William Fichtner

William Fichtner
Fichtner at the April 2011 USA Film Festival
Born William Edward Fichtner Jr.
(1956-11-27) November 27, 1956
Mitchel Air Force Base, Long Island, New York, U.S.
Other names Bill Fichtner
Alma mater Farmingdale State College, A.A. 1976
SUNY Brockport, B.A. 1978
Occupation Actor
Years active 1987–present
Spouse(s) Betsy Aidem (?–1996)
Kymberly Kalil (1998–present)
Children 2

William Edward Fichtner Jr. (born November 27, 1956) is an American actor who has appeared in a number of notable films and TV series.[1]

He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay in the television series Invasion, Alexander Mahone on Prison Break, and numerous film roles, including: Heat, Contact, Armageddon, The Perfect Storm, Go, Crash, Blades of Glory, Black Hawk Down, The Longest Yard, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Dark Knight, Date Night, The Lone Ranger, Elysium, Independence Day: Resurgence and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Early life

Fichtner was born on Mitchel Air Force Base[2] on Long Island, and was raised in Cheektowaga, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He is the son of Patricia A. (née Steitz) and William E. Fichtner.[3][4] He has German ancestry.[5]

Fichtner graduated from Maryvale High School (Cheektowaga) in 1974. After graduating from Farmingdale State College in 1976 with an associate degree in criminal justice, he attended SUNY Brockport and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1978. Fichtner then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Fichtner credits his Farmingdale State College admissions counselor, Don Harvey, with his decision to study acting. Harvey, who became a lifelong friend, took Fichtner to his first Broadway show. On May 18, 2008, Fichtner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Farmingdale State College.[6]

Career

Fichtner began his acting career as Josh Snyder in As the World Turns in 1987. Fichtner's film credits include Contact, Heat, Armageddon, Go, Equilibrium, Black Hawk Down, The Perfect Storm, The Longest Yard, Crash, Ultraviolet and The Dark Knight. Mainly a character actor, one of Fichtner's few leading roles is in Passion of Mind, also starring Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgård. For his role in Crash, he won a Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance Award and a "Best Acting Ensemble" Award from Broadcast Film Critics Choice. Fichtner currently appears in the sitcom "Mom" on CBS.

Fichtner in 2003

Credited as Bill Fichtner, he voiced the character Ken Rosenberg in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. Between 2005 and 2006, Fichtner also starred in the science-fiction TV series Invasion as Sheriff Tom Underlay. After Invasion was canceled, Fichtner played FBI Agent Alexander Mahone in the second through fourth seasons (2006–2009) of Prison Break.[7] In 2009, he co-presented the Vezina Trophy (for goal tending) at the National Hockey League awards show.[8][9] He also appears in The West Wing episode, "The Supremes" as Christopher Mulready, a conservative judge who is under consideration to be nominated to the Supreme Court. Fichtner also had a role as the Gotham National Bank manager in the feature film The Dark Knight, and as Jurgen in Equilibrium.

In June 2009, Fichtner signed on to guest star on Entourage playing TV producer Phil Yagoda, who is trying to remake his hit 1990s teen series.[10] He also voiced Master Sergeant Sandman in the 2011 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3.[11]

Fichtner played Eric Sacks in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014).[12][13]

Personal life

Fichtner is a fan of the National Football League (NFL)'s Buffalo Bills, appearing in a commercial for the team before the 2014 season.[14] More recently, Fichtner narrated the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary titled Four Falls of Buffalo, chronicling the Buffalo Bills' four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990–93.[15]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994Quiz ShowStage Manager
1995VirtuosityWallace
RecklessRachel's Father
Strange DaysDwayne Engelman
HeatRoger Van Zant
UnderneathTommy Dundee
1996Albino AlligatorLaw
1997ContactKent
SwitchbackChief Jack McGinnis
1998ArmageddonColonel William Sharp
1999GoBurke
The SettlementJerry
2000The Perfect StormDavid "Sully" Sullivan
Drowning MonaPhil Dearly
Passion of MindAaron
Endsville[16]Prince Victor
2001Pearl HarborDanny's Father
Black Hawk DownSFC Jeff SandersonNominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
What's the Worst That Could Happen?Detective Alex Tardio
2002Julie Walking HomeHenry
EquilibriumJürgen
2004CrashFlanaganHollywood Film Festival Ensemble of the Year
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
2005Nine LivesAndrewNominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
The ChumscrubberDr. Bill Stifle
The MogulsOtis
The Longest YardCaptain Knauer
Mr. & Mrs. SmithDr. Wexler (voice)Uncredited
2006UltravioletGarth
2007Blades of GloryDarren MacElroy
First SnowEd
2008The Dark KnightBank Manager
2010Forehead Tittaes[17]BossShort skit
Date NightD.A. Frank Crenshaw
2011The Big BangDetective Poley
Drive AngryThe AccountantFangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor
2012WrongMaster Chang
2013PhantomAlex Kozlov
The Lone RangerButch Cavendish
ElysiumJohn Carlyle
2014The HomesmanVester Belknap
Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesEric Sacks
2016Independence Day: ResurgenceGeneral Joshua T. Adams
American Wrestler: The WizardCoach Plyler
2017Hot Summer NightsShep
KrystalDr. Farley
201812 StrongColonel John Mulholland
The Gettysburg AddressJohn G. Nicolay (voice)Documentary
The NeighborMike
TraffikMr. Waynewright
ArmedRichard
Finding Steve McQueenEnzo RotellaPost-production
Cold BrookTed MarkhamPost-production
Also director and co-writer[18]

