William Forsythe

Photo of William Forsythe

Biography

Burly, intense character actor William Forsythe played his share of tough guys in features ranging from big-budget extravaganzas to low-rent, direct-to-DVD exploitation movies. After his big break playing a bootlegger opposite Robert De Niro in Sergio Leone's gangster epic "Once Upon a Time in America" (1984), the actor quickly established himself - most often as a heavy - in more commercial endeavors like the Steven Seagal actioner "Out for …
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Job Title

Actor, Producer

Born

June 7, 1955

Career Milestones

2007

Cast in Rob Zombie's remake of the classic horror film "Halloween"

2006

Co-starred with Samuel L. Jackson and Julianne Moore in "Freedomland"

2002

Cast as a bar owner in the FOX series "John Doe"

2001

Played villain Sonny Walker in NBC's "UC: Undercover"

1999

Cast as a detective in the comedy, "Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo"

1996

Portrayed organized crime figure Sammy "The Bull" Gravano in the HBO motion picture "Gotti"

1996

Co-starred in director Michael Bay's thriller, "The Rock"

1993

TV series debut as a regular, "The Untouchables," playing Al Capone

1992

Co-starred in Edward James Olmos' directorial debut, "American Me"

1990

Cast in "Dick Tracy," a film based upon the Dick Tracy comic strip character and directed by Warren Beatty

1987

Co-starred in the Coen Brothers comedy "Raising Arizona" opposite Nicolas Cage and Holly Hunter

1985

TV miniseries debut, "The Long Hot Summer"

1984

Co-starred with Robert De Niro and James Woods in "Once Upon a Time in America," the last film by director Sergio Leone

1981

TV movie debut, "The Miracle of Kathy Miller"

1981

Feature acting debut, "Smokey Bites the Dust"

Professional stage debut at age 16

First acting appearance in the title role in a school production of "Julius Caesar" at age 10

Began acting at age 10

Awards

1993

Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male in The Waterdance