Bill Pullman Biography 

American actor Bill Pullman is arguably one of the most recognizable faces in current cinema. Although he is not noted for his leading roles, Pullman’s work as a character actor has earned him roles in some of the most famous films of the past two decades from Sleepless in Seattle to Independence Day.

William Pullman was born December 17, 1953 in Hornell, New York. His parents were Johanna Blaas and James Pullman, a nurse and physician respectively. He is of both English and Dutch descent.

Pullman obtained his initial education from Hornell High School. Graduating in 1971, he pursued his secondary education from the State University of New York at Delhi as well as the State University of New York at Oneonta. Taking his education very seriously, Pullman even went on to obtain his Masters from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Originally with his eye on teaching, Pullman shared his knowledge of the theater at Montana State University and SUNY Delhi. His love of acting itself, however, overtook him when he was twenty-eight. In that year, he decided to make the move to New York where he could try and make it as an actor.

For nearly five years, Pullman was a staple among the New York and Los Angeles theater troupes. By 1986, Pullman had earned his first onscreen role. It was a one-episode appearance opposite Tyne Daly and Sharon Gless in the popular series Cagney & Lacey.

In the same year, he landed the role of Earl Mott in the well-received comedy Ruthless People. He shared the screen with Danny DeVito, Bette Midler, and Judge Reinhold.

But Pullman’s breakout role would come in 1987 when he was cast as the lead in Mel Brooks’ Star Wars spoof, Spaceballs. Pullman played Lone Starr opposite Rick Moranis, Daphne Zuniga, John Candy, Joan Rivers, and others.

Pullman also switched genres rather dramatically for his 1988 turn in Wes Craven’s horror flick The Serpent and the Rainbow.

Since, Pullman has become one of Hollywood’s go-to character actors. Although he has a long and varied résumé, he is best known for his work in 1992’s A League of Their Own, where he appeared opposite Tom Hanks, Madonna, and Geena Davis. He is also noted for his role as the hapless fiancée of Meg Ryan in the 1993 romantic comedy Sleepless in Seattle.

Taking the lead, Pullman also had starring roles in While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock as well as Casper with Christina Ricci.

Proving he could play well in big blockbuster action films, he was well-received as President Thomas J Whitmore in Independence Day, but he also proved his independent acting chops when he starred in the critically revered David Lynch film Lost Highway with Patricia Arquette.

More recently, Pullman has appeared in everything from Igby Goes Down to The Grudge to You Kill Me.

In his personal life, Pullman married dancer Tamara Hurwitz in 1987. They currently have three children, and they are still together.

Even the most devoted Pullman fans may not know that he suffered an injury in college that left him in a coma for several days. As a result of this injury, he has no sense of smell.