William Atherton Picture
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William Atherton

Actor | Soundtrack | Producer

William Atherton's career has spanned motion pictures, Broadway and television. He first achieved international recognition as the lead in Steven Spielberg's debut feature The Sugarland Express, and next starred in John Schlesinger's The Day of the Locust, Robert Wise's The Hindenburg and Richard Brooks' Looking for Mr. Goodbar... See full bio »

Born:

William Atherton Knight
in Orange, Connecticut, USA
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(R-L) Director Sam Kadi, Exe Producer Ameer Kabour, William Atherton, Khaled Nabawy at THE CITIZEN Int'l Premiere. Still of Stephen Baldwin, Pauly Shore and William Atherton in Bio-Dome Still of William Atherton in Hacia la oscuridad William Atherton Still of William Atherton and Michael Emerson in Lost Still of Stephen Baldwin, Kylie Minogue, Pauly Shore, Henry Gibson and William Atherton in Bio-Dome
10 photos | 52 videos | 172 news articles »

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Known For


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Filmography

Jump to: Actor | Soundtrack | Producer | Thanks | Self
Hide HideActor (84 titles)
2013 Getting Back to Zero
 
2012 The Citizen
Winston
 
2012 Workaholics (TV series)
Thor Holmvik
– The Meat Jerking Beef Boys (2012) … Thor Holmvik
 
2012 Jersey Shore Shark Attack (TV movie)
Dolan
 
2012 Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
Earle Swinter
 
2012 The Unknown (TV series)
Jim Larson
– Yesterday (2012) … Jim Larson
 
2012 Jinn
Father Westhoff
 
2011 Castle (TV series)
Dr. Ari Weiss
– Head Case (2011) … Dr. Ari Weiss
 
2010 The Kane Files: Life of Trial
Daniel Morgan
 
2010 The Glades (TV series)
Big Jack Hasker
– Booty (2010) … Big Jack Hasker
 
2010 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV series)
Ned Bogden
– Bedtime (2010) … Ned Bogden
 
2010 Lost (TV series)
Principal Reynolds
– Dr. Linus (2010) … Principal Reynolds
 
2009 Ghostbusters (Video Game)
Walter Peck (voice)
 
2008-2009 Life (TV series)
Mickey Rayborn
– One (2009) … Mickey Rayborn
– Shelf Life (2009) … Mickey Rayborn
– Canyon Flowers (2009) … Mickey Rayborn
– I Heart Mom (2009) … Mickey Rayborn
– Evil... and His Brother Ziggy (2009) … Mickey Rayborn
See all 8 episodes »
 
2008 Monk (TV series)
Commander Nathan Whitaker
– Mr. Monk Is Underwater (2008) … Commander Nathan Whitaker
 
2008 Ghouls (TV movie)
Stefan
 
2008 bgFATLdy
Jo Dexton
 
2008 Aces 'N' Eights (TV movie)
Howard
 
2008 Strokes (TV movie)
Richard McBride
 
2007 Numb3rs (TV series)
Warren Pierce
– Tabu (2007) … Warren Pierce
 
2007 The Girl Next Door
Adult David Moran
 
2007 Hacia la oscuridad
John
 
2007 Totally Baked: A Pot-U-Mentary
Mr. Lyle Funonion (Segment "FunOnion Boardroom")
 
2007 Kush
King
 
2006 Desperate Housewives (TV series)
Dr. Barr
– Remember: Part 1 (2006) … Dr. Barr
– Remember: Part 2 (2006) … Dr. Barr
 
2006 Stargate SG-1 (TV series)
Emissary Varta
– Collateral Damage (2006) … Emissary Varta
 
2005 Headspace
Dr. Ira Gold
 
2005 Gone But Not Forgotten (TV movie)
Sen. Ray Colby
 
2005 Into the Sun
CIA Agent Block
 
2005 Boston Legal (TV series)
A.D.A. Howard Zale
– It Girls and Beyond (2005) … A.D.A. Howard Zale
 
2002-2004 Law & Order (TV series)
Dan Jensen / Don Snyder
– Evil Breeds (2004) … Dan Jensen
– Dazzled (2002) … Don Snyder
 
2004 Who's Your Daddy? (video)
Duncan Mack
 
2003 The Last Samurai
Winchester Rep
 
2003 Justice League (TV series)
Dr. Destiny / John Dee
– Only a Dream (2003) … Dr. Destiny (voice) / John Dee (voice)
– Only a Dream: Part II (2003) … Dr. Destiny (voice) / John Dee (voice)
 
2001 Race to Space
Ralph Stanton
 
2001 Night Visions (TV series)
William Price
– Hate Puppet (2001) … William Price
 
2001 Burning Down the House
Arthur Kranston
 
2000 The Crow: Salvation
Nathan Randall
 
1999 Chicken Soup for the Soul (TV series)
Ron
– A Simple Touch (1999) … Ron
 
1997-1999 The Practice (TV series)
D.A. Keith Pratt / D.A. Pratt
– Marooned (1999) … D.A. Keith Pratt
– Sex, Lies and Monkeys (1997) … D.A. Keith Pratt
– First Degree (1997) … D.A. Pratt
 
