
Peter MacNicol
Peter MacNicol is an American actor. He received a Theatre World Award for his 1981 Broadway debut in the play Crimes of the Heart. His film roles include Galen in Dragonslayer (1981), Stingo in Sophie's Choice (1982), Janosz Poha in Ghostbusters II (1989), camp counselor Gary Granger in Addams Family Values (1993), and David Langley in Bean (1997).
MacNicol was born in Dallas, Texas, on April 10, 1954. He attended the University of Dallas and the University of Minnesota, where he studied theater. After graduating, he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career.
MacNicol made his Broadway debut in 1981 in the play Crimes of the Heart. He won a Theatre World Award for his performance. He went on to appear in a number of other Broadway productions, including The Real Thing (1984), The Crucible (1996), and The Pillowman (2005).
MacNicol has also had a successful career in film and television. He has appeared in a number of films, including Sophie's Choice (1982), Ghostbusters II (1989), Addams Family Values (1993), and Bean (1997). He is best known for his role as the eccentric lawyer John Cage in the FOX comedy-drama Ally McBeal (1997–2002), for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in 2001.
MacNicol has also appeared in a number of other television shows, including 24 (2001), Numbers (2005), and Veep (2012-2019). He is a versatile actor who has shown his range in a variety of roles.
MacNicol is married to Martha Cumming, and they have two children. He is a member of the Actors' Equity Association and the Screen Actors Guild.
68Credits38 TV · 30 films
1981–2025Years activefirst to latest
8.8 Highest ratedThe Lyon's Den
7.0 Average ratingacross 68 titles
Top TV shows 38best Peter MacNicol shows
- 1
The Lyon's Den1 ep · 2003 - 2
The Spectacular Spider-ManOtto Octavius (voice) · 4 eps · 2008 - 3
Young JusticeProfessor Ivo / M.O.N.Q.I. (voice) · 1 ep · 2010 - 4
Danny PhantomSidney Poindexter (voice) · 2 eps · 2004 - 5
Justice League UnlimitedDavid Clinton (voice) · 2 eps · 2004 - 6
Ben 10: Ultimate AlienOliver / Forever Knight #1 (voice) · 2 eps · 2010 - 7
Grey's AnatomyRobert Stark · 7 eps · 2005 - 8
Faerie Tale TheatreMartin · 1 ep · 1982 - 9
The BatmanLangstrom (voice) · 3 eps · 2004 - 10
Tales from the CryptAustin Haggard (segment "Let the Punishment Fit the Crime") · 1 ep · 1989 - 11
Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law8 eps · 2000 - 12
The Big Bang TheoryRobert Wolcott · 1 ep · 2007 - 13
Numb3rsDr. Larry Fleinhardt · 2005–2010 · Drama - 14
Boston LegalDr. Sydney Field · 1 ep · 2004 - 15
The Powers That BeBradley Grist · 15 eps · 1992 - 16
24Tom Lennox · 24 eps · 2001 - 17
Star Wars RebelsTseebo (voice) · 3 eps · 2014 - 18
Boston PublicDirector · 1 ep · 2000 - 19
CheersMario · 1 ep · 1982 - 20
VeepJeff Kane · 9 eps · 2012 - 21
Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.Professor Elliott Randolph · 2 eps · 2013 - 22
A Series of Unfortunate EventsIshmael · 1 ep · 2017 - 23
All RiseAlbert Campbell · 9 eps · 2019 - 24
Rapunzel's Tangled AdventureNigel the Advisor (voice) · 3 eps · 2017 - 25
Ally McBealJohn Cage · 1997–2002 · Drama - 26
G.I. Joe: RenegadesFirefly (voice) · 1 ep · 2010 - 27
Chicago HopeAlan Birch · 30 eps · 1994 - 28
CatDogRunt (voice) · 1 ep · 1998 - 29
American Dad!Old Man Hanson (voice) · 1 ep · 2005 - 30
The Wild ThornberrysRaju / Monkey (voice) · 1 ep · 1998 - 31
The Days and Nights of Molly DoddSteve Cooper · 1 ep · 1987 - 32
The Angry Beavers1 ep · 1997 - 33
CSI: CyberAssistant Director Stavros Sifter · 2015–2016 · Drama - 34
Fairly LegalJudge Smollet · 1 ep · 2011 - 35
Buzz Lightyear of Star CommandMajor (voice) · 2 eps · 2000 - 36
The Mindy ProjectRabbi Adler · 1 ep · 2012 - 37
Doc McStuffinsEgghead (voice) · 1 ep · 2012 - 38
All's FairRobert DeLancie · 1 ep · 2025
Top movies 30best Peter MacNicol movies
- 1
Secret of the SundropNigel the Advisor · 2018 - 2
The Day the Earth Blew Up: A Looney Tunes MovieThe Invader (voice) · 2024 - 3
Scooby-Doo! Stage FrightDewey Ottman (voices) · 2013 - 4Abducted: A Father's LoveRoy Dowd · 1996
- 5
Sophie's ChoiceStingo · 1982 - 6
Addams Family ValuesGary Granger · 1993 - 7
The Spectacular Spider-Man: Attack of the LizardOtto Octavius/Doctor Octopus (voice) · 2008 - 8
Game ChangeRick Davis · 2012 - 9
Olive, the Other ReindeerFido (voice) · 1999 - 10
Ghostbusters IIDr. Janosz Poha · 1989 - 11
Recess: School's OutFenwick (voice) · 2001 - 12
DragonslayerGalen · 1981 - 13
By Dawn's Early LightSedgwick · 1990 - 14
The Boy Who Left Home to Find Out About the ShiversMartin · 1984 - 15
BeanDavid Langley · 1997 - 16
Balto: Wolf QuestMuru (voice) · 2002 - 17
HousesitterMarty · 1992 - 18
RoswellLewis Rickett · 1994 - 19
Dracula: Dead and Loving ItThomas Renfield · 1995 - 20
Breakin' All the RulesPhilip Gascon · 2004 - 21
BattleshipSecretary of Defense · 2012 - 22
Radioland MurdersSon Writer · 1994 - 23
Hard PromisesStuart · 1992 - 24
HeatCyrus Kinnick · 1986 - 25
Johnny BullJoe Kovacs · 1986 - 26
American Blue NoteJack Solow · 1989 - 27
Stuart Little 3: Call of the WildTroopmaster (voice) · 2005 - 28
Silencing MaryLawrence Dixon · 1998 - 29
ShellDr. Thaddeus Brand · 2025 - 30
Home DeliveryHoward Evans · 2024