Peter MacNicol
Peter MacNicol is an Emmy Award-winning actor, recognized for his diverse roles in film and television. He gained prominence for his performances in notable works such as "Ghostbusters II," "Sophie’s Choice," and the television series "Ally McBeal," where he played the beloved character John Cage. Born in Dallas, Texas, MacNicol initially pursued a passion for paleontology before shifting his focus to acting, participating in school productions and studying drama at the University of Minnesota. His career took off after a successful audition for "Sophie’s Choice," where he portrayed Stingo opposite Meryl Streep.
Throughout the 1990s and 2000s, he featured in various comedic and dramatic roles, including his work on "Chicago Hope," which earned nominations for the Screen Actors Guild Award, and voice acting in animated series like "Batman" and "The Spectacular Spider-Man." MacNicol's contributions to television continued with roles in "NUMB3RS" and "VEEP," the latter earning him a nomination for an Emmy Award in 2019. Outside of his professional life, MacNicol is married to Marsue Cumming, who directs a theater program for underprivileged children, reflecting his commitment to the arts and community engagement. His performances, characterized by comedic flair and a distinctive voice, have left a lasting impact on fans and the entertainment industry.
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Peter MacNicol
Actor
- Born: April 10, 1954
- Place of Birth: Dallas, Texas
Contribution: Peter MacNicol is an Emmy Award–winning actor best known for his roles in Ghostbusters II (1989), Sophie’s Choice (1982), and the hit television series Ally McBeal (1997–2002).
Background
Peter MacNicol grew up in Dallas, Texas, one of five children born to Barbara MacNicol, a homemaker, and John MacNicol, a businessman who eventually became an Episcopal priest. Early in life, MacNicol wanted to study paleontology but decided against the profession because of the mathematics required. MacNicol’s interest in acting began with participation in grade-school dramatic productions. MacNicol studied drama at the University of Minnesota and performed for two years at Minneapolis’s Guthrie Theater. In 1980, he relocated to New York City to pursue his acting career on Broadway.
Career
MacNicol’s break into the feature film industry came when a casting agent saw him performing in a stage production of the Pulitzer Prize–winning Crimes of the Heart and invited him to audition for the role of Stingo in the film Sophie’s Choice alongside Meryl Streep. MacNicol worried that, at five-foot-seven, he was too short for the part and stuffed his shoes with packets of tissue paper in an effort to appear more like Stingo, the tall southerner who becomes enamored of Streep’s character. MacNicol ended up winning the role.
MacNicol’s first starring role in a film came in 1981 when he was cast as Galen Bradwarden, an initiate wizard in the fantasy film Dragonslayer. MacNicol went on to land a costarring role with Burt Reynolds in Heat (1987) and a starring role in the film American Blue Note (1989) while performing regularly in stage productions around New York, including at the New York Shakespeare Festival.
One of MacNicol’s most recognized roles was as Dr. Janosz Poha in the 1989 film Ghostbusters II. In the New York Times review of the film, critic Vincent Canby praised MacNicol’s performance as the funniest in the film, even alongside comedic giants such as Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. Throughout the 1990s, MacNicol made a career in a series of interesting, often comedic bit parts, including camp director Gary Granger in the Addams Family Values (1993) and Renfield in Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995).
In 1994, MacNicol joined the cast of the medical drama Chicago Hope, playing the character of lawyer Alan Birch, “the Eel,” on the Chicago-based medical drama. MacNicol remained with the series through the first and half of the second season, during which the cast was twice nominated for the Screen Actors Guild Award for its ensemble performance. Series creator David E. Kelley, who has been recognized repeatedly for his skill in writing legal drama, had obtained a juris doctorate before becoming a screenwriter and had become famous for his California legal drama L.A. Law. When Kelley resigned from Chicago Hope in 1995, MacNicol felt that his lawyer character no longer fit with the show, lacking Kelley’s dialogue and character development; MacNicol left Chicago Hope midseason. He soon joined Kelley’s new project, Ally McBeal (1997–2002), alongside series star Calista Flockheart. On Ally McBeal, MacNicol played John Cage, a senior partner in the series’ fictional law firm. MacNicol’s character was a fan favorite, and the role allowed MacNicol to showcase his comedic talents. In 2001, MacNicol received an Emmy Award for best supporting actor in the comedy series. He had been nominated for the award twice previously, in 1999 and 2000.
In 2004, MacNicol began voice acting, with a role in the 2004–8 Batman animated series. He continued voice acting in subsequent years, appearing in a number of animated films and television series, including episodes of The Wild Thornberrys in 2000 and Justice League in 2005, among others. In the animated series The Spectacular Spider-Man (2008–9), MacNicol played the role of villain Doctor Octopus. During this period, he also regularly worked as a reader for audiobook adaptations of novels.
In 2005, MacNicol joined the cast of the CBS crime drama NUMB3RS, playing theoretical physicist Dr. Larry Fleinhardt, one of the primary supporting characters on the series. MacNicol remained with the series for five years, developing the quirky character into a fan favorite. MacNicol also appeared briefly on a number of other prominent series in the early 2000s, including Grey’s Anatomy and Necessary Roughness.
MacNicol worked on a variety of projects in the 2010s. Perhaps most notably, from 2016 to 2019 he guest-starred as Jeff Kane on VEEP, starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus, and was nominated for a 2019 Emmy Award for his performance on the show. He also took on voice acting roles on the television series Young Justice (2011–12), Star Wars Rebels (2014–15), American Dad! (2014–16), and Tangled: The Series (2017–19). In 2020 and 2021, MacNicol appeared in the TV drama All Rise and had a role in the 2024 horror film, Shell.
Impact
While never achieving breakout stardom as a leading actor, MacNicol has contributed memorable performances in both films and television series. Known to many fans primarily through Ally McBeal and Ghostbusters II, MacNicol has developed a comedic persona that has contributed to the popularity and impact of his performances. His talent for manipulating his voice was part of what gave his performance in Ghostbusters II such appeal and has also made him a popular actor for voice-over performances throughout his later career.
Personal Life
MacNicol is married to Marsue Cumming, former director of the 52nd Street Project, a theater program aimed at underprivileged inner-city children in the Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood of New York City. Cumming helps manage the Corie Williams Scholarship Fund, an organization founded in 1997 that provides college assistance to students from the south-central Los Angeles community.
Bibliography
Abrams, Natalie. “Peter MacNicol Joins Grey’s Anatomy.” TV Guide, 1 Oct. 2010, www.tvguide.com/news/greys-anatomy-peter-macnicol-1023912/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Canby, Vincent. “Citywide Bad Temper: Better Call in the Ghostbusters.” New York Times, 16 June 1989, www.nytimes.com/1989/06/16/movies/review-film-citywide-bad-temper-better-call-in-ghostbusters.html. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
"Peter MacNicol." IMDb, 2024, www.imdb.com/name/nm0001493/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Ross, Robyn. “Sarah Paulson, Peter MacNicol Join HBO’s Game Change.” TV Guide, 27 Apr. 2011, www.tvguide.com/news/julianne-moore-sarah-palin-1032384/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.
Stanhope, Kate. “Ally McBeal Alum Peter MacNicol Joins Necessary Roughness.” TV Guide, 2 July 2012, www.tvguide.com/news/necessary-roughness-peter-macnicol-1049486/. Accessed 20 Sept. 2024.