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William Pullman was born on December 17, 1953 in Hornell, New York, USA. His father James was a physician and his mother Johanna (Blaas) a nurse. He was the youngest boy in a family of 4 brothers and 3 sisters.

The Pullman family lived in a red brick Victorian house on Main Street in Hornell, New York. Summers were spent in the country at a tree farm nearby that the Pullmans bought the year Bill was born. Bill often worked for the local dairy farmers. In high school he was on the football, wrestling. and track teams as well as playing the trombone in the band. He graduated from Hornell High School in 1971.

When he started college at SUNY-Delhi, Pullman planned to major in building construction in part because he loved the barns in the countryside of western New York. One night he ended up at auditions for "The Bald Soprano", and an interest in theater was awakened. Later, at the suggestion of one of his theater professors, he became a theater major with the intention of working as a teacher. He graduated from SUNY-Oneonta with a degree in Theater Arts.

Pullman went on to study at University of Massachusetts, Amherst, where he earned a Master of Fine Arts degree with a major in Directing in 1980. He planned to concentrate on directing, but his advisor urged him to continue acting. While studying at Amherst, he met Tamara Hurwitz when both were performing in a university production.

After graduation, he was offered a teaching position at Montana State University, Bozeman. He accepted the job in part because he had come to love Montana while doing summer theater there with a group called "Shakespeare in the Parks". He played both romantic leads and comic parts with this company. While teaching at Montana State, he became chairman of the Theater department. Director John Dahl (The Last Seduction, Red Rock West) was one of Pullman's students. Pullman's connection to Montana continues to this day: he built a log cabin for his family there on the cattle ranch he and his physician brother co-own.

In 1981 Pullman decided to take a shot at professional acting. He moved to New York's East Village and between auditions was a proof-reader, liquor store clerk, and bank teller. His New York appearances include a critically acclaimed performance as Wesley in a revival of "The Curse of the Starving Class" with Kathy Bates. During the 1980s, Pullman also did some regional theater with a group at University of Massachusetts, Amherst. His work included directing a production of "The Comedy of Errors".

In 1985 he was offered a part in "Nanataiwai" for a 3-month run on Los Angeles. While there, he decided to go on a few film auditions as a lark because the money was good. Pullman arrived at his first movie audition on a bike. He was reading for the part of the serial killer in Ruthless People. He had just played a Russian tank commander on stage and his hair was dyed blond. Pullman went on to win the part of Earl, "the stupidest person on Earth" and the blond dye job was incorporated into the part.

Ruthless People was Pullman's film debut. It was followed closely by Spaceballs for Mel Brooks, who chose Pullman to play Lone Star because he wanted "a leading man with comic timing". During the shooting of Spaceballs, Bill Pullman took a day off to marry Tamara Hurwitz.

In his early films, Pullman is most often the handsome guy with an edge: The Serpent and the Rainbow, The Accidental Tourist, (Academy Award nomination, Best Picture, 1988) and Rocket Gibraltar. In the theater, Pullman had a reputation for doing serious drama, but Hollywood soon discovered his knack for comedy and that talent, along with his acting range, allowed him to play the nerdy guy in comedies like Cold Feet and Sibling Rivalry, as well as a geeky academic in Brain Dead. He also continued to do excellent supporting work in dramas like: 'Home Fires Burning', Liebestraum, A League of Their Own, and Crazy in Love.

While making movies, Pullman continued working in the theater in Los Angeles. Much of his work was done with the Los Angeles Theater Company. His credits include: "Barabbas", "All My Sons", "Demon Wine", and "Control Freaks".

Bill and Tamara Pullman settled in Los Angeles. They have three children: Maesa, Jack, and Louis. Pullman loves trees and has an extensive orchard behind his house.

By the early 1990s Pullman was a sought-after supporting player. With Sommersby, Sleepless in Seattle, and Malice in 1993, Pullman's career reached a turning point. He had three showy lead roles in major studio releases in one year. A role in a little movie called The Last Seduction, directed by Pullman's former student, John Dahl, further enhanced his reputation. In 1995 he starred in While You Were Sleeping and Casper, both box office hits, and in 1996 he starred as the President in the blockbuster Independence Day.

Bill Pullman is a critically acclaimed leading man for whom directors often write parts. Lost Highway, The End of Violence, and Zero Effect were all written with Pullman in mind to play the roles he later created on screeen.

An experienced stage director, Pullman made his film directing debut and played the title role in a critically acclaimed new version of the classic western The Virginian (Wrangler Award- Best Picture 2000). This was the first release of his company Big Town Productions.

In 2002 Pullman starred in Edward Albee's "The Goat or Who is Sylvia?" on Broadway. He created the role of Martin. His performance was widely praised by critics. He was nominated for the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor but his performance was passed over in the Tony nominations for Best Actor. This snub has become the stuff of theater legend. "The Goat" won the 2002 Tony Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, Drama Desk Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Play.

In Igby Goes Down (2002) Pullman was on screen less than fifteen minutes but his performance was singled out and highly praised. He continues to alternate between lead roles, Rick (2003) and deliberately chosen supporting roles like his part in The Grudge (2004). The director specifically requested Pullman for the part and he was drawn to the film because it was being shot in Japan with a Japanese director and crew.

In January 2004, Pullman conceived and directed "Expedition 6", a multimedia performance piece created with students of the Denver Center's National Theater Conservatory. The play was performed at New York Stage and Film's Powerhouse Theater in June 2004. "Expedition 6" is an ongoing project.

Pullman's amazing range as an actor coupled with his uncanny ability to create richly textured distinct characters combine to make him an unusually talented and creative actor. His work is invariably fascinating to watch.

In January 2006 Pullman starred in "The Subject Was Roses" at the Kennedy Center in Washington D. C. He was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award as Outstanding Lead Actor for his role as John Cleary.

"Expedition 6" took part in an ACTF Playwrights' workshop in Washington D.C. in July 2006. Pullman directed the play. Theatre Project of Baltimore produced two open rehearsals of "Expedition 6" on July 28-29 with Pullman directing.

Since 1998 Pullman has served as an 'Ambassador' for the MS Society. He is on the board of the Cornerstone Theater Company, and has worked to improve health care in his hometown, Hornell, New York, where his father was a physician.

In September 2007, "Expedition 6" had its world premiere at the Magic Theatre, San Francisco with Pullman directing his play.

From October-December 2007 Pullman starred as Peter in the hugely successful, critically acclaimed production of Edward Albee's "Peter and Jerry" at the Second Stage Theatre in New York. Pullman is now being described as one of the greatest living interpreters of Albee's work.

Pullman' recent films include: Bottle Shock, Surveillance, and Phoebe in Wonderland.

On November 23, 2008 he was presented with the prestigious John Cassavetes Award at the Starz Denver Film Festival. This award is given annually to "an individual who has made a significant contribution to the world of filmmaking and whose work reflects the spirit of the late John Cassavetes." In 2008, he was also honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Riverrun Film Festival and an award for his performance in Your Name Here at the Cinevegas Film Festival.

In the summer of 2009, he starred in the hugely succesful Los Angeles production of David Mamet's "Oleanna" directed by Doug Hughes. The Broadway debut of "Oleanna" followed in October 2009 with Pullman playing the role of John once again.

Upcoming film releases for Pullman include: The Killer Inside Me, Peacock and Your Name Here.