He was a cunning and manipulative criminal in the movie Fargo and a deadbeat alcoholic and addict in the long-running Showtime comedy Shameless. But when he led a threehour drama class recently on the Vassar campus, William H. Macy played himself: an engaging, award-winning actor with a passion for his craft. Macy critiqued performances by several Vassar drama majors and offered some career advice during a three-hour master class this fall in the Streep Studio in the Vogelstein Center for Drama and Film. Among other advice and observations, Macy offered these gems: Never walk backwards on stage—turn your back and talk louder. It’s okay to be the best actor in a bad show, but it’s better to be good in a small role … in a good show. Stay in touch with each other and with the many Vassar people in the industry. Go to Los Angeles if you want to be in movies.
—Larry Hertz