William Atherton
Known for acting · Born 30 July 1947 · 79 · Orange, Connecticut, USA
90 credits
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 2
1990
The Sugarland Express
1974
Bio-Dome
1996
Buried Alive
1990
Die Hard
1988
The Hindenburg
1975
Ghostbusters
1984
Real Genius
1985
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
1977
Clinical
2017
The Crow: Salvation
2000
Jinn
2014
Acting (89)
2025Where Did the Adults Go?The FatherFilm
2024Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter PeckFilm
2020Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering GhostbustersSelfFilm
2020Reunited ApartSelfSeries