William Fichtner

American actor
Betsy Aidem
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(m. 1987; div. 1996)​
  • Kymberly Kalil
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1998)​
    • Children2

    William Edward Fichtner[1] (born November 27, 1956)[2] is an American actor. He is known for his television roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on Invasion, Alexander Mahone on Prison Break, Carl Hickman on Crossing Lines, and Adam Janikowski on Mom. A prolific character actor in film, Fichtner is recognized for memorable performances in Heat, Contact, Armageddon, The Perfect Storm, Go, Crash, Black Hawk Down, The Longest Yard, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and The Dark Knight.

    Early life

    Fichtner was born on Mitchel Air Force Base[3] on Long Island and raised in Cheektowaga, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He is the son of Patricia A. (née Steitz) and William Frederick Fichtner.[4][5][1] He has German ancestry.[6]

    He graduated from Maryvale High School in 1974. After graduating from Farmingdale State College in 1976 with an associate degree in criminal justice, he attended the College at Brockport, State University of New York and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1978. In an interview with Michael Rosenbaum, Fichtner recalled he took a theatrical improvisation class initially to fill a fine arts requirement, and the professor recommended he consider taking further acting classes.[7] He then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.

    On May 18, 2008, Fichtner received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Farmingdale State College.[8] In his acceptance address, he credited Farmingdale admissions counselor Don Harvey with his decision to study acting. Harvey, who became a lifelong friend, took Fichtner to his first Broadway show.

    Career

    Fichtner began his acting career as Josh Snyder in As the World Turns in 1987. He has also appeared in the films Contact, Heat, Armageddon, Go, Equilibrium, Black Hawk Down, The Perfect Storm, The Longest Yard, Crash, Ultraviolet, Drive Angry and The Dark Knight. Mainly a character actor, one of his few leading roles is in Passion of Mind, also starring Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgård. His role in Crash won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award and a Best Acting Ensemble award from Broadcast Film Critics Choice. He appeared in the CBS sitcom Mom from 2015 to 2021.

    Fichtner in 2003

    Fichtner voiced Ken Rosenberg in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He is credited as Willian Fichtner in Vice City and Bill Fichtner in San Andreas. Between 2005 and 2006, he also starred in the sci-fi TV series Invasion as Sheriff Tom Underlay. After Invasion was canceled, he played ruthless FBI Agent Alexander Mahone in three seasons of Prison Break (2006–2009).[9] In 2009, he co-presented the Vezina Trophy (for goal tending) at the National Hockey League awards show.[10][11] He later guest starred as judge Christopher Mulready in The West Wing episode "The Supremes." He also had a role as the corrupt Gotham National Bank manager in the feature film The Dark Knight and as Jurgen in Equilibrium.

    In June 2009, Fichtner had a recurring role as TV producer Phil Yagoda on Entourage.[12] He also voiced Master Sergeant Sandman in the 2011 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He also played Eric Sacks in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014).[13]

    Personal life

    Fichtner is a fan of the NFL team the Buffalo Bills, and appeared in a commercial for them before the 2014 season.[14] He narrated the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Four Falls of Buffalo, chronicling their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances from 1990–93.[15]

    He is a close friend of his Black Hawk Down co-stars Kim Coates and Eric Bana.[16]

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Title Role Notes
    1994 Quiz Show Stage Manager
    1995 Virtuosity William Wallace
    Reckless Rachel's Father
    Strange Days Officer Dwayne Engelman
    Heat Roger Van Zant
    The Underneath Tommy Dundee
    1996 Albino Alligator Law
    1997 Contact Kent Clarke
    Switchback Chief Jack McGinnis
    1998 Armageddon Colonel Willie Sharp
    1999 Go Burke Halverson
    The Settlement Jerry
    2000 The Perfect Storm David 'Sully' Sullivan
    Drowning Mona Phil Dearly
    Passion of Mind Aaron
    Endsville[17] Prince Victor
    2001 Pearl Harbor Mr. Walker
    Black Hawk Down SFC Jeff Sanderson Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
    What's the Worst That Could Happen? Detective Alex Tardio
    2002 Julie Walking Home Henry
    Equilibrium Jurgen
    2004 Crash Flanagan Hollywood Film Festival Ensemble of the Year
    Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
    Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast
    2005 Nine Lives Andrew Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast
    The Chumscrubber Dr. Bill Stifle
    The Amateurs Otis
    The Longest Yard Captain Brian Knauer
    Mr. & Mrs. Smith Dr. Wexler Voice; Uncredited
    2006 Ultraviolet Garth
    2007 Blades of Glory Darren MacElroy
    First Snow Ed
    2008 The Dark Knight Bank Manager
    2010 Forehead Tittaes[18] Boss Funny or Die sketch
    Date Night District Attorney Frank Crenshaw
    2011 The Big Bang Detective Poley
    Drive Angry The Accountant Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Supporting Actor
    2012 Wrong Master Chang
    2013 Phantom Alex Kozlov
    The Lone Ranger Butch Cavendish
    Elysium John Carlyle
    2014 The Homesman Vester Belknap
    Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eric Sacks
    2016 Independence Day: Resurgence General Joshua T. Adams
    American Wrestler: The Wizard Coach Plyler
    2017 Hot Summer Nights Shep
    The Neighbor Mike
    Krystal Dr. Lyle Farley
    2018 12 Strong Colonel John Mulholland
    Traffik Mr. Waynewright
    O.G. Danvers
    Armed Richard
    Cold Brook Ted Markham Also director and co-writer[19]
    All the Devil's Men Brennan
    2019 Josie & Jack Raeburn
    Finding Steve McQueen Enzo Rotella
    2021 The Space Between Donny Rumson
    The Birthday Cake Uncle Ricardo
    2023 Hypnotic Dellrayne
    TBA That's Amore! Post-production
    The Gettysburg Address John G. Nicolay Voice; Post-production

