William Forsythe

William Forsythe

#3704195
ActorProducerWriter
Born
June 7, 1955
Awards
7 wins, 8 nominations

William Forsythe is one of the most powerful and versatile actors of his generation. Raised in Brooklyn during the 1960s, Forsythe recalls a pivotal moment when his 5th-grade teacher, a Xaverian brother, recognized his potential and blackmailed him into doing a play. The play was Julius Caesar, with…

Biography

William Forsythe is one of the most powerful and versatile actors of his generation. Raised in Brooklyn during the 1960s, Forsythe recalls a pivotal moment when his 5th-grade teacher, a Xaverian brother, recognized his potential and blackmailed him into doing a play. The play was Julius Caesar, with William playing the title role, which early belief helped shape a lifelong dedication to the craft.

From gritty dramas to true crime portrayals to historical epics and comedy, Forsythe’s work resonates because it is honest, unflinching, and deeply human. He’s not just playing roles; he disappears into them, making each performance distinct, unforgettable, and entirely his own.

With a career spanning decades, he has delivered a wide range of unforgettable performances that defy easy labels or typecasting. Forsythe’s breakthrough came when the legendary director Sergio Leone cast him in his epic gangster classic Once Upon a Time in America, starring Robert De Niro. That film marked the beginning of a career defined by depth, fearlessness, and conviction.

Among his many standout roles, Forsythe put in months of research to deliver a bone-chilling performance as serial killer John Wayne Gacy in Dear Mr. Gacy. Giving a flawless and disturbing portrayal of a monster. Forsythe also dove in and convincingly played the middleweight boxing champion Jake LaMotta in The Bronx Bull, bringing an emotional weight and intensity to his role, showing the true human side of the once-great champ.

Williams ability to fully inhabit such drastically different characters is a testament to the raw talent and commitment he brings to each role. American Me and The Rock are opposite styles of character, but Forsythe plays them both seamlessly and believably.

Other memorable performances by William Forsythe include his portrayals of Al Capone in the acclaimed 90s TV series The Untouchables and his powerful turn as Sammy Gravano in HBO's feature Gotti. some say its the best and most realistic Gangster movie ever made, not forgetting his dynamic and driven performance as Sheriff John Quincy Wydell in Rob Zombie's The Devil's Rejects. With over 150 feature films and television shows to his credit, Forsythe is equally adept at comedy as well as drama. He has left fans in stitches with his comedic performances in Raising Arizona, Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, Blue Streak, and many others.

Writer

The LibrariansThe Librarians(2003)

Actor

Straight ShotStraight Shot(2026)as Frank Senior
Just BreatheJust Breathe(2025)as Tony
The Roaring GameThe Roaring Game(2025)as Coach
9 Windows9 Windows(2024)as Detective Tim Boyle
OpenOpen(2023)as Captain Edgar J. Steadman

Additional Crew

Halloween IIHalloween II(2009)

Soundtrack

Beyond DesireBeyond Desire(1995)
Raising ArizonaRaising Arizona(1987)
CHiPsCHiPs(1977)

Self

Charles Band's Full Moon FreakshowCharles Band's Full Moon Freakshow(2022)as Self
Betrayal: When the Government Took Over the Teamsters UnionBetrayal: When the Government Took Over the Teamsters Union(2019)as Narrator
The Bronx Bull: Behind the Scenes(2017)as Self
SvengoolieSvengoolie(1995)as Self - Guest
The Making of the MobThe Making of the Mob(2015)as Self - Actor, The Untouchables, Self - Actor, Once Upon a Time in America

Archive Footage

Cinemassacre's Monster MadnessCinemassacre's Monster Madness(2007)as Ronnie White, Sheriff Wydell
The Many Masks of Michael MyersThe Many Masks of Michael Myers(2007)as Ronnie White

Known for

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Photos 112

Madonna, Al Pacino, Warren Beatty, William Forsythe, R.G. Armstrong, Ed O'Ross, and Henry Silva in Dick Tracy (1990)Natasha Henstridge, Paul Sorvino, William Forsythe, Joe Mantegna, and Tom Sizemore in The Bronx Bull (2016)John Goodman and William Forsythe in Raising Arizona (1987)Robert De Niro, James Woods, William Forsythe, Tuesday Weld, and James Hayden in Once Upon a Time in America (1984)William Forsythe in Boardwalk Empire (2010)William Forsythe in Dick Tracy (1990)

Credit Score: William Forsythe

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Manny Horvitz
Mon Sep 19 2011 – Tue Oct 21 2014
#NameScoreYearWinNomKnownWinsNomsVotes
1Boardwalk Empire100.0020108.62057217894
2Once Upon a Time in America30.0019848.325408831
3Dick Tracy5.0019906.23770043
4The Devil's Rejects3.2520056.700111084
5American Me1.9519927.10011548
6The Rock1.8019967.401380196
7Raising Arizona1.5019877.300160771
8The Substitute1.3019966.10018242
9Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead1.3019956.70031815
10Stone Cold1.3019916.10011174