William Fichtner Really Is That Guy
The prolific character actor has spent decades playing memorable supporting roles. He makes it look easy. It wasn’t always so.
Chances are, you’ve seen William Fichtner in something remarkable.
From unforgettable single-scene appearances in films like “The Dark Knight” and “Crash” to pivotal ensemble roles in blockbusters such as “Heat,” “Contact,” “Armageddon,” “Go,” “The Perfect Storm,” “Black Hawk Down,” and “Prison Break,” Fichtner’s presence is undeniable. He’s even showcased his comedic timing in “Entourage,” “Blades of Glory,” and the beloved sitcom “Mom.”
This incredible versatility has garnered Fichtner over 100 film and television credits, solidifying his status as one of Hollywood’s most cherished ‘That Guy’ actors. You know the type: performers whose faces are instantly recognizable, prompting joyful exclamations of “It’s that guy!” whenever they appear on screen.
“Any scene he’s in, he becomes the load-bearing wall,” remarked John Lee Hancock, director of the new Anne Rice horror series on AMC, “Talamasca: The Secret Order,” which features Fichtner in a starring role. “It’s going to stand. It’s going to work.”
Even if his filmography somehow escapes your memory, Fichtner, at 68, possesses an undeniable cool factor. With his lean frame and slightly weathered charm, he simply commands attention.
William Fichtner in “Talamasca: The Secret Order”
William Fichtner, with over 100 film and TV credits, currently showcases his talent in “Talamasca: The Secret Order” on AMC.
This captivating presence was evident during an interview at a Glendale cafe, the Los Angeles-adjacent city Fichtner has called home for almost two decades.
Upon arriving, a cheerful voice cut through the air, “Are you here to see me?” It was Fichtner himself, stepping out of a Toyota Tacoma pickup, his hair tousled, a sly grin on his face.
On this particular Monday, his hands sported gold rings, heirlooms from his father and grandfather. A turquoise stone, a memento from New Mexico, rested on a leather cord around his neck, nestled against the V-neck of his open black henley.
Fichtner’s Memorable Performances
From “Armageddon” (Credit: Touchstone Pictures)
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As seen in “Prison Break” (Credit: Greg Gayne/Fox)
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A moment from “Go” (Credit: Warner Bros.)
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His role in “The Dark Knight” (Credit: Tracy Bennett/Columbia Pictures)
Fichtner himself, often portraying calculating characters, is surprisingly uncomfortable discussing his acting process. Yet, he emanates a genuine, casual warmth. While he might be “William” in the credits, to most, he’s simply “Bill” or “Billy.”
His latest role, a scene-stealing turn in “Talamasca,” premiered recently on AMC and AMC+. The series delves into a clandestine society monitoring supernatural entities. Fichtner embodies Jasper, an enigmatic vampire who serves as the show’s primary antagonist. Appearing in tantalizing flashes early on, Jasper truly unleashes his power in the latter half of the six-episode season, dramatically consuming vials of blood and manipulating the young protagonist, Nicholas Denton.
Throughout his career, Fichtner has frequently portrayed adversaries. However, he insists on one thing: never call them villains.
“I don’t look at any part like it’s a villain; I don’t know how you play that,” he explained, stirring his latte. “Even people that are tough, ‘bad people,’ I don’t think they’re inherently bad. They simply operate within their own unique set of circumstances.”
Jasper, the Enigmatic Vampire in “Talamasca”
(Image currently unavailable)
A promotional still from “Talamasca” depicts Fichtner in his role as the mysterious vampire, Jasper. (Credit: David Gennard/AMC)
Fichtner’s own journey began in the Buffalo, N.Y., suburbs, growing up with four sisters. His mother worked as a nurse, and his father was a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. During high school, Fichtner described himself as a “freak-jock-stoner” and had never even considered participating in a school play, much less acting professionally.
His path took an unexpected turn at SUNY Brockport, where he pursued criminal justice with lukewarm aspirations of a career in law enforcement. (Interestingly, he’s often portrayed lawmen but dismisses any direct correlation, stating, “You don’t play a cop because it’s a cop; you play a cop because who’s the guy? That’s what I care about.”) A mandatory fine-arts course, however, would inadvertently change his trajectory.
