Bill Pullman

Biography

Bill Pullman is an American actor, a Montana State University professor turned actor. He is known for his appearances in Independence Day (1996), Spaceballs (1986), Lost Highway(1997), The Sinner (2017-2021), Your name here (2008), While you were Sleeping(1995) and others.

His recent appearances include playing Alex Murdaugh in Murdaugh Murders: The movie, Harry Ambrose in "The Sinner", David Mahoney in "Halston".

Childhood, Family, Personal Life

William James Pullman was born as William James Pullman on 17th December 1953 in Hornell, New York, United States to Johanna Wilamina Blaas (Mother) (1911–1993) a Medical nurse by profession and James Pullman(Father) (1914–1992) a doctor by profession and the city coroner.. 

Both his partners worked in medicine, his grandfather workd in medical field as  well. [3]

Bill is of Dutch, English, Northern Irish, Scottish (father) descent.

Image: Bill Pullman's parents: Johanna Blaas(Mother) & James Pullman (Father)

He has seven siblings. He is the sixth of the seven, youngest among the brothers. He has 3 brothers and 3 sisters.  One of his brothers is an English teacher at the Ithaca High School. Some of the known siblings are: 

• Jay Pullman (older brother) (an artist)
• Joe Pullman

Both his parents are dead. His father died in his arms, he wasn't there when his mother died. [3]

He worked summers for a local dairy farmer. At 13 he planted his first Orchard. [4]

Education

• Hornell High School: He graduated from Hornell High School in 1971. He was on the football, wrestling, track and field teams at school. He played Trombone in the school band
• SUNY-Delhi: He graduated with a Theater Arts Major from the State University of New York, Delhi, New York in 1970s. He wanted to major in building construction, he had plans to build barns in the countryside of Western New York. He ended up unintentionally auditioning for "The Bald Soprano", a school play, it got him interested and glued. His college director Bill Campbell suggested that Bill pursue theater major
• State University of New York: He attended the State University of New York in Oneonta in Theater Studies. He left the college in 1975, he didn't finish his studies. He returned to Oneonta as a guest speaker for the class graduating in 1992.
• University of Massachusetts Amherst: He graduated with a Masters of Fine Arts degree from University of Massachusetts Amherst in 1980, with an emphasis in directing, he wanted to become a director. [4]

Marriage

Tamara Hurwitz

Bill Pullman married Tamara Hurwitz a modern dancer on January 3rd 1987, she teaches dance, she has taught at the Alfred University. 

Tamara and Bill met at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst where Tamara and Bill were cast as husband and wife in Moliere’s "Impromptu at Versailles". He later directed "The Changeling", Tamara  Choreographed it.

They have three children together. Two sons and a daughter. A daughter named Maesa (b. 1988) & sons named Jack (b. 1989) & Lewis (born 1993). All three are into music.

Image: Bill Pullman with wife Tamara Hurwitz

Image: Bill Pullman Family: wife Tamara Hurwitz & Children, daughter Maesa, sons Jack & Lewis

His Son Lewis is an actor, who has appeared in series such as "Outer Range" and "Lessons in Chemistry. He has appeared alongside his father in The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017)

Maesa works as a music composer. Some of her works include- "Indigo Valley", "Highway One", "Under the Lantern Lit Sky", "Terror on the Prairie (2022)", "Hobo Code" series among others

Jack has worked in the music department as a musician in some of his sister's works. Also works as an art assistant.

Career

Teaching

Bill Pullman after his education started teaching theater at the State University of New York and Film and Photography at the Montana State University, Bozeman. Inspired by him, his students urged he try acting, thus began his career. Film director John Dahl who cast him in "The Last Seduction" was one of his students at the Montana State University.

He was a co-chairman in the art department at the Montana State University.

Montana Shakespeare in the Parks: Bill was part of a summer theater group called "Montana Shakespeare in the Parks", Bill played romantic leads and comic parts in the group plays. He also  directed for the company dramas.

Acting

Soon after moving to New York City, he worked with actress Kathy Bates in the stage production of famous play "Curse of the Starving Class".

Some of his early jobs between auditioning adn stage acting in New York include working as a proof reader, liquor store clerk, bank teller among others

Bill's first movie was Ruthless People(1986), a comedy drama directed by Jim Abrahams, David Zucker, Jerry Zucker starring Danny DeVito, Judge Reinhold, Helen Slater, Bette Midler. He played the role of 'Lone Starr'.

Spaceballs (1987), a comic science fiction starring Mel Brooks, Bill Pullman, John Candy, Rick Moranis directed by Mel Brooks gave him the initial popularity.

