The 14-time Emmy nominee shares stories from Fargo, Boogie Nights, and more.
But it wasER’s chief who stuck with Macy.
“He enforces that in such a lovely and genuine way.
Credit: Everett Collection (2); Paul Sarkis/Showtime
He never loses his temperhe’s like a Buddha.
He just loves every bit of it.
He’s a got a rule: no sides.
Everett Collection
He doesn’t allow them on set.
If you’re in trouble, carry the whole script.”
[Laughs] Carrying the whole script is like a scarlet letter on your chest.
Gramercy Pictures
From the second they get out of their car, the actors are ready."
“I lovedFargothe first time I saw it up in there in my brain.
I didn’t have a doubt in my mind that it was going to be a wonderful movie.
Everett Collection
I know nobody will say that.
They’ll say, ‘I was completely shocked,’ but I wasn’t.
I thought the script was just magnificent.
J. Bridges/Fine Line
I loved the cadence, the dialogue, the music, the sense of humor.
It had success written all over it.”
“We both just got that this was special and these were great characters.”
Everett Collection
When I pulled the trigger, that’s what fired the gore gun.
Nowadays they don’t let actors do that.
Something happened with the gore gun on the first take and it went off prematurely.
Lorey Sebastian/Disney
I thought, ‘I betcha we don’t do another take.’
And we didn’t."
“I just adore him,” says Macy of the playwright.
J.R. Cooke/Samuel Goldwyn Films
And I had the best part, playing the director.
Oh my lord, it was funny.
And we finally got the scene.
Paul Sarkis/Showtime
Macy also has fond memories of collaborating once again with hisBoogie NightsandMagnoliacostarPhilip Seymour Hoffman.
“I don’t think there’s anything he couldn’t have done.
He was soulful in everything he did.”
“It was a heavy makeup show,” recalls Macy.
The skin can only take so much of a beating.
It was a long time in the chair.
When I was lucky, it would be an hour.
But there’s something about an actor doing a role with a face full of rubber on.
It’s freeing for you to act at once more boldly and more simply.
It’s as if you’ve got a mask on.
it’s possible for you to act the sh— out of things.
Macy won Emmys for writing and acting in this TV movie about a salesman with cerebral palsy.
But his best idea might’ve been including the real Bill Porter’s website in the end credits.
“A couple days later, I said, ‘You should tell Bill we’re doing this.’
Well, the credits rolled on opening night and within two minutes his site crashed.
It was thousands of orders.
“We loved it!
They didn’t say where to turnaround!
[Laughs] Oh jeez, it was fun.
They’re all so clever and quick-witted, so the set was poppin'.
I really was hoping we’d make aWild Hogs 2.
It never happened, don’t know why, we all wanted to do it.
One of the loveliest ancillary benefits is I still ride a motorcycle.
I ride it toShamelessevery day.”
I literally got a chill all over my body.
But what if your son was the shooter?
And none of us had a clue of what the f— you would do.
“We all agreed that we couldn’t manipulate the audience before that,” he says.
“We made it our business not to withhold any information, but just not to give that information.
It was quite a high-wire act.
If you’re too manipulative, the audience will turn on you.
It pisses people off.
“Immediately I had no doubts that this thing would have legs,” he recalls.
“It was so fresh, and I loved everything about it.
And boy, has it been a mitzvah in my life.
I’ve learned a whole lot about acting.
There ain’t nothing like getting to go to work every day.
And as the beloved Showtime series prepares for the end, the prevailing emotion for Macy is gratitude.
That’s pretty cool, and I’m going to miss it.”
