William Edward Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an American actor. Raised in the Buffalo, New York, area, he started his career with supporting appearances in Virtuosity (1995), Heat and Strange Days (both 1995). A prolific character actor in film, Fichtner is recognized for memorable performances in Contact (1997), Armageddon (1998), Go (1999), The Perfect Storm (2000), Black Hawk Down (2001), Crash (2004), and The Longest Yard (2005).
In 2005, Fichtner starred as Sheriff Tom Underlay in Invasion, a science fiction TV series. He later appeared as Alexander Mahone in Prison Break, Carl Hickman in Crossing Lines, and Adam Janikowski in Mom.
Early life, family and education
Fichtner was born November 27, 1956, on Mitchel Air Force Base on Long Island, New York, and raised in Cheektowaga, New York, a suburb of Buffalo. He is the son of Patricia A. (née Steitz) and William Frederick Fichtner. He has German ancestry.
He graduated in 1974 from Maryvale High School in Cheektowaga. He earned an Associate of Applied Science degree in criminal justice from Farmingdale State College, graduating in 1976, then attended the State University of New York at Brockport and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in criminal justice in 1978. In an interview with Michael Rosenbaum, Fichtner recalled he took a theatrical improvisation class initially to fill a fine arts requirement, and the professor recommended he consider taking further acting classes. He then studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York.
Career
Fichtner began his acting career playing the role of Rod Landry in As the World Turns in 1987. He has also appeared in the films Contact, Heat, Armageddon, Go, Equilibrium, Black Hawk Down, The Perfect Storm, The Longest Yard, Crash, Ultraviolet, Drive Angry and The Dark Knight. Mainly a character actor, one of his few leading roles is in Passion of Mind, also starring Demi Moore and Stellan Skarsgård. His role in Crash won him a Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture award and a Best Acting Ensemble award from Broadcast Film Critics Choice. He appeared in the CBS sitcom Mom from 2015 to 2021.
Fichtner voiced Ken Rosenberg in the video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas. He is credited as Willian Fichtner in Vice City and Bill Fichtner in San Andreas. Between 2005 and 2006, he also starred in the sci-fi TV series Invasion as Sheriff Tom Underlay. After Invasion was canceled, he played ruthless FBI Agent Alexander Mahone in three seasons of Prison Break (2006–2009). In 2009, he co-presented the Vezina Trophy (for goaltending) at the National Hockey League awards show. He later guest starred as judge Christopher Mulready in The West Wing episode "The Supremes." He played the corrupt Gotham National Bank manager in the feature film The Dark Knight and the resistance leader Jurgen in Equilibrium.
In June 2009, Fichtner had a recurring role as TV producer Phil Yagoda on Entourage. He also voiced Master Sergeant Sandman in the 2011 video game Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. He also played Eric Sacks in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2014). In September 2024, it was reported that Fichtner had joined the cast of Talamasca: The Secret Order as Jasper in a series regular role. In January 2025, it was announced that Fichtner had joined the second season of Beef. In April, it was announced that Fichtner had joined the cast of Lucky.
On February 8, 2026, Fichtner appeared in a commercial for Kinder Bueno that aired during Super Bowl LX.
Honors and awards
On May 18, 2008, Fichtner received an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters from Farmingdale State College, one of his alma maters. In his acceptance address, he credited Farmingdale admissions counselor Don Harvey with influencing Fichtner's decision to study acting. Harvey, who became a lifelong friend, took Fichtner to his first Broadway show.
Personal life
Fichtner is a fan of the NFL team the Buffalo Bills and appeared in a commercial for them before the 2014 season. He narrated the ESPN 30 for 30 documentary Four Falls of Buffalo, chronicling their four consecutive Super Bowl appearances. He is also a fan of the Buffalo Sabres of the NHL.
He has been close friends with his Black Hawk Down co-stars Kim Coates and Eric Bana.