While You Were Sleeping (1995), a Romantic Comedy starring Sandra Bullock directed by Jon Turteltaub was another big hit of his career. Independence Day(1997) an alien science fiction movie where he played the president of the United States of America is among the biggest successes of his career.

Other popular movies of Bill Pullman are: A League of Their Own (1992), The Lost Highway (1997), Bottle Shock (2008), Phoebe in Wonderland (2009)

Some of the popular TV series he has been part of are- Revelations(2005), Torchwood: Miracle Day(2011), 1600 Penn(2012–13), The Sinner(2017).

Filmography

Movies

TV Series

Stage/ Theatre

Video Games

Interesting Facts

• Bill Pullman is into plays and Dramas, he still performs in them apart from TV & Movie.
• As a child he watched 'The Twilight Zone' and was terrified by it.
• Bill is creative writer as well, he has written many plays. He wrote 'Expedition 6' a science fiction drama which was played in theaters.
• He is the Jury Member at the studio Filmaka, a competition platform that helps find the talents and get them platform to showcase.
• Head injury: At the age of 21 he was involved in an accident which damaged a part of his head related to sense of Smell. He lost his sense of smell. He usually cleans manure at the ranch because of his lack of smell.
• American Football Lover:  He is an avid fan of the American football club- Buffalo Bills [1]
• Bill and his brother own a cattle ranch near Whitehall, Montana.
• Bill delivered a speech at the Alfred University's commencement ceremony in 2014. It was titled 'Sense of Place/ Purpose'. 
• He entered films at the age of 28 after working for a while as a theater arts teacher.
• He was nominated for Drama Desk Award for the plays 'The Goat or Who is Sylvia', 'Peter and Jerry'
• He was nominated for Helen Hayes Award.
• He turned down the role of Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo(1996), it went to William Macy. Bill considers this one of his professional regrets
• When promoting his movie Independence Day(1996) he was actually mistaken for the president of U.S in South America. [2]
• He compared director David Lynch with his dad.
• He was surrounded by 1000s of girls while in Japan promoting the movie 'While you were sleeping', it was both the most embarrassing and most memorable event for him.
• He initially rejected his role in 'Singles' because he hated plastic surgeons, his father who was a doctor was against those doctors who used medicine to make money instead of using it to save lives.
• Bill has acted in 'Little White Lies' with Ellen DeGeneres.
• Bill loves trees, he has a large orchard in his ranch.
• Philanthropy: He has made financial contribution towards 'St. James Mercy Hospital'
• A retreat according to him would be: walking wearing Hawaiian shirt & sandals.
• His family loves music and has a family band, it excludes Bill :)
• He wakes up very early in the morning.
• People sometimes get Bill Pullman confused with Bill Paxton.
• Casting team felt he would fit the lead role in Spaceballs because of his natural humor.
• His diet: is often loaded with Fruits, Eggs, Vegetables.
• He and his family gift people vegetables and fruits on Christmas.
• His face features at the Steuben County Hall of Fame.

Honorary Doctorates

• The University of Massachusetts at Amherst honored him with a doctorate of fine arts on 24 May 2008.
• Bill was awarded an honorary doctorate in May 2011 by the Alfred University.
• Montana State University awarded him a honorary doctorate in 2018. He had worked there as a professor previously. 

Community Man

• He works for the betterment of his local community with the group named 'Concerned Citizens Montana'. They advocated for the need of smart grid for energy transmission among other concerns.
• He loves building and construction, he converted a '3-bay' barn in the western New York State near his hometown of Hornell, New York as a community center [2]
• He is on the board of Cornerstone Theater, it is one of his ways of serving the comunity.
• He also serves as a member on the board of trustees at Alfred University.
• He supports local health services. There is a section at the St James Hospital, Hornell, NY named after him- "The Pullman Women's Health and Birthing Center" [2]
• Bill is an MS Society Ambassador.
• charity Hollywood Orchard: Bil land wife Tamara started 'charity Hollywood Orchard', the charity group grows and gathers fruits to donate to families that are in need
•  

Awards

Quotes

• Theater has always been most important to my psyche. It's what I was trained in
• I've been in plays where I think, I want my six months back.
• The thing about acting is it's the one thing that gets me immersed in other things.
• Agriculture is just an adjunct that gives you a quality of life
• My parents were getting older by the time I came along. They were too tired to object to my choice of career
• If I were born in the 1700s, I would look like a rounded man

Sources

1. Bill Pullman on wikipedia
2. Bill Pullman bio on imdb
3. The guardian coverage
4. Bill Pullman official website- bio
5. Stage credits
6.