Upon graduating from the University of Minnesota, Peter MacNicol travelled 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 such broadly comic roles as the easily demonized Janocz in Ghostbusters II (1989) and the unctuous camp counselor in Addams Family Values (1994). On television, Peter MacNicol starred in the brief Norman Lear political lampoon The Powers That Be (1992), and was co-starred as Alan Birch on the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope (1994- ).

Peter MacNicol will continue in the role of John Cage on Ally McBeal this season, but will no longer appear regularly on the series. According to the Hollywood Reporter (June 5, 2001): "Josh Hopkins ("The Perfect Storm") and Regina Hall ("Scary Movie") are set and James Marsden ("X-Men") and Julianne Nicholson ("The Love Letter") are in final negotiations to join the cast of Fox's "Ally McBeal." They are part of a major casting makeover at David E. Kelley's hit dramedy, which also includes the departure of Lisa Nicole Carson and James LeGros. Carson, however, is expected make guest appearances on the show. There also has been speculation about Lucy Liu and Peter MacNicol scaling back their duties on the series next season, but sources said the two are still in negotiations with the studio. Hall will reprise her role from last season when she did a three-episode arc as Robert Downey Jr.'s associate. Nicholson is also understood to be playing a lawyer. There is no word on what character Hopkins will play, while there has been speculation that Marsden might be McBeal's new love interest."

FX has acquired the syndication rights to Ally McBeal and will begin broadcasting the series in thethe 2001-2002 season. Peter traveled to Mississippi to shoot "The Ponder Heart" for Masterpiece Theater on PBS. The movie aired on Monday, October 15 on PBS. [Read a local article about the film shoot here.] Based on Eudora Welty's novel, the project is directed by Martha Coolidge and costars include Jobeth Williams and Brent Spiner. Peter plays the role of Uncle Daniel Ponder. The video is available for purchase from PBS. The cast of Ally McBeal, President and Senator Clinton, President and Mrs. Ford, N'Sync and Sylvest Stallone will be among the honorees on April 1 at A Family Celebration benefit fundraiser. The cast of Ally McBeal will be honored as an Outstanding TV Drama. The event raises funds for many worthwhile charities, including two which Peter and his wife Marsue actively support: The Virginia Avenue Project (Los Angeles' version of New York's 52nd Street Project) and The Corie William Scholarship Fund. David E. Kelley and Michelle Pfeiffer are chairpersons for the event's dinner.

Peter was one of three actors (along with Chi McBride [Boston Public] and Lara Flynn Boyle [The Practice]) who paid tribute to David E. Kelley as he was presented with the first Brandon Tartikoff Award at the TV Guide Awards on Saturday, February 24. Peter makes a brief vocal appearance in the new Disney animated film "Recess: School's Out" as Fenwick. Peter provides the voice of a dog in Disney's "The Pooch and The Pauper", airing on ABC on Sunday, June 16. MacNicol lent his voice to commercials promoting Embassy Suites in television ads in 1999. Peter is the Narrator of MGM's direct-to-video animated release of Secret of Nimh 2 Peter MacNicol has been nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in the category of Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for a third year in a row. Also nominated in this category: Robert Downey, Jr. ALLY McBEAL, Kelsey Grammer FRASIER, Sean Hayes WILL & GRACE, David Hyde Pierce FRASIER. The cast of Ally McBeal has also been nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Comedy Series (and won this award in 1999.)

Peter is one of many award winners discussed in a new book about Viewers for Quality Television. Ironically, Viewers for Quality Television has just announced plans to cease operations due to lack of funding. Peter has been nominated for a Viewers for Quality Television Award for his work on Chicago Hope and Ally McBeal and is a past winner. Click to view the cover of the book (with a small photo of Peter) or a photo of Peter at a VQT converence. Peter was nominated for another Emmy in 2000 for his portrayal of John Cage on Ally McBeal. Other nominees in this category: Peter Boyle (Everybody Loves Raymond); Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond); Sean Hayes (Will & Grace); and David Hyde Pierce (Frasier). Click here for a full list of nominees. (Ally McBeal received three nominations: Outstanding Supporting Actor, Outstanding Direction for the musical episode (Bill D'Elia); and Outstanding Sound Mixing for the "Car Wash" episode.)

Peter was nominated Best Supporting Actor by Viewer's For Quality Television for his work on Ally McBeal in 2000. Also nominated: Brad Garrett (Everybody Loves Raymond), Sean Hayes (Will & Grace), John Mahoney (Frasier), David Hyde Pierce (Frasier). In 1999, Peter was honored with his second Viewer's For Quality Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Comedy for his work playing John Cage. (Peter was previously named Best Supporting Actor by VQT for his portrayal of Alan Birch on Chicago Hope.)

Ally McBeal was again nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Musical or Comedy on Television in 1999. (Ally McBeal won this award in 1998 and 1997.) Ally McBeal won the Emmy for Best Comedy at the 1999 Emmy Awards. (Two of the eight episodes submitted for Emmy consideration were directed by Peter MacNicol.) Peter was nominated Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy for Ally McBeal (David Hyde Pierce from Frasier took home the Emmy). Ally McBeal received 13 nominations in all. For the complete list of nominations, click here. The cast of Ally McBeal was honored by the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences on February 22, 1999. You can view the archived videotape of the question and answer session with the cast, writer/Executive Producer David E. Kelley, producers and crew members at http://www.emmys.org/activities/webcast_al.html.

MacNicol and the casting director who helped him get the role of Stingo in Sophie's Choice were featured in the February 2000 issue of Emmy Magazine. MacNicol was a presenter at the Television Arts & Sciences' (ATAS) 51st Annual Creative Arts Awards on Saturday, August 28, 1999 in Pasadena. Peter and Lucy Liu presented several editorial awards. A one-hour edited broadcast of the awards event aired on HBO Plus. Peter MacNicol and Lucy Liu were interviewed at the Pre-Emmy party at the Mondrian Skybar in Los Angeles on September 8, 1999. You can view the video clip of this interview online.

Baby Geniuses (1999)
Bean (1997)
Mojave Moon (1996)
Dracula: Dead and Loving It (1995)
Radioland Murders (1994)
Roswell - The U.F.O. Cover-Up (1994)
Addams Family Values (1993)
Hard Promises (1992)
Housesitter (1992)
American Blue Note (1991)
By Dawn's Early Light (1990)
Ghostbusters 2 (1989)
Heat (1987)
Sophie's Choice (1982)
Dragonslayer (1981)

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