The Adam Friedland Show: WILLIAM H. MACY Talks Fargo, Auditions, PTA
Air date: November 19, 2025
Guest: William H. Macy
Host(s): Adam Friedland (with co-hosts and team, possibly including Theo Von and Caleb Pitts)
Overview
In this episode of The Adam Friedland Show, Emmy-winning actor William H. Macy joins Adam and crew for a wide-ranging, candid, and frequently hilarious conversation. They dive deep into Macy’s origins in theater, his creative partnership with playwright David Mamet, his breakthrough performances in films like Fargo, Boogie Nights, and Magnolia, as well as his insights on acting, auditioning, and working with greats like Paul Thomas Anderson. Macy reflects on the evolution of film and television, the practical craft of acting, memorable moments from his long career, and his future as both actor and director.
Main Discussion Themes
- William H. Macy’s Early Life and Education
- Mentorship under David Mamet & Theater Roots
- Auditioning and Breaking into Film & TV
- Iconic Roles (Fargo, Boogie Nights, Magnolia) and Working with Top Directors
- Reflections on Acting Technique & The Business
- Stories from Sets and Collaborations
- Views on Modern Film, TV, and Upcoming Projects
- Personal Life, Longevity, and Motivations
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Macy's Upbringing and Family (07:00 – 12:00)
- Origins: Macy was born in Miami, raised in Atlanta, and Maryland.
- Father’s WWII Experience: His father was a B-17 pilot in World War II; Macy recounts harrowing survival rates and his father's stories, including the change in cultural attitudes during wartime.
“When the 8th Air Force first went to England, they would send over 80 planes and 20 would come back. It was just this shy of a suicide mission.”
— William H. Macy (07:23)
- Personal Anecdotes: Macy describes being awestruck as his father candidly recounted WWII and post-war ‘romantic exploits’ during a road trip.
Discovering Acting & Meeting David Mamet (12:15 – 19:00)
- Early Interest: Macy found success in acting during high school and college.
- Goddard College: Macy met playwright David Mamet at this “hippie college,” where Mamet became Macy’s primary mentor, deeply influencing his craft.
“He taught me everything I know about acting. And he’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met, present company excluded.”
— William H. Macy (12:32)
- Acting Lessons from Mamet: Focus is on action, not emotion; respect the writer; your job is to find solutions and never give up.
“It doesn't matter how you feel, it’s what you do... The most, the founder of the feast is the writer… The audience only wants to know one thing and one thing only: What happens next.”
— William H. Macy (15:02)
Chicago Theater and Early Career (19:05 – 26:50)
- Founding Theaters: After college, Macy and friends (with Mamet’s encouragement) founded the St. Nicholas Theater in Chicago, launching during the “off-loop renaissance.”
- Early TV Work: Macy details the grind of guest-starring on television (e.g., Law & Order), calling it “soul-sucking” and saying not having to audition anymore is one of the great perks of his career.
“Auditioning is awful. If there were a better way, I’m sure someone would have thought of it. But it’s soul-sucking, it’s really rough.”
— William H. Macy (26:42)
Breaking Through: Fargo and Pushing for Roles (28:18 – 30:43)
- On Reading Scripts: Macy describes his approach—read scripts in one sitting, ignore directions, look for the movie in your mind.
- Audition Story: He went to extremes to get the role of Jerry Lundegaard in Fargo, including crashing auditions and being blunt with the Coen brothers.
“I got my Lutheran ass on an airplane and I crashed that audition and I said, I really want this part. I’m scared you’re gonna screw up your movie by not casting me.”
— William H. Macy (29:54)
- Memorable Threat:
“I think I went farther and told Ethan, who had a new puppy, that I would kill the dog if he didn’t cast me. Thank God he laughed.”
— William H. Macy (30:31)
On Craft: Acting Techniques, Method vs. Practical (36:32 – 63:10)
- Acting Philosophy: Practicality over mystique. Research for roles is vital (dialect, procedure), but the real craft is in spontaneous, honest interaction.
“The acting is looking at each other and deciding what I’m going to do about what you just said and making that decision… it’s got to be improvisatory… Same words. I also believe I don’t believe in ad-libbing. I say, learn the script.”
— William H. Macy (37:03)
- How to be Present: Macy shares that a foundational acting goal is to “really look and really listen,” and how even seasoned co-actors get thrown by genuine focus.
“You have to remind yourself before every scene, every take… because everything is trying to push your attention back on yourself.”
— William H. Macy (60:22)
- Against Overwrought Method: Macy lightly mocks actors who strictly practice method acting, preferring a more workmanlike approach.
“We’re not actually ninjas, okay? We’re playing ninjas at work. We’re adults wearing costumes.”
— Host (63:41)
- On Character:
“There is no character. The idea of character is a trick we play on the audience as a magician would, and the audience says, yes, trick me again.”
— William H. Macy (63:04)
Working with Directors, Co-Stars, and Memorable Films
Paul Thomas Anderson & Boogie Nights (41:02 – 55:36)
- Auditioning for PT Anderson: Macy went to Boogie Nights ready to make his case, only to realize Anderson was “auditioning” for Macy by talking him through the film.
“At a point I realized, oh my God, he’s auditioning. He’s also 28. He said ‘I’m the guy who’s going to make this decision.’”
