Everett McGill is an American actor who was born in Miami Beach, Florida, on October 21, 1945. He is best known for his roles in the films Quest for Fire (1981), Dune (1984), Silver Bullet (1985), Heartbreak Ridge (1986), Licence to Kill (1989), The People Under the Stairs (1991), and Under Siege 2: Dark Territory (1995). He also had a recurring role as "Big" Ed Hurley on the television series Twin Peaks (1990–1991).
McGill began his acting career on Broadway, appearing in the award-winning plays Equus, A Texas Trilogy, and Whose Life Is It, Anyway? He made his film debut in 1975 with a small role in the film The Day of the Locust. He went on to have a number of supporting roles in films throughout the 1970s and early 1980s.
In 1981, McGill starred in the film Quest for Fire, which was a critical and commercial success. He followed this up with a starring role in the film Dune, which was also a success. McGill continued to have a successful career in the 1980s, appearing in a number of films, including Silver Bullet, Heartbreak Ridge, Licence to Kill, and The People Under the Stairs.
In the 1990s, McGill's career slowed down, but he still appeared in a number of films, including Under Siege 2: Dark Territory, The Quick and the Dead, and The Faculty. He also had a recurring role on the television series Twin Peaks.
McGill retired from acting in 1999, but he returned for the revival of Twin Peaks in 2017. He has since retired from acting again.