Filmography Film + Year Title Role Notes Reference(s) 1994 Quiz Show Stage Manager 1995 Virtuosity William Wallace Reckless Rachel's Father Strange Days Officer Dwayne Engelman Heat Roger Van Zant The Underneath Tommy Dundee 1996 Albino Alligator Law 1997 Contact Kent Clarke Switchback Chief Jack McGinnis 1998 Armageddon Colonel Willie Sharp 1999 Go Burke Halverson The Settlement Jerry 2000 The Perfect Storm David "Sully" Sullivan Drowning Mona Phil Dearly Passion of Mind Aaron Reilly Endsville Prince Victor 2001 Pearl Harbor Mr. Walker Black Hawk Down Sergeant First Class Jeff Sanderson Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast What's the Worst That Could Happen? Detective Alex Tardio 2002 Julie Walking Home Henry Equilibrium Jurgen 2004 Crash Jake Flanagan Hollywood Film Festival Ensemble of the YearScreen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast 2005 Nine Lives Andrew Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Cast The Chumscrubber Dr. Bill Stifle The Amateurs Otis The Longest Yard Captain Brian Knauer Mr. & Mrs. Smith Dr. Wexler Voice; uncredited 2006 Ultraviolet Garth 2007 Blades of Glory Darren MacElroy First Snow Ed 2008 The Dark Knight Bank Manager 2010 Forehead Tittaes Boss Funny or Die sketch Date Night District Attorney Frank Crenshaw 2011 The Big Bang Detective Poley Drive Angry The Accountant 2012 Wrong Master Chang St. Sebastian Jurgens Unreleased 2013 Phantom Alex Kozlov The Lone Ranger Butch Cavendish Elysium John Carlyle 2014 The Homesman Vester Belknap Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Eric Sacks / The Shredder 2016 Independence Day: Resurgence General Joshua T. Adams American Wrestler: The Wizard Coach Plyler 2017 Hot Summer Nights Shep The Neighbor Mike Prentis Also producer Krystal Dr. Lyle Farley 2018 12 Strong Colonel John Mulholland Traffik Carl Waynewright O.G. Danvers Armed Richard Cold Brook Ted Markham Also director and co-writer All the Devil's Men Mike Brennan 2019 Josie & Jack Joseph Raeburn Finding Steve McQueen Enzo Rotella 2021 The Space Between Donny Rumson The Birthday Cake Uncle Ricardo 2023 Hypnotic Lev Dellrayne 2024 French Girl Peter Kinski 2025 The Sound Conner The Outer Threat That's Amore! Post-production The Gettysburg Address John George Nicolay Voice; post-production
Television + Year Title Role Notes Reference(s) 1987–1994, 2008–2010 As the World Turns Rod Landry 79 episodes 1989 A Man Called Hawk Boros 2 episodes Baywatch Howard Ganza Episode: "Rookie School" 1994–1995 Grace Under Fire Ryan Sparks 8 episodes 1995 A Father for Charlie Sheriff Television film 2002 MDs Bruce Kellerman 10 episodes 2004 The West Wing Christopher Mulready Episode: "The Supremes" 2005 Empire Falls Jimmy Minty 2 episodes American Dad! Harland Voice; episode: "Homeland Insecurity" 2005–2006 Invasion Sheriff Tom Underlay 22 episodes 2006–2009 Prison Break Alexander Mahone 59 episodes 2009–2011 Entourage Phil Yagoda 13 episodes 2010 Night and Day Dan Hollister Pilot 2012 Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden Mr. Guidry Television film 2013–2014 Crossing Lines Carl Hickman 22 episodes 2015–2016 Empire Jameson Henthrop 4 episodes 2016–2021 Mom Adam Janikowski Recurring (season 3), Main cast (seasons 4–8); 84 episodes 2016 Shooter Rathford O'Brien Episode: "Killing Zone" 2017 Porsche: Decades of Disruption Narrator Voice; documentary Top Gear America Himself Host; 8 episodes 2019 Veep Felix Wade Episode: "Discovery Weekend" 2020 Corporate Brett Episode: "Fuck You Money" 2022 Joe vs. Carole Rick Kirkham 2 episodes 2023 The Company You Keep Leo Nicoletti Main role; 10 episodes 2025 Talamasca: The Secret Order Jasper Main role; 6 episodes Defying Death on the Atlantic Narrator Voice; documentary 2026 Beef Troy Recurring Role; Season 2 Lucky Wayne Whittaker 3 episodes Bosch: Start of Watch Calhern The Challenger Richard Feynman
Video games + Year Title Voice role Notes Reference(s) 2002 Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Ken Rosenberg Credited as Willian Fichtner 2004 Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas Credited as Bill Fichtner 2008 Turok Logan 2011 Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 Master Sergeant Sandman 2012 Infex The Administrator 2013 Disney Infinity Butch Cavendish 2014 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles The Shredder Nintendo 3DS version 2021 Grand Theft Auto: The Trilogy - The Definitive Edition Ken Rosenberg Archival recordingsRemasters of Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas only
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref. 2005 32nd Saturn Awards Best Actor on Television Invasion 2011 Buffalo Niagara Film Festival Walk of Fame Trail of the Stars 2012 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Drive Angry 2017 Hollywood Reel Independent Film Festival Best Actor The Neighbor 2021 26th Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series Mom 2026 53rd Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Television Series Talamasca: The Secret Order
References
External links
"Random Roles: William Fichtner" at The A.V. Club