‘Fargo’ star William H. Macy returns to Twin Cities to catch Minnesota Frost and Wild hockey games

William H. Macy, who earned his only Oscar nomination for his work in “Fargo,” returned to Twin Cities this week to support whiskey and ice hockey.

The actor, whose other credits include “Shameless” and “Boogie Nights,” was in the crowd Wednesday to catch the Minnesota Frost, which is part of the relatively new Professional Women’s Hockey League. He also popped up at the Minnesota Wild game Thursday, letting his presence be known by leading the “let’s play hockey” call.

Macy was in town promoting Woody Creek Distillers, the Colorado-based company that sells William H. Macy Reserve Straight Rye Whiskey. According to a 2023 Denver Post story, Macy and his wife, Felicity Huffman, own a home in the Woody Creek area, where they grow potatoes used by the distillery. Macy has been a company spokesman since 2018 and occasionally plays ukulele at its headquarters.

Joe Anderson, media and community relations manager for the Frost, said Macy didn’t spend any time with the team.

In the 1996 film, Macy played Jerry Lundegaard, an unhinged Twin Cities car salesman who hires two criminals to kidnap his wife. The movie, directed and written by the Minnesota-raised Coen brothers, earned seven Oscar nominations including a win for star Frances McDormand.

Earlier in the week, Macy stopped by KSTP’s “Twin Cities Live” where he talked at length about the film.

“It changed my life,” said Macy, who also acted at the Guthrie Theater before his career took off. “For me, it was ‘Fargo’ and before ‘Fargo.‘”

The actor isn’t the first celebrity to attend a Frost game. Billie Jean King has been in the stands — but the tennis legend is one of the league’s advisers.