1999 Introducing Dorothy Dandridge (TV movie)
Darryl Zanuck
 
1999/II The Stranger
Arthur
 
1998 The Outer Limits (TV series)
Franklin Murdoch
– To Tell the Truth (1998) … Franklin Murdoch
 
1998 Michael Kael contre la World News Company
James Denit
 
1997 Mad City
Dohlen
 
1997 Executive Power (video)
President Fields
 
1997 Hoodlum
Thomas Dewey
 
1996 Nash Bridges (TV series)
Dr. Linus Mills
– Key Witness (1996) … Dr. Linus Mills
 
1996 Raven Hawk (TV movie)
Philip Thorne
 
1996 Bio-Dome
Dr. Noah Faulkner
 
1995 Broken Trust (TV movie)
Roemer
 
1995 Virus (TV movie)
Dr. Reginald Holloway
 
1995 Frank & Jesse
Allan Pinkerton
 
1994 Saints and Sinners
Terence McCone
 
1993 The Pelican Brief
Bob Gminski
 
1992 Chrome Soldiers (TV movie)
Sheriff Blackwell
 
1992 Diagnosis Murder (TV movie)
Eric Walker
 
1985-1991 Murder, She Wrote (TV series)
Greg Dalton / Larry Holleran / Prosecutor Andy Henley
– Judge Not (1991) … Prosecutor Andy Henley
– Murder, She Spoke (1987) … Greg Dalton
– Murder in the Afternoon (1985) … Larry Holleran
 
1991 Tales from the Crypt (TV series)
Malcolm Mayflower
– Easel Kill Ya (1991) … Malcolm Mayflower
 
1991 Oscar
Overton
 
1990 Grim Prairie Tales: Hit the Trail... to Terror
Arthur
 
1990 Die Hard 2
Richard Thornburg
 
1990 Buried Alive (TV movie)
Cortland 'Cort' van Owen
 
1987-1989 The Equalizer (TV series)
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber / Gideon
– 17 Zebra (1989) … Gideon
– Blood & Wine: Part 1 (1987) … Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
– Blood & Wine: Part 2 (1987) … Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
 
1988 Intrigue (TV movie)
Doggett
 
1988 Die Hard
Richard Thornburg
 
1987 The Law and Harry McGraw (TV series)
– Dead Men Don't Make Phone Calls (1987)
 
1985-1987 The Twilight Zone (TV series)
Brian Wolfe (segment "The Card") / Mr. Dundee (segment "Night of the Meek")
– The Card/The Junction (1987) … Brian Wolfe (segment "The Card")
– Night of the Meek/But Can She Type?/The Star (1985) … Mr. Dundee (segment "Night of the Meek")
 
1986 No Mercy
Allan Deveneux
 
1986 A Fight for Jenny (TV movie)
Michael Rosen
 
1985 Real Genius
Prof. Jerry Hathaway
 
1984 Ghostbusters
Walter Peck
 
1983 Malibu (TV movie)
Stan Harvey
 
1982 Tomorrow's Child (TV movie)
Jim Spence
 
1981 A Single Light (TV movie)
 
1981 The House of Mirth (TV movie)
Lawrence Selden
 
1978-1979 Centennial (TV mini-series)
Jim Lloyd
– The Scream of Eagles (1979) … Jim Lloyd
– The Winds of Death (1979) … Jim Lloyd
– The Winds of Fortune (1979) … Jim Lloyd
– The Crime (1979) … Jim Lloyd
– The Storm (1979) … Jim Lloyd
See all 10 episodes »
 
1977 Looking for Mr. Goodbar
James
 
1976 Independence (short)
Benjamin Rush
 
1975 The Hindenburg
Boerth
 
1975 The Day of the Locust
Tod Hackett
 
1974 The Sugarland Express
Clovis
 
1973 Class of '44
Fraternity President
 
1972 The New Centurions
Johnson
 
Show ShowSoundtrack (3 titles)
2004 Z Channel: A Magnificent Obsession (TV documentary) (performer: "What'll I Do")
 
2002 The Kid Stays in the Picture (documentary) (performer: "What'll I Do?" 1924)
 
1974 The Great Gatsby (performer: "song during opening credits")
 
Show ShowProducer (1 title)
2007 Kush (co-producer)
 
Show ShowThanks (1 title)
2000 Bread and Roses (special thanks)
 
Show ShowSelf (6 titles)
2013 Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters (video documentary) (filming)
Himself
 
2013 Decoding Die Hard (video documentary)
Himself
 
2012 On Set: Jersey Shore Shark Attack (short)
Himself
 
2006 Fractured Skulls: The Making of Headspace (video short)
Himself
 
2000 Bread and Roses
Himself - Party Guest (uncredited)
 
1995 HBO First Look (TV series documentary)
Himself - Richard Thornberg
– Behind the Scenes: 'Die Hard: With a Vengeance' (1995) … Himself - Richard Thornberg
 

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Personal Details

Other Works:

(1972). Stage Play: The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window (Revival). Written by Lorraine Hansberry. Book adapted by Robert Nemiroff and Charlotte Zaltzberg. Featuring songs with lyrics by Ray Errol Fox. Featuring songs by Gary William Friedman. Musical Director: Mack Schlefer. Music orchestrated by Gary William Friedman... See more »

Publicity Listings:

2 Interviews  | 1 Magazine Cover Photo  | See more »

Height:

6' 1" (1.85 m)
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Did You Know?

Trivia:

Sang Irving Berlin's, "What'll I Do?" for the opening title sequence in "The Great Gatsby." It was also featured in Robert Evans' documentary The Kid Stays in the Picture. See more »

Trademark:

Known around the world for what have become his signature film characters: the television reporter, Dick Thornburg in Die Hard and Die Hard 2; the EPA official, Walter Peck in Ghostbusters; Professor Jerry Hathaway in Real Genius and the mad scientist, Dr. Noah Faulkner in Bio-Dome. See more »

Nickname:

Bill See more »

Star Sign:

Leo