William Edward Fichtner (born November 27, 1956) is an
American actor. He is best known for his roles as Sheriff Tom Underlay on
Invasion, as
Alexander Mahone on
Prison Break and as
Ken Rosenberg in the
video games Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and
Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.
Personal life
Fichtner was born in
East Meadow,
New York, and raised in
Cheektowaga, New York, the son of Patricia and William E. Fichtner.
[William Fichtner William Fichtner at TV-Now.com] He is of
German heritage.
[William Fichtner Q & A] He has four sisters, one of whom is a
colonel in the
US Air Force. His nephew
Michael O’Mara was a member of the band
Sleepaway.
Fichtner graduated from
Maryvale High School. After graduating from
Farmingdale State College in 1976 with a associate degree in criminal justice, he attended
SUNY Brockport and earned a
Bachelor of Arts degree in
criminal justice in 1978. Fichtner decided to study at the
American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York. Fichtner credits his Farmingdale State College admissions counselor, Don Harvey, with his decision to study acting. Harvey, who became a lifelong friend, took Fichtner to his first
Broadway show. On 18 May 2008, Fichtner was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters by Farmingdale State College.