Bill Pullman

Critically acclaimed stage actor and prolific film player Bill Pullman enjoyed a hard-earned reputation as a versatile actor equally at home in heavy drama and light comedy. While in theater circles he was best known for award-winning performances in dysfunctional family dramas by the likes of Edward Albee, Pullman's comic timing and his timeless, all-American look was most sought after by filmmakers. He lent an honest, guy-next-door appeal to hit romantic comedies like "While You Were Sleeping" (1995) while showcasing a more offbeat sense of humor in the cult classic "Spaceballs" (1987) and John Dahl's indie "You Kill Me" (2007). Dahl also showcased Pullman in the neo-noir "The Last Seduction" (1994), while the actor fielded mainstream offers to play supporting roles as upstanding doctors, professors, and even the U.S. president in hits like "Independence Day" (1996). While Pullman stayed active onstage in New York and Los Angeles, independent filmmakers like David Lynch, Jennifer Lynch, and Jake Kasdan generally provided Pullman a greater range of interesting characters. Films like "Lost Highway" (1998), John Dahl's "You Kill Me" (2007), and "Surveillance" (2009) upended his wholesome Hollywood persona and allowed Pullman to put the full breadth of his talents on display.