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1987–1994As the World TurnsJosh Snyder11 episodes
1989A Man Called HawkBoros2 episodes
BaywatchHoward GanzaEpisode: "Rookie School"
1994–1995Grace Under FireRyan8 episodes
1995High Lonesome: A Father for CharlieSheriffTelevision film
2002MDsBruce Kellerman10 episodes
2004The West WingChristopher MulreadyEpisode: "The Supremes"
2005Empire FallsJimmy Minty2 episodes
American Dad!Harland (voice)Episode: "Homeland Insecurity"
2005–2006InvasionSheriff Tom Underlay22 episodes
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
2006–2009Prison BreakAlexander Mahone59 episodes
2009–2011EntouragePhil Yagoda8 episodes
2010Night and DayDan HollisterPilot
2012Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden[19]Mr. GuidryTelevision film
2013–2014Crossing LinesCarl Hickman22 episodes
2015–2016EmpireJameson Henthrop4 episodes
2016–presentMomAdam38 episodes
2016ShooterRathford O'BrienEpisode: "Killing Zone"
2017Porsche: Decades of DisruptionNarrator (voice)Television documentary
2017–presentTop Gear AmericaHimself (host)8 episodes

Video games

YearTitleVoice roleNotes
2002Grand Theft Auto: Vice CityKen RosenbergCredited as Bill Fichtner
2004Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas
2008TurokLogan
2011Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3Master Sergeant Sandman
2012InfexThe Administrator
2013Disney InfinityButch Cavendish
2014Teenage Mutant Ninja TurtlesThe Shredder3DS version

References

  1. ↑ "William Fichtner Biography (1956-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
  2. ↑ Silverman, Stephen M. (January 17, 2002). "'Black Hawk Down' Comes Up in D.C." People. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  3. ↑ David Niles. "Worcester Telegram & Gazette Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  4. ↑ The Post-Journal (December 29, 2009). "Patricia A. Fichtner - post-journal.com | News, Sports, Jobs, Community Information - Jamestown". Post-Journal. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  5. ↑ "FAQs and Q&A with William Fichtner". WilliamFichtner.org (official site). Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
  6. ↑ "About William Fichtner". Farmingdale State College. 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
  7. ↑ Clean 'Break' for Fichtner Reuters. June 19, 2006. Retrieved June 19, 2006.
  8. ↑ "Hockey, Hollywood stars align for '09 Awards in Vegas".
  9. ↑ "NHL Awards Winners". nhl.com. NHL. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
  10. ↑ "Entourage Admits Caan, Fichtner, Letscher". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
  11. ↑ Gaudiosi, John (April 11, 2011). "Actor William Fichtner is Modern Warfare 3's Sandman". IGN. Retrieved April 11, 2011.
  12. ↑ 'Crossing Lines': William Fichtner Reveals Sons Of Anarchy Star Joining Show
  13. ↑ ‘Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Adds William Fichtner
  14. ↑ Fichtner, William (September 4, 2014). VIDEO: What It Means to Be a Bills Fan. Buffalo Bills. Retrieved January 9, 2016.
  15. ↑ Warren, Matt. "Buffalo Bills '30 for 30' documentary, 'Four Falls of Buffalo,' premieres". buffalorumblings.com. Buffalo Rumblings. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
  16. ↑ Endsville on IMDb
  17. ↑ "Forehead Tittaes w/ Marion Cotillard". Funny Or Die. March 9, 2010.
  18. ↑ Fleming Jr., Mike. "William Fichtner To Make Directing Debut On 'Cold Brook'". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
  19. ↑ Kaufman, Alexander C. (October 4, 2012). "National Geographic Channel to Show Osama bin Laden Thriller 'Seal Team Six'". TheWrap.
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