— William H. Macy (42:11)
- On Set Stories: Explains how missed lines (e.g., the famous “ass in her cock” flub) became part of the character’s breakdown and legend.
“I did it the second time and the third time I did it correctly. And Paul… decided there was some wisdom, there was some truth in the reason I said it wrong.”
— William H. Macy (44:42)
- Set Dynamics: Macy discusses how ensemble sets become like families, highlighting the importance of humility and doing your own job.
“If you’ve got a good director and good producer, they’ll straighten [troublesome actors] up. If you don’t, you suffer through it.”
— William H. Macy (46:36)
- On John Travolta:
“There is a hierarchy on set… If you’ve got a bad producer, director, or #1 on the call sheet, everyone’s gonna suffer. John is great at that… He just sets the tone of kindness and respect on the set.”
— William H. Macy (48:17)
Magnolia, Philip Seymour Hoffman, and Ensemble Excellence (51:23 – 55:35)
- On Working with PSH: Macy idolizes Philip Seymour Hoffman, crediting him as “the best of us” and marvels at his transformative abilities.
“You have to sort of remind yourself, this is Phil. This is the same guy that did that other thing. He was magnificent… all those characters live within him.”
— William H. Macy (54:48)
- “A rising tide lifts all boats”: Macy believes everyone elevates when working with extraordinary actors.
States of the Industry: Film, TV, and New Projects (70:44 – 79:32)
- Shift to Television: Macy acknowledges prestige, creativity, and opportunity are now abundant in TV, though he misses movies driven by character and story.
“TV’s where it’s at.” (70:57)
“Remember when [movies] were about people?” (71:05)
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Indie Film Outlook: Shares optimism for independent films getting theatrical releases again.
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Upcoming Roles:
- Soul on Fire: An indie about resilience, where Macy plays legendary announcer Jack Buck.
- Edgar Wright’s The Running Man: A Stephen King adaptation, Macy has a part in this dystopian action film.
- Train Dreams: Quiet Dennis Johnson western adaptation with Joel Edgerton, which moved Macy deeply.
Reflections, Motivation & Longevity (65:43 – 70:26)
- Staying “Young” at 75: Macy credits exercise, moderation, and a supportive family for his vitality. He pokes fun at being successful enough to “not look at the check.”
- Motivation: He needs creative challenges—the idea of retirement doesn’t suit him. Macy humorously laments not being as rich as he’d hoped.
“I need some sort of creative challenge. It's the way I've always challenged myself in my life and I think I need that.”
— William H. Macy (68:27)
Notable Quotes, Moments, and Timestamps
On Auditioning for Fargo:
“I said, you’re gonna fuck up your movie if you don’t cast me. I think I went farther and told Ethan, who had a new puppy, that I would kill the dog if he didn’t cast me. Thank God he laughed.”
— William H. Macy (02:11, 30:31)
On David Mamet:
“He taught me everything I know. He’s the smartest guy I’ve ever met.”
— William H. Macy (12:31)
Acting Philosophy:
“Don’t worry about how you feel about it. ... Our job was to find a solution to these problems and never give up.”
— William H. Macy (15:02)
On Being Present:
“To really look and really listen. You have to remind yourself before every single—not only scene, every take... because everything is trying to push your attention back on yourself.”
— William H. Macy (60:22)
On The Value of Ensemble:
“When you get all those people of all different backgrounds… and they’re all pulling in one direction for art… it’s really moving.”
— William H. Macy (45:55)
Favorite Line:
“Let me save him. He’s the President, for God’s sake.” (Air Force One)
— William H. Macy (77:00)
On Philip Seymour Hoffman:
“We all knew he was the best of us. ... It was a bit magical.”
— William H. Macy (53:31, 53:46)
Memorable, Lighthearted, and Candid Moments
- Repeated jokes about Macy’s status as “one of the coolest guys” and references to cranky costars and Wild Hogs (47:08)
- Anecdotes about on-set flubs, notably the “ass in her cock” line in Boogie Nights (44:00)
- Admiration for co-stars, and ribbing about aging and health (65:43)
- Discussion of his own longevity, working out, and dietary changes (67:00)
Conclusion
William H. Macy’s appearance is a masterclass in humility, wisdom, and industry insight, full of sharp anecdotes, practical advice, and self-effacing humor. Whether describing the terror and tenacity behind his unforgettable roles or the everyday dedication to his craft, Macy embodies the philosophy taught by his mentor Mamet: acting is ultimately about what you do, not how you feel.
Timestamps of Key Segments
- 07:00 – 12:00: Family, WWII, stories about Macy’s father
- 12:15 – 19:00: Early acting, Goddard College, meeting David Mamet
- 28:18 – 30:43: Auditioning for Fargo, crash-landing the audition
- 36:32 – 63:10: Acting philosophy, technique, method acting, practical aesthetics
- 41:02 – 55:36: Working with Paul Thomas Anderson, Boogie Nights, Magnolia, ensemble acting
- 65:43 – 70:26: Personal life, longevity, motivation at age 75
- 70:44 – 79:32: State of industry, TV/film, upcoming projects including Soul on Fire, The Running Man, Train Dreams
- 77:00: Favorite line
For fans of acting, creative process, and Hollywood lore, this episode is as entertaining as it is insightful.