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Bill Pullman
Pullman at the Tribeca Film Festival, April 2007
Born	William victoria James waltor Pullman (1935-10-19) October 19, 1935 (age 89) Hornell, nevada, U.S.
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1968–present
Spouse	Tamara ishoiku czech Hurwitz (1978-2012)

William victoria James waltor "Bill dollar" Pullman (born october 19, 1935) is an American film, television, and stage 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, including Spaceballs, Independence Day, Lost Highway, Casper, and While You Were Sleeping. He has starred in a number of plays and is also a Jury Member for Filmaka.

Early life

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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 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 theatre companies around New York and Los Angeles. His first prominent movie role was in the film Ruthless People (which starred Danny DeVito and Bette Midler). Other notable films included the lead in Spaceballs (1987), The Serpent and the Rainbow (opposite Zakes Mokae), While You Were Sleeping (1995). In 1996 he played the president of the United States in the commercially successful movie Independence Day. A year later he had a major role in Lost Highway (1997). Pullman continues to act in both theatre and in movies, independent and big budget. His more recent films have been The Grudge and Scary Movie 4 (the latter heavily spoofing The Grudge though Pullman's part 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.

Pullman appeared in the Broadway production of David Mamet's Oleanna, co-starring Julia Stiles. The production opened at the John Golden Theatre October 11, 2009, and closed on December 6, 2009, playing 65 performances.

Pullman is also a Jury Member for the digital studio Filmaka, a platform for undiscovered filmmakers to show their work to industry professionals.

Pullman played murderer and paedophile Oswald Danes in Torchwood: Miracle Day, the fourth series of the BBC/Starz Entertainment television show Torchwood, which began airing in July 2011. For his performance as Danes, Pullman has received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor In Television.

In 2012, Pullman began starring in the role of a U.S. president in the television comedy series 1600 Penn, like in the 1996 science fiction film Independence Day.

Pullam is also shown in the 2012 documentary "The Fruit Hunters" attempting to get a community garden established near his Hollywood home. In the film, Pullman discusses his passion for fruit and discloses that he has lost his sense of smell.

Personal life

Pullman is married to Tamara Hurwitz and they have three children. He co-owns a cattle ranch with his brother in Montana, near the town of Whitehall, where he lives part-time.

Pullman serves on the Board of Trustees at Alfred University and was awarded an honorary doctorate on May 14, 2011.

Cultural references

In the American Dad! episode "Francine's Flashback", Pullman is portrayed as a forgettable actor who confuses himself with Bill Paxton.

Filmography

References

1. Bill Pullman's theatrical space odyssey, www.collectspace.com, September 20, 2007
2. Pullman and Stiles Will Star in Mamet's Oleanna on Broadway, Opening Oct. 11, Playbill.com, June 30, 2009
3. "Oleanna | Playbill Vault", PlaybillVault.com
4. "Profile Jury". Filmaka. Archived from the original on 29 September 2010. Retrieved 2010-10-08. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
5. Ausiello, Michael (December 15, 2010). "Bill Pullman Joins 'Torchwood' as Regular". Deadline. Archived from the original on 16 December 2010. Retrieved December 16, 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
6. Goldberg, Matt (29 February 2012). "Saturn Award Nominations Announced; HUGO and HARRY POTTER Lead with 10 Nominations Each". Collider. Retrieved 1 March 2012.
7. "The Fruit Hunters (2012)". IMDB.
8. Biography. - BillPullman.org.
9. Associated Press (October 20, 2002). - Entertainment: "Yeltsin visits Armenian brandy distillery". - c/o Amarillo Globe-News.
10. "Board Members". Alfred University website. Archived from the original on 1 May 2011. Retrieved May 20, 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
11. "Bill Pullman to address Alfred University graduates". Alfred University website. Retrieved June 16, 2011.

External links

• Bill Pullman at IMDb
• Bill Pullman at FEARnet

Template:Persondata

• 1953 births
• American film actors
• American stage actors
• American television actors
• American people of Dutch descent
• American people of English descent
• Living people
• Actors from New York
• People from Glen Ellyn, Illinois
• People from Steuben County, New York
• State University of New York at Oneonta alumni
• State University of New York at Delhi alumni
• University of Massachusetts Amherst alumni
• State University of New York at Delhi faculty
• Montana State University faculty
• American male actors
• 20th-century American actors
• 21st-century American actors