William James Pullman was born in Hornell, New York, to Johanna Blaas, a nurse, and James Pullman, a doctor, as one of seven children. He has a unique heritage, being of Dutch descent through his mother and English, Northern Irish, and Scottish descent through his father. After completing high school, Pullman went on to attend SUNY Delhi in New York for a building construction program before transferring to State University of New York College at Oneonta, where he earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theater. He furthered his education by receiving both his Master of Fine Arts degree in Theater/Directing and an honorary PhD from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.
During his time teaching Directing at Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, Pullman's student, John Dahl, would later go on to cast him in the film "The Last Seduction". Pullman then moved to New York City, where he worked alongside Kathy Bates in the acclaimed stage production of "Curse of the Starving Class". His early film career saw him appear in three diverse films, including "Ruthless People" with Danny DeVito and Bette Midler, "Spaceballs" with Mel Brooks, and "The Accidental Tourist", which earned Geena Davis an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress.
Despite his success in the entertainment industry, Pullman has always maintained a strong connection to his passion for building construction. He has designed and restored several barns, including a 1933 barn at his ranch in Montana, a Truss barn in Los Angeles, and a restored '3-bay' barn in western New York State, which sometimes serves as a community center near his hometown.
In addition to his charitable work with local communities, Pullman has been involved with various organizations, including Cornerstone Theater in Los Angeles, where he works to bridge neighborhoods and communities. He has also been involved with "Concerned Citizens Montana", a group working to secure a place at the table regarding the national need for a smart grid for energy transmission. Furthermore, Pullman has worked with Alfred University in New York and supports local health services, including the Pullman Women's Health and Birthing Center at St James Hospital in Hornell, New York.
Pullman is also an MS Society Ambassador and is based in Los Angeles, New York City, and Western Montana. He is married to dancer Tamara Hurwitz Pullman and they have three children, including daughter Maesa Rae, a singer/songwriter, and sons Jack and Lewis Pullman, who is also an actor.
