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William Edward "Bill" Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American actor, often credited as William Fichtner and occasionally as Bill Fichtner. He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on Invasion and as Alexander Mahone on Prison Break. A compelling actor known for his strong supporting performances in film, William Fichtner started out as a soap heartthrob on CBS' "As the World Turns" in 1987. He played a troubled man who had years before committed a rape that resulted in a child, yet despite this violent background and repugnant past, his Josh Snyder/Rod Landry emerged as a fan favorite and his handling of the role led viewers to consider Josh Rod as a lost soul and a sympathetic character. His unconventional looks strong boned face and sad haunted eyes contributed to his attractive intensity. Later on television, he showed a lighter side with a 1994-1995 recurring role in the ABC sitcom "Grace Under Fire,” playing Ryan Sparks, the dry-humored petrochemist love interest of Brett Butler's Grace. In 2006, Fichtner joined the cast of “Prison Break” (Fox, 2005- ) for season two, playing a dogged, but privately troubled FBI agent who hunts down a group of escaped prisoners that includes two brothers (Wentworth Miller and Dominic Purcell) desperately trying to clear their names while looking for a hidden stash of money. After a convincingly sleazy performance as the best friend of a traveling salesman (Guy Pearce) paranoid about dying in “First Snow” (2007), Fichtner played the adoptive father of a fastidious skating prodigy (Jon Heder) who partners with his arrogant, over-sexed rival (Will Ferrell) for doubles competition after both have been banned from skating solo. Fichtner was born in Cheektowaga, New York where he graduated from Maryvale High School. Born in 1956 on Long Island, New York, USA, William started his career on "As the World Turns" (1956). After roles in Malcolm X (1992), Quiz Show (1994) and Strange Days (1995), his name got bigger. After doing a performance of a lifetime as "Kent" in Contact (1997), he is now a name for the big audience. He is the son of Patricia and William E. Fichtner. He has German ancestry. His sister is a Colonel in the USAF. After graduating from Farmingdale State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1978, Fichtner decided to study at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. On 18 May 2008 Fichtner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by his alma mater Farmingdale State College. Fichtner began his acting career as "Josh Snyder" in As the World Turns in 1987. Fichtner's film credits include Contact, Heat, Armageddon, Go, Equilibrium, Black Hawk Down, The Perfect Storm and Crash. He is probably best known for his 2006 appearance in "Crash for which he won a Screen Actors Guild Outstanding performance Award and a "Best Acting Ensemble" Award from Broadcast Film Critics Choice. After a supporting role as a dissident leader in the widely-panned futuristic thriller, “Equilibrium” (2002), Fichtner joined a stellar cast that included Don Cheadle, Matt Damon, Ludacris and Sandra Bullock in the moving racial drama, “Crash” (2005). He provided his voice for an episode of the animated “American Dad” (2004- ), then played a resentful cop trying to mend his relationship with the owner of a local diner (Ed Harris) in the acclaimed miniseries “Empire Falls” (2005). Supporting roles in “The Longest Yard” (2005) and “The Chumscrubber” (2005) led to an appearance in “Nine Lives” (2005), an ensemble drama about the everyday travails of nine women. Fichtner played a man whose ex-wife (Amy Brenneman) starts to fall back in love with him after the death of his second wife. Fichtner then returned to regular series work in the supernatural drama, “Invasion” (2005- ), playing a sheriff in a small Florida town devastated by a hurricane that may have a connection to aliens from outer space. His sister is a major in the USAF. Often performs in Jerry Bruckheimer's productions. Graduated from SUNY Brockport in 1978 with a Bachelor of Science degree in criminal justice. His favorite food is sushi. The ring he constantly wears belonged to his grandfather, Theodore. Has four sisters: Mary, Margaret, Pamela, and Patricia. Attended high school at Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga, New York. Attended American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, New York. His sister teaches art at Lakeland High School in Shrub Oak, New York. Is an avid hockey fan, particularly his favorite team the Buffalo Sabres. Once presented an award at the NHL Awards for the 2006/2007 season on June 14 2007. One of 115 people invited to join to the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts & Sciences. Fichtner, Fiechtner, or any variant thereof is a surname originating from areas where German is spoken. Descendants of the Fichtner name are spread though Germany, Austria, Canada, the United States and even into modern-day Ukraine. Groups of Fichtners helped to colonize the early United States, with the emergence of Fichtners into Pennsylvania in the mid-1760s. Fichtners also settled in the Russian Empire as Catherine the Great opened up Russian lands to German settlement during the same period. The name is common within modern Germany, especially in southern Germany. Fichtners also remain today living in the modern-day Ukraine and many live within the United States today in the Midwest and Northwest. Credited as "Bill Fichtner", he lent his voice to the character Ken Rosenberg in the popular video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. From 2005-2006, Fichtner also starred in the science fiction drama series Invasion as Sheriff Tom Underlay. After Invasion was cancelled, Fichtner was chosen to play Agent Alexander Mahone in the second and third seasons (2006-2008) of Prison Break. Later that year, he also presented an award at the National Hockey League award show. He also appears in the West Wing episode, "The Supremes. |
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