Is there a more enduring and admirable portrayal of a US president than Bill Pullman’s portrayal of Thomas J. Whitmore? Outside of other notable roles like Lone Star in Spaceballs or in, While You Were Sleeping as Sandra Bullock’s love interest, the actor’s 1996 sci-fi blockbuster Independence Day is the most iconic film of his career to date thanks to his portrayal of a former Gulf War pilot with a penchant for giving damn good speeches. Not to be forgotten, Bill Pullman has starred in several other films and television series in more recent times. A few of these are the 12 epics we have included here, the first of which is about defending Earth from aliens.
9 Amazing Characters From Actor Bill Pullman Movies And Tv Shows
1. Titan A.E (2000)
Years after humanity failed to protect Earth from alien invaders, which led to the planet’s catastrophic annihilation in the 31st century, a courageous survivor named Matt Damon discovers that, if he can locate a powerful ship that has gone missing in space, he holds the key to assuring humanity’s survival. In Titan A.E., one of the best space movies (especially of the animated variety), co-directed by the great Don Bluth, Bill Pullman voices a character that is practically the reverse of his role from Independence Day.
2. The Grudge (2004)
Scream Queen Sarah Michelle Gellar, an American nurse in Tokyo, Japan, becomes a victim of an enigmatic curse that is lethal and is said to be handed down to anyone who enters a house with a horrific past. Later, in Scary Movie 4, Bill Pullman would make light of his part as an American instructor connected directly to the curse of The Grudge, which is one of the greatest Japanese horror films ever made and is a smash English-language remake of director Takashi Shimizu’s own 2002 picture.
3. Bottle Shock (2008)
In 1976, a well-known British sommelier (the late Alan Rickman) arranges a blind tasting that places Californian wine merchant Bill Pullman up against French goods that are thought to be better. In Bottle Shock, directed by Randall Miller, Bill Pullman plays winemaker Jim Barrett, who is pitted against a young Chris Pine as his son Bo. The film is a lighthearted and humorous retelling of the historic real-life wine competition that became known as the Judgment of Paris and forever altered public perceptions of fine wine.
4. The Killer Inside Me (2010)
In 1950s Texas, an affair between an Academy Award winner Casey Affleck, the deputy sheriff, and Jessica Alba, the sex worker he was intended to arrest, turns into a spiteful ploy to get rich quick that quickly turns fatal. In the terrifying noir film The Killer Inside Me, directed by Michael Winterbottom and based on Jim Thompson’s novel, Bill Pullman steals the show as a southern lawyer who helps Casey Affleck’s adversarial protagonist.
5. Torchwood: Miracle Day (2011)
Reunited with fresh recruits, a crew of ex-paranormal detectives aims to discover why life on Earth has suddenly become immune to death. Torchwood: Miracle Day is an eight-part sci-fi miniseries that is distinctive and captivating, intended to be the fourth season of the UK-based Doctor Who spin-off. Bill Pullman, who played a convicted sex offender and child murderer who was later seen as a messianic figure after surviving a lethal injection, absolutely stole the show and received rave reviews for his performance.
6. 1600 Penn (2012-2013)
The President of the United States finds it difficult to handle the challenges of leading the nation and providing for his family, particularly in the case of his eldest son, Josh Gad, who is a man-child who never quite measures up. A short-lived but well-received NBC original from star and co-creator Josh Gad, 1600 Penn featured a more humorous take on the presidency than Bill Pullman’s portrayal in Independence Day. Essentially, the show reimagined The West Wing as a single-camera family sitcom.
7. The Equalizer (2014)
A former special services agent must stop his calm life of hiding in plain sight when he encounters Chloë Grace Moretz, a teenage sex worker who is being targeted by a violent Russian mob. Bill Pullman plays Brian, the husband of Susan Plummer (Melissa Leo), a former CIA colleague and friend of Denzel Washington. He appears in both Antoine Fuqua’s 2018 The Equalizer and The Equalizer 2, the big-screen versions of the popular ’80s TV series that was recently revived as a Paramount+ original series starring Queen Latifah.
8. American Ultra (2015)
After unintentionally killing two thieves, a stoned convenience store clerk (Jesse Eisenberg) and his understanding girlfriend (Kristen Stewart) flee as a mystery surrounding his long-forgotten history is revealed. American Ultra is a comedy that seems a little bit like the Jason Bourne films and a little bit like Arnold Schwarzenegger’s Total Recall if those action thrillers had been written by Cheech and Chong. Bill Pullman plays a CIA superior with dubious motivations.
9. LbJ (2016)
Following his unfortunate ascension to the presidency, Woody Harrelson’s character, Lyndon B. Johnson, works to ensure the Civil Rights Act is passed. In the insightful and motivational biopic LBJ, directed by Rob Reiner, Bill Pullman plays Senator Ralph Yarborough, John F. Kennedy’s vice president who later became president. Whitmore holds a higher political position than Pullman’s
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Conclusion
This ultimate ranking of the finest Bill Pullman films was created by counting the votes of over 400 moviegoers. Pullman has left a lasting impression on Hollywood with roles in dramas like Wyatt Earp and comedies like Spaceballs, in addition to his breakthrough appearance in Ruthless People.
FAQs
What actor is often confused with Bill Pullman?
Bill Paxton versus Bill Pullman. Despite having different looks, they are frequently misidentified in movies.
Was Bill Pullman in Beetlejuice?
The part of Adam Maitland was reportedly considered for Bill Pullman. Michael Keaton’s personal favorite movie is this one.
Is Bill Pullman’s son in Top Gun?
Actor Lewis James Pullman hails from America. He started his playing career in the 2017 film The Ballad of Lefty Brown, which starred his father and was the son of actor Bill Pullman.