    Television

    Year Title Role Notes
    1987–1994 As the World Turns Josh Snyder 79 episodes
    1989 A Man Called Hawk Boros 2 episodes
    Baywatch Howard Ganza Episode: "Rookie School"
    1994–1995 Grace Under Fire Ryan Sparks 8 episodes
    1995 A Father for Charlie Sheriff Television film
    2002 MDs Bruce Kellerman 10 episodes
    2004 The West Wing Christopher Mulready Episode: "The Supremes"
    2005 Empire Falls Jimmy Minty 2 episodes
    American Dad! Harland Voice; Episode: "Homeland Insecurity"
    2005–2006 Invasion Sheriff Tom Underlay 22 episodes
    Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor on Television
    2006–2009 Prison Break Alexander Mahone 59 episodes
    2009–2011 Entourage Phil Yagoda 8 episodes
    2010 Night and Day Dan Hollister Pilot
    2012 Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden[20] Mr. Guidry Television film
    2013–2014 Crossing Lines Carl Hickman 22 episodes
    2015–2016 Empire Jameson Henthrop 4 episodes
    2016–2021 Mom Adam Janikowski Recurring (season 3), Main cast (seasons 4–8); 84 episodes
    Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
    2016 Shooter Rathford O'Brien Episode: "Killing Zone"
    2017 Porsche: Decades of Disruption Narrator Voice; Documentary
    Top Gear America Himself Host; 8 episodes
    2019 Veep Felix Wade Episode: "Discovery Weekend"
    2020 Corporate Brett Episode: "Fuck You Money"
    2022 Joe vs. Carole Rick Kirkham 2 episodes[21]
    2023 The Company You Keep Leo Nicoletti Main role

    Video games

    Year Title Role Notes
    2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Ken Rosenberg Credited as Willian Fichtner
    2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Credited as Bill Fichtner
    2008 Turok Logan
    2011 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Master Sergeant Sandman [22]
    2012 Infex The Administrator
    2013 Disney Infinity Butch Cavendish
    2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Shredder Nintendo 3DS version

    References

    1. ^ a b Faris, Anna (host) (2019-11-25). "Bill Fichtner". Unqualified. Event occurs at 0:30. William Edward Fichtner—not a 'junior', my father's middle name was Frederick—...
    2. ^ "William Fichtner Biography (1956-)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved June 18, 2013.
    3. ^ Silverman, Stephen M. (January 17, 2002). "'Black Hawk Down' Comes Up in D.C." People. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
    4. ^ David Niles. "Worcester Telegram & Gazette Archives". Nl.newsbank.com. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
    5. ^ The Post-Journal (December 29, 2009). "Patricia A. Fichtner". Post-Journal. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
    6. ^ "FAQs and Q&A with William Fichtner". WilliamFichtner.org (official site). Archived from the original on June 18, 2007. Retrieved April 3, 2012.
    7. ^ "This made William Fichtner switch from a career in criminal justice to acting #insideofyou #actor" – via www.youtube.com.
    8. ^ "About William Fichtner". Farmingdale State College. 2006. Archived from the original on September 27, 2011.
    9. ^ Clean 'Break' for Fichtner[dead link] Reuters. June 19, 2006. Retrieved June 19, 2006.
    10. ^ "Official Site of the National Hockey League". NHL.com.
    11. ^ "NHL Awards Winners". nhl.com. NHL. Retrieved August 22, 2017.
    12. ^ "Entourage Admits Caan, Fichtner, Letscher". TVGuide.com. Retrieved June 8, 2009.
    13. ^ Patten, Dominic (May 9, 2013). "'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Adds William Fichtner". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
    14. ^ Fichtner, William (September 4, 2014). VIDEO: What It Means to Be a Bills Fan. Buffalo Bills. Archived from the original on September 6, 2014. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
    15. ^ Warren, Matt (10 December 2015). "Buffalo Bills '30 for 30' documentary, 'Four Falls of Buffalo,' premieres". Buffalo Rumblings. Retrieved 23 August 2017.
    16. ^ "Interviews with COLD BROOK Stars William Fichtner and Kim Coates". 8 November 2019.
    17. ^ Endsville at IMDb Edit this at Wikidata
    18. ^ "Forehead Tittaes w/ Marion Cotillard". Funny Or Die. March 9, 2010.
    19. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (8 June 2017). "William Fichtner To Make Directing Debut On 'Cold Brook'". Deadline. Retrieved June 8, 2017.
    20. ^ Kaufman, Alexander C. (October 4, 2012). "National Geographic Channel to Show Osama bin Laden Thriller 'Seal Team Six'". TheWrap. Retrieved January 21, 2022.
    21. ^ Zorrilla, Mónica Marie (July 1, 2021). "Peacock's 'Joe Exotic' Series Replaces Dennis Quaid With William Fichtner as Rick Kirkham". Variety. Retrieved July 1, 2021.
    22. ^ Gaudiosi, John (April 11, 2011). "Actor William Fichtner is Modern Warfare 3's Sandman". IGN. Archived from the original on 2018-10-25. Retrieved April 11, 2011.

    External links

    Wikimedia Commons has media related to William Fichtner.
    • William Fichtner at IMDb
    • "Random Roles: William Fichtner" at The A.V. Club
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