William Forsythe

    Actor, Producer, Writer

    Birthdate: Jun 7, 1955

    Birthplace: Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA

    Dynamically entertaining heavyset US actor with piercing eyes, William Forsythe has a superb talent for playing some truly unlikable and downright nasty characters that dominate the films in which he appears! If you're cast as the hero against Forsythe's villain, then you have your work cut out for you, as Forsthye's raw energy and menace on screen is second to none. He started out in a couple of minor film roles and guest appearances in high-rated TV shows including CHiPs (1977), Hill Street Blues (1981) and T.J. Hooker (1982). He quickly moved into high-quality feature films, including playing a small-time hoodlum in Once Upon a Time in America (1984), an hilariously funny performance as a bumbling jail escapee alongside John Goodman in the knockout Raising Arizona (1987) and as a renegade soldier in Extreme Prejudice (1987).

    The energetic Forsythe portrayed comic book villain "Flattop" in Dick Tracy (1990), was foolish enough to tangle with vengeful cop Steven Seagal in the hyper-violent Out for Justice (1991) and locked horns with ex-NFL linebacker Brian Bosworth in the biker action film Stone Cold (1991). With his expertise in playing icy villains, Forsythe was perfect to portray Prohibition mobster Al Capone in the short-lived '90s revival of the classic '60s crime show, The Untouchables (1993), and he continued the motif of playing edgy, nefarious individuals in the thought-provoking The Waterdance (1992), the oily film noir piece Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead (1995), as real-life mobster Sammy Gravano, aka "The Bull", in Gotti (1996) and supporting another ex-NFL player's foray into film acting, when L.A. Raider Howie Long debuted in Firestorm (1998).

    Forsythe has remained perpetually busy in the new century with a plethora of feature film, telemovie and TV series appearances, and has developed a minor cult following amongst film fans for his attention grabbing dramatic skills - check out his performances in City by the Sea (2002), The Devil's Rejects (2005) and Halloween (2007).

    Known For

    Raising Arizona
    Raising Arizona

    (1987)

    Dick Tracy
    Dick Tracy

    (1990)

    The Devil's Rejects
    The Devil's Rejects

    (2005)

    Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead
    Things to Do in Denver When You're Dead

    (1995)

    William Forsythe Movies

    actor

    Collapse

    Previous (89)

    • 2026 |

      The Roaring Game

      asCoach
    • 2023 |
      Openas Captain Edgar J. Steadman
    • 2021 |

      God’s Not Dead: We the People

      asRobert Benson
    • 2021 |

      Awake

      asRoger Bower
    • 2020 |
      A Perfect Planas Grayson
    • 2020 |
      I Am Fearas Marco
    • 2019 |
      Betrayal: When the Government Took Over the Teamsters Unionas Narrator
    • 2019 |
      Run with the Huntedas Augustus
    • 2019 |

      Vault

      asBuddy Providence
    • 2018 |

      Halloween

      asRonnie White
    • 2017 |
      Check Pointas Sheriff Thomas Hancock
    • 2016 |
      The Bronx Bullas Jake LaMotta
    • 2016 |
      The Midnight Manas Fairbanks
    • 2016 |
      The Unlikely'sas Jet Black
    • 2016 |

