott