Trivia

The writers and producers of The Simpsons (1989) have joked semi-seriously that if there was ever a live-action version of the series, then he would be the perfect choice to play Ned Flanders.

Lived with Felicity Huffman for 15 years before they married in 1997.

His agent tried to discourage him from reading the script for Boogie Nights (1997), but he read it anyway, loved it, and signed on to do the film.

Lobbied hard for his role in Fargo (1996), including flying from Los Angeles to New York at his own expense for a third audition, and, he says, "I essentially told them I'd shoot their pets if they didn't give me this role and I wasn't leaving the room until they cast me.".

His hobbies are woodworking and playing the ukulele.

Auditioned for the role of Brian on the sitcom Family Guy (1999), which went to the show's creator Seth MacFarlane.

While in college, Macy had an old van with a bumper sticker that read: "Don't Laugh--Your Daughter May Be in Here".

When he was introduced during the 1997 Academy Awards (his first nomination, for Fargo (1996)), he was incorrectly referred to by the voice-over announcer as the former star of the sitcom Maude (1972), which was actually comedian Bill Macy.

He and wife Felicity Huffman both received Emmy Award nominations in 2005.

Was the first choice to voice Marlin in Finding Nemo (2003), which went to Albert Brooks.

He, wife Felicity Huffman, Giancarlo Esposito, and TV stars Camryn Manheim and Kristen Johnston are all members of the New York-based Atlantic Theater Company, which Macy and writer David Mamet co-founded in 1985.

Uses the name William H. Macy so he won't be confused with 1970s comedian Bill Macy.

Became a spokesperson for United Cerebral Palsy after filming Door to Door (2002).

Has been widely rumored to own a large collection of boomerangs. Macy himself says he does not collect boomerangs and has no idea how the rumor got started.

Has admitted to experimenting with LSD in college. He stated some friends referred to him as "acid head".

To date, William H. Macy has received five consecutive Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Frank Gallagher on "Shameless."

When he appeared on Inside the Actors Studio (1994), he recalled that at the wrap party for Boogie Nights (1997), Nina Hartley, who played his character Little Bill's wife and who was a real-life porn star, gave the cast gifts of her own porn films. Macy's present was a copy of Nina Hartley's Guide to Anal Sex (1996).

His best friends called him "Willie" when he attended Bethany College in Bethany, West Virginia.

His father William was an Eighth Air Force B-17 Flying Fortress pilot in WWII.

Met Felicity Huffman when she was one of his students at the Atlantic Theater Company

Attended Allegany High School in Cumberland, Maryland. He was junior and senior class president of his graduating class.

While in New York he worked as "voice-over talent", including "Secret--strong enough for a man but made for a woman" ("That's my most famous voice-over" he said in an interview in "Esquire" magazine, August 1997).

Awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7060 Hollywood Boulevard on March 7, 2012.

William H. Macy has won three Screen Actors Guild Awards for his performance as Frank Gallagher in "Shameless."

He and Mary Steenburgen are sixth cousins, once removed; revealed in the PBS series, Finding Your Roots (2012).

He and his wife Felicity Huffman have two daughters: Sofia Macy (Sofia Grace Macy) (born on August 1, 2000) and Georgia Macy (Georgia Grace Macy) (born on March 14, 2002).

Was a founding member of St. Nicholas Theater in Chicago with David Mamet and writer Steven Schachter.

Studied under David Mamet at Goddard College, Vermont.

In 2003, William H. Macy won Emmys for writing and acting in the TV movie "Door to Door," which he also directed.

The pop rock band Head Automatica has a song named after him called "I Shot William H. Macy".

Remembers jokes and always tells one when he appears on Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993).

William H. Macy likes to ride motorcycles, inspired by the role he played in the hit 2007 film "Wild Hogs."

After spending years in Chicago theater and building his resume as an actor, at age 28 he relocated to New York City for film and television work.

With his hair a little on the long side, Macy was once mistaken for Mick Jagger of The Rolling Stones at a Japanese airport.

After portraying a man with cerebral palsy in a 2002 TV movie he co-wrote, "Door to Door," William H. Macy became a spokesperson for United Cerebral Palsy.

He has appeared in three films that have been nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: Fargo (1996), Seabiscuit (2003) and Room (2015).

He is the son of Lois Elizabeth (Overstreet) and William Hall Macy. His ancestry includes Scottish, English, and smaller amounts of Irish, French Cajun, Welsh, Swiss-German, and Dutch, as well as 1/64th Spanish and 1/512 Choctaw Native American.

During his hiatuses on "Shameless," William H. Macy has directed three feature films: "Rudderless" (2014), "The Layover" (2017), and "Krystal" (2017).

For his acclaimed role in the Coen brothers film "Fargo," William H. Macy won an Independent Spirit Award and was nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Oscar.

Owns a Bernese Mountain Dog that he bought in Grass Valley, California.

Owns a home in Vermont.

At Goddard College, William H. Macy studied under playwright David Mamet and later originated roles in a number of Mamet plays.

William H. Macy and his actress wife Felicity Huffman both have stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

William H. Macy’s role in "Seabiscuit" won him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

William H. Macy auditioned for the role of Brian, the talking dog on the animated series "Family Guy," but the role ultimately went to series creator Seth McFarlane.

William H. Macy is director-in-residence of New York's Atlantic Theater Company, which he co-founded with playwright David Mamet in 1985.

Nominated for the 2018 Emmy Award in the Lead Actor in a Comedy Series category for his role as Frank Gallagher in Shameless (2011), but lost to Bill Hader from Barry (2018).

William H. Macy appeared opposite his wife Felicity Huffman in episodes of the 1998-2000 ABC sitcom "Sports Night," receiving an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor - Comedy Series.

Is a Lutheran.

William H. Macy likes to play the ukulele.