      The Hollow

      asBig John Dawson
    • 2015 |
      Echoes of Waras Randolph McCluskey
    • 2015 |
      Laugh Killer Laughas Frank Stone
    • 2015 |
      The Networkeras Charles Mangano
    • 2013 |
      Road to Juarezas Doug Hermann
    • 2014 |
      Hidden in the Woodsas Uncle Costello
    • 2014 |
      Tom Holland's Twisted Talesas Mr. Smith (segment "To Hell With You")
    • 2013 |
      Infectedas Dr. Dennehey
    • 2013 |
      The Ghost Club: Spirits Never Dieas Stanley
    • 2011 |
      Loosiesas Captain Tom Edwards
    • 2011 |
      Born to Rideas Jack Steele
    • 2011 |
      Jesseas Vince the Godfather
    • 2011 |
      L.A., I Hate Youas Uncle Rip
    • 2011 |
      Slip & Fallas Jerry
    • 2011 |
      Underground Entertainment: The Movieas Bill
    • 2011 |
      Inkubusas Ret. Detective Gil Diamante
    • 2010 |
      Dear Mr. Gacyas John Wayne Gacy
    • 2010 |
      The Rigas Jim Fleming
    • 2009 |
      Happy in the Valleyas Stewart
    • 2009 |
      The Nail: The Story of Joey Nardoneas Massimo
    • 2008 |
      Stilettoas Alex
    • 2008 |
      iMurdersas Professor Uberoth
    • 2007 |
      88 Minutesas Frank Parks
    • 2007 |
      Southern Gothicas Pitt
    • 2006 |
      Jamas Ted
    • 2006 |
      Freedomlandas Boyle
    • 2005 |
      The L.A. Riot Spectacularas George Holliday
    • 2005 |
      The Devil's Rejectsas Sheriff Wydell
    • 2005 |

      The Devil’s Rejects

      asSheriff Wydell
    • 2004 |
      The Last Letteras Mr. Griffith
    • 2003 |
      The Librariansas Simon
    • 2003 |
      The Technical Writeras Joe
    • 2002 |
      City by the Seaas Spyder
    • 2001 |
      Camouflageas Alton Owens
    • 2001 |
      Outlawas Ted Castle
    • 2001 |
      Sharkmanas Tom
    • 2000 |
      Civilityas Andrew LeBretian
    • 2000 |
      G-Men from Hellas Dean Crept
    • 2000 |
      Luck of the Drawas Max Fenton
    • 1999 |
      18 Shades of Dustas Tommy Cucci
    • 1999 |
      Four Daysas Milt
    • 1999 |
      Paradise Lostas Mike Stark
    • 1999 |
      Row Your Boatas Gil Meadows
    • 1999 |
      The Last Marshalas DeClerc
    • 1999 |
      Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigoloas Detective Chuck Fowler
    • 1998 |
      Hell's Kitchenas Lou
    • 1998 |
      Soundmanas Frank Rosenfeld
    • 1998 |
      The Passas Charles Duprey
    • 1998 |
      Firestormas Shaye
    • 1997 |
      Big City Bluesas Hudson
    • 1996 |
      For Which He Standsas Johnny Rochetti
    • 1996 |
      Rule of Threeas Mitch
    • 1995 |
      Palookavilleas Sid Dunleavy
    • 1996 |
      The Rockas Ernest Paxton
    • 1996 |
      The Substituteas Hollan
    • 1995 |
      Beyond Desireas Ray Patterson
    • 1995 |
      The Immortalsas Tim James
    • 1995 |
      Things to Do in Denver When You're Deadas Franchise
    • 1995 |
      Virtuosityas William Cochran
    • 1992 |
      The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbagas Beaudeen
    • 1992 |
      American Meas JD
    • 1991 |
      Stone Coldas Ice
    • 1991 |

      Stone Cold

      asIce
    • 1991 |
      Out for Justiceas Richie Madano
    • 1989 |
      Torrents of Springas Prince Ippolito Polozov
    • 1989 |
      Sonsas Mikey
    • 1989 |
      Dead Bangas Arthur Kressler
    • 1988 |
      Patty Hearstas Teko
    • 1987 |
      Extreme Prejudiceas Sgt Buck Atwater
    • 1987 |
      Raising Arizonaas Evelle
    • 1985 |
      The Lightshipas Gene
    • 1984 |
      Cloak & Daggeras Morris
    • 1984 |
      Once Upon a Time in Americaas Cockeye
    • 1983 |
      The Man Who Wasn't Thereas Pug Face Crusher
    • 1981 |
      Smokey Bites the Dustas Kenny