Full Bio
Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota, Peter MacNicol traveled the length and breadth of the U.S. as a regional repertory actor. In his first film, Dragonslayer (1981), MacNicol essayed one of his few leading-man roles as Galen, a hapless assistant sorcerer who makes good. His most celebrated film assignment was as Stingo, the innocent-bystander narrator of Sophie's Choice. Most of the time, MacNicol has been seen in comical, sycophantic roles, such as the easily demonized Janocz in Ghostbusters II (1989) and the unctuous camp counselor in Addams Family Values (1993). On television, Peter MacNicol starred in the brief Norman Lear political lampoon The Powers That Be (1992) and co-starred as Alan Birch on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope (1994).
MacNicol continued to play small but indelible roles in a variety of small but indelible films throughout the mid-'90s. There was 1992's underrated Housesitter with Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin; acclaimed director Mel Brooks' Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995); and a starring role opposite cult comedian Rowan Atkinson in 1997's Bean. Despite his respectable feature-film success, however, MacNicol wouldn't get solid mainstream recognition until the 1997 debut of Ally McBeal. The show featured MacNicol as John Cage, an immensely insecure but highly gifted lawyer whose lovable, if over-sensitive, nature tugged at the heartstrings of Ally (Calista Flockhart) and television audiences alike. MacNicol remained a lead character on the show from 1997 to 2002, and was able to participate not just as an actor, but also as a director, screenwriter, and amateur karaoke singer. No longer the affable John Cage, MacNicol could be seen assigning Jamie Foxx the unpleasant task of letting his employees know of a rapidly approaching downsizing in 2004's Breakin' All the Rules. ~ Tracie Cooper
MacNicol continued to play small but indelible roles in a variety of small but indelible films throughout the mid-'90s. There was 1992's underrated Housesitter with Goldie Hawn and Steve Martin; acclaimed director Mel Brooks' Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995); and a starring role opposite cult comedian Rowan Atkinson in 1997's Bean. Despite his respectable feature-film success, however, MacNicol wouldn't get solid mainstream recognition until the 1997 debut of Ally McBeal. The show featured MacNicol as John Cage, an immensely insecure but highly gifted lawyer whose lovable, if over-sensitive, nature tugged at the heartstrings of Ally (Calista Flockhart) and television audiences alike. MacNicol remained a lead character on the show from 1997 to 2002, and was able to participate not just as an actor, but also as a director, screenwriter, and amateur karaoke singer. No longer the affable John Cage, MacNicol could be seen assigning Jamie Foxx the unpleasant task of letting his employees know of a rapidly approaching downsizing in 2004's Breakin' All the Rules. ~ Tracie Cooper
ACTING CREDITS
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Battleship (2012) ...Secretary of Defense
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Grey's Anatomy TV (6 episodes)-
White Wedding
...Dr. Stark
May 5, 2011 -
It's a Long Way Back
...Dr. Robert Stark
Apr 28, 2011 -
This Is How We Do It
...Dr. Phil Stark
Mar 24, 2011 -
Not Responsible
...Dr. Phil Stark
Feb 24, 2011 -
Slow Night, So Long
...Dr. Phil Stark
Nov 18, 2010 -
Something's Gotta Give
...Dr. Phil Stark
Nov 11, 2010
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White Wedding
...Dr. Stark
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Ben 10: Ultimate Alien TV (2 episodes)-
Reflected Glory
...Oliver
Oct 15, 2010 -
Computer Games
...Oliver
May 14, 2010
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Reflected Glory
...Oliver
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Numb3rs TV (91 episodes)-
Cause and Effect
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Mar 12, 2010 -
Growin' Up
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Mar 5, 2010 -
And the Winner Is...
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Feb 5, 2010 -
Devil Girl
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Jan 29, 2010 -
Where Credit's Due
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Oct 16, 2009 -
7 Men Out
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
Oct 9, 2009
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Cause and Effect
...Dr. Larry Fleinhardt
DIRECTING CREDITS
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Ally TV (12 episodes)
- The Blame Game Dec 28, 1999
- Boy to the World Dec 14, 1999
- Fool's Night Out Nov 16, 1999
- Cro-Magnon Nov 9, 1999
- The Dirty Joke Nov 2, 1999
- The Attitude Oct 26, 1999
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Ally McBeal TV (3 episodes)- Seeing Green Nov 8, 1999
- Making Spirits Bright Dec 14, 1998
- Fools Night Out Sep 28, 1998
WRITING CREDITS
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Numb3rs TV (2 episodes)
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Trouble in Chinatown
...(written by)
Jan 23, 2009 -
Mind Games
...(story)
Mar 10, 2006
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Trouble in Chinatown
...(written by)
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