He enrolled in an improv class, primarily because of its late meeting time and a vague understanding of what improvisation entailed. Yet, once immersed in the classroom, Fichtner found the exercises “uplifting,” and his professor quickly recognized his raw, untapped potential.
Fueled by this encouragement, he delved deeper into theater, taking more classes. The summer after graduation was spent poring over the industry guidebook “How to Be a Working Actor,” which he read “over and over and over,” until he successfully auditioned for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Surrounded by peers with extensive performance backgrounds, Fichtner admits he “was always so intimidated.” He recalls feeling, “I felt like everyone had the perfect language to talk about ‘my motivation.’ I wanted to go to the Drama Book Shop and say ‘Can I buy some method here?'”
Fichtner Embraces His Role as a Character Actor
Fichtner doesn’t shy away from the ‘character actor’ label. “I’m fine with that,” he stated. “I don’t want to play me. I’m not sure how exciting that would be.” (Credit: David Billet for The New York Times)
Despite securing an agent, immediate success eluded him. For years, he sustained himself by waiting tables, bartending, and taking various odd jobs. Eventually, an Off-Broadway play provided a breakthrough, followed by a handful of TV commercials and single-episode roles. After nearly a decade of relentless effort, he finally landed a recurring part on the soap opera “As the World Turns.”
His first truly significant film role wouldn’t come until he was 36, portraying a morally ambiguous club owner in Steven Soderbergh’s 1995 film, “The Underneath.”
To this day, he visibly cringes at “actor-y” terms like “method” and “motivation.” He maintains his approach isn’t a singular technique. Instead, he retreats to his “coolest freaking man cave”—a transformed tool shop behind his home—or wanders the wintry streets of New York, even creating personalized soundtracks for his characters.
Despite Fichtner’s nonchalant description of his preparation, his close friend and “Black Hawk Down” co-star, Kim Coates, has witnessed his intense dedication. Coates describes Fichtner’s approach to each role as having “laser focus.”
For his role as a blind scientist in the 1997 sci-fi film “Contact,” Fichtner immersed himself in research, consulting experts at the Jewish Guild for the Blind in Manhattan on movement and mobility aids. He even spent an hour each day blindfolded in his apartment to better understand the experience. Coates recounts another example from “Black Hawk Down”: while other actors briefly discussed their military haircuts with the stylist, Fichtner meticulously spent a day and a half ensuring every detail was “just right.”
“Billy’s process is as good as it gets,” Coates affirmed. “He just doesn’t like talking about it.”
When asked about the ‘character actor’ label, Fichtner’s response is simple: “I’m fine with that. I don’t want to play me. I’m not sure how exciting that would be.”
Fichtner’s Comedic Flair
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In the sitcom “Mom” (Credit: Darren Michaels/Warner Bros.)
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A scene from “Blades of Glory” (Credit: Suzanne Hanover/Paramount Pictures)
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From his role in “Entourage” (Credit: HBO)
Despite navigating a protracted period of career stagnation in his twenties and early thirties, Fichtner reveals he has actually declined more roles than he has accepted.
“I was pickier and choosier at times than I maybe should have been,” he admitted. “But I can’t help it if I don’t feel it.”
Fichtner embraces a Zen-like philosophy toward his life and career. He avoids social media and harbors no regrets over missed roles, simply stating, “It’s another actor that got a job, God bless him.” Currently, his primary focus outside of acting is a kitchen renovation with his wife, actress Kymberly Kalil, and the hopeful pursuit of a Super Bowl victory by his cherished Buffalo Bills.
In recent years, Fichtner has explored writing and directing. His upcoming projects include Season 2 of “Beef” and the Apple TV thriller series “Lucky.” Meanwhile, many of his previous works have garnered new audiences thanks to the streaming era.
He often encounters young fans at the Y.M.C.A. who express their admiration for “Prison Break,” a series that concluded its initial run in 2009. (Fichtner is not involved in Hulu’s new “Prison Break” reboot, which introduces a fresh cast. Similarly, while a “Heat” sequel is in development, his character met his demise in the original film.)
As our conversation drew to a close and he finished his second latte, Fichtner contemplated aging, though he insists he’s not yet at the “bucket list” stage of life.
“I don’t think there’s any sort of missing piece or anything I haven’t yet explored — I just don’t look at it that way,” he mused. “I don’t feel like I’m looking for something I haven’t found.”
With that, he swiftly headed home to catch the Buffalo Bills game.