Peter MacNicol is an Emmy Award-winning American television actor born on April 10, 1954 in Dallas, Texas. The youngest of five children, he studied at the University of Dallas and later on at the University of Minnesota, where he also performed onstage at the Guthrie Theater. After following the advice of a talent agent from New York to move to Manhattan, he began acting in Broadway productions such as Crimes of the Heart, and Black Comedy/White Lies. He has also appeared in a number feature films, among them Sophie's Choice, Ghostbusters II, and American Blue Note. His television credits include roles in
24 and
NUMB3RS .
John Cage is portrayed by Peter MacNicol in the Emmy Award-winning Fox television series Ally McBeal. He is a co-founder of the Cage and Fish law firm along with his best friend Richard Fish, though he is initially a reclusive and shy man. After Ally McBeal is hired, however, he finds himself drawn out of his shell by her friendship and gradually becomes more sociable. It's revealed later on that they're similar, due to their highly vivid imaginations and hallucinations. Despite his social awkwardness, he proves himself highly capable and dominant in the courtroom, being a litigator of impressive skill and confidence.
(Photo courtesy of Greg Gorman)