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William Atherton

Acting

William Atherton

Born July 30, 1947 · Orange, Connecticut, USA

Biography

William Atherton Knight Jr. (born July 30, 1947) is an American actor, best known for portraying Richard Thornburg in Die Hard and its sequel and Walter Peck in Ghostbusters.

Known for

Die Hard

94IMDb8.2

Die Hard

Richard Thornburg

Ghostbusters

89IMDb7.8

Ghostbusters

Walter Peck

The Last Samurai

82IMDb7.8

The Last Samurai

Winchester Rep

Die Hard 2

71IMDb7.2

Die Hard 2

Richard Thornberg

Lost

87IMDb8.3

Lost

Donald Reynolds

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

80IMDb8.1

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Ned Bogden

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

38IMDb6.1

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Mayor Walter Peck

Castle

82IMDb8.1

Castle

Ari Weiss

Desperate Housewives

60IMDb7.7

Desperate Housewives

Dr. Barr

Stargate SG-1

91IMDb8.4

Stargate SG-1

Emissary Varta

The Pelican Brief

54IMDb6.7

The Pelican Brief

Bob Gminski

Monk

81IMDb8.1

Monk

Commander Nathan Whitaker

Tales from the Crypt

79IMDb8.0

Tales from the Crypt

Malcolm Mayflower

The Girl Next Door

48IMDb6.4

The Girl Next Door

Adult David Moran

Law & Order

66IMDb7.8

Law & Order

Don Snyder, Dan Jensen

Justice League

91IMDb8.5

Justice League

Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)

Oscar

46IMDb6.6

Oscar

Overton

Real Genius

61IMDb6.9

Real Genius

Professor Hathaway

The Sugarland Express

63IMDb6.8

The Sugarland Express

Clovis Poplin

Murder, She Wrote

51IMDb7.3

Murder, She Wrote

Larry Holleran, Greg Dalton, Andy Henley

Filmography

  1. 2025Where Did the Adults Go?The FatherMovie
  2. 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter PeckMovie
  3. 2020Reunited ApartSelfSeries
  4. 2020Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering GhostbustersSelfMovie
  5. 2018Bad CompanyMovie
  6. 2017ClinicalTerry DrummondMovie
  7. 2016GhostheadsSelfMovie
  8. 2014JinnFather WesthoffMovie
  9. 2012The CitizenMovie
  10. 2012Jersey Shore Shark AttackDolanMovie
  11. 2012Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieEarle SwinterMovie
  12. 2011WorkaholicsThor HolmvikSeries
  13. 2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel MorganMovie
  14. 2009CastleAri WeissSeries
  15. 2008Childrens HospitalLevon BainterSeries
  16. 2008GhoulsStefanMovie
  17. 2008Black Crescent MoonJo DextonMovie
  18. 2008Aces 'N' EightsHowardMovie
  19. 2007LifeMickey RaybornSeries
  20. 2007The Girl Next DoorAdult David MoranMovie
  21. 2007KushKingMovie
  22. 2007Towards DarknessJohnMovie
  23. 2005Into the SunAgent BlockMovie
  24. 2005HeadspaceDr. Ira Gold, Co-ProducerMovie
  25. 2005Numb3rsWarren PierceSeries
  26. 2005Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray ColbyMovie
  27. 2004Desperate HousewivesDr. BarrSeries
  28. 2004Boston LegalA.D.A. Howard ZaleSeries
  29. 2004LostDonald ReynoldsSeries
  30. 2004Who's Your Daddy?Duncan MackMovie
  31. 2003The Last SamuraiWinchester RepMovie
  32. 2002MonkCommander Nathan WhitakerSeries
  33. 2001Justice LeagueDr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)Series
  34. 2001Race to SpaceRalph StantonMovie
  35. 2001Night VisionsWilliam Price (segment "Hate Puppet")Series
  36. 2001Burning Down the HouseArthur KranstonMovie
  37. 2000Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)Movie
  38. 2000The Crow: SalvationNathan RandallMovie
  39. 1999The StrangerMovie
  40. 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNed BogdenSeries
  41. 1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl ZanuckMovie
  42. 1998Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames DenitMovie
  43. 1997Mad CityDohlenMovie
  44. 1997Executive PowerPresident FieldsMovie
  45. 1997HoodlumThomas E. DeweyMovie
  46. 1997Stargate SG-1Emissary VartaSeries
  47. 1997The PracticeKeith PrattSeries
  48. 1996Raven HawkPhilip ThorneMovie
  49. 1996Nash BridgesDr. Linus MillsSeries
  50. 1996Bio-DomeDr. Noah FaulknerMovie
  51. 1995Broken TrustNeil RoemerMovie
  52. 1995A Night to Die ForSelfMovie
  53. 1995VirusDr. Reginald HollowayMovie
  54. 1995The Outer LimitsFranklin MurdochSeries
  55. 1994Frank & JesseAllan PinkertonMovie
  56. 1994Saints and SinnersTerenceMovie
  57. 1993The Pelican BriefBob GminskiMovie
  58. 1992HBO First LookSeries
  59. 1992Chrome SoldiersSheriff BlackwellMovie
  60. 1992Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric WalkerMovie
  61. 1991OscarOvertonMovie
  62. 1990Grim Prairie TalesArthurMovie
  63. 1990Law & OrderDon Snyder, Dan JensenSeries
  64. 1990Die Hard 2Richard ThornbergMovie
  65. 1990Buried AliveCort van OwenMovie
  66. 1990Max Monroe: Loose CannonSloaneSeries
  67. 1989Tales from the CryptMalcolm MayflowerSeries
  68. 1988IntrigueDoggettMovie
  69. 1988Die HardRichard ThornburgMovie
  70. 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' LoeberMovie
  71. 1986No MercyAllan DeveneuxMovie
  72. 1986A Fight for JennyMichael RosenMovie
  73. 1985The Twilight ZoneBrian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek"), (segment "The Card")Series
  74. 1985The EqualizerMartin 'Alpha' Loeber, GideonSeries
  75. 1985Real GeniusProfessor HathawayMovie
  76. 1984Murder, She WroteLarry Holleran, Greg Dalton, Andy HenleySeries
  77. 1984GhostbustersWalter PeckMovie
  78. 1983MalibuStan HarveyMovie
  79. 1982Tomorrow's ChildJim SpenceMovie
  80. 1981The House of MirthLawrence SeldenMovie
  81. 1978CentennialJim LloydSeries
  82. 1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarJamesMovie
  83. 1976IndependenceBenjamin RushMovie
  84. 1975The HindenburgBoerthMovie
  85. 1975The Day of the LocustTod HackettMovie
  86. 1974The Sugarland ExpressClovis PoplinMovie
  87. 1973Class of '44Fraternity PresidentMovie
  88. 1972The New CenturionsJohnsonMovie
  89. —Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers StoryMovie