Born:
December 17, 1953
in
New York
Best Known For:
Playing the US president in Independence Day.
Early-life:
William James Pullman was born December 17, 1953 in Hornell, New York. He graduated from Hornell High School in 1971 and attended the State University of New York. He received his Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Massachusetts. Bill worked with theatre companies around New York and Los Angeles, making his mark in hit 1986 comedy Ruthless People.
Career:
Mel Brooks thought Bill would be perfect to play the dashing lead in his 1987 spoof Spaceballs, and he went on to star in The Serpent and the Rainbow, Casper and While You Were Sleeping. However, his biggest hit was 1996 blockbuster Independence Day. David Lynch cast him in offbeat drama Lost Highway, and he also shone in cult horror Lake Placid, Ant and Dec comedy Alien Autospy, and Michael Winterbottom's controversial drama The Killer Inside Me. More recent movies include Bringing Up Bobby and Celestina. He received rave reviews for his portrayal of a twisted killer in Torchwood: Miracle Day.
Quote:
'I do take lots of time off between projects, but when the right thing comes along, I don't like to turn it down.'
Trivia:
In 2011, Pullman was awarded an honorary doctorate from Alfred University.