From Playing Gacy to Facing Marvel’s Underworld, William Forsythe Explores the Story Beneath The Roaring Game
There’s something fitting about William Forsythe starring in The Roaring Game, a classic underdog story with heart, grit, and humor. After decades of playing hardened criminals, historical figures, and psychologically complex antagonists, Forsythe finds himself in a film that celebrates redemption, camaraderie, and community.
Table Of Content
And he couldn’t be happier about it.
Drawn to the Heart of the Story
Forsythe says joining The Roaring Game was a two-part decision: the script — and the people behind it.
“I’ve worked with these guys up in Rhode Island before,” he explains. “They create a real family atmosphere. Nothing’s perfect, but it’s mostly a feel-good environment. And you do better work in that kind of setting.”
The film’s underdog spirit resonated with him immediately. His character — a coach with a rough past but a strong moral core — offered emotional depth without dragging him into the psychological darkness that has defined some of his previous roles.
“It’s precious,” he says. “It felt like someone I knew growing up.”
From Darkness to Light
Forsythe’s career includes some notoriously heavy roles, including portraying real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy. Those performances required intense immersion and emotional endurance.
“With a real monster, you have to go to hell to find him,” he says bluntly. “That’s different than playing a fictional villain.”
Researching Gacy, he recalls, was a disturbing experience that stayed with him long after production ended. Cleansing himself from that role required something simple but intentional: “I turned up The Beach Boys, went to Belize, and just swam for a month.”
By contrast, The Roaring Game was energizing rather than draining.
“It’s real,” he says, “but it’s not painful. You can enjoy the ride.”
On Craft in a Changing Industry
While Forsythe speaks warmly about this film, he doesn’t shy away from critiquing modern filmmaking culture. He misses the “family unit” atmosphere that once defined sets and worries about shortened attention spans in the streaming era.
“There’s too much ‘next, next, next,’” he says. “We should always try to do the best work possible.”
Regardless of industry shifts, his personal philosophy hasn’t changed:
“Whether I’m working for Martin Scorsese or for Joe Blow, I give 100% every time.”
Even when taking on roles he might not fully agree with creatively, he commits entirely. “You have to look like you’re going to be king of the jungle,” he says. “The audience can’t think you’re disappearing in the next scene.”
Brooklyn Roots, Timeless Passion
Growing up in Brooklyn shaped both his toughness and his adaptability.
“I learned to put on a certain face. It was survival,” he reflects. That ability to project strength — or unpredictability — became part of his acting toolkit.
Yet beneath the hardened exterior is a man who still feels like he’s just starting out.
“I still feel the passion of beginning,” he says. “The best is yet to come.”
If he could choose his dream role? Without hesitation: Cervantes. A nobleman. An underdog. A man of depth and complexity.
It’s a fitting aspiration for an actor whose career has been defined not by comfort, but by commitment.
With The Roaring Game, Forsythe proves that even after decades in the industry, he remains what he’s always been: fearless, searching, and hungry for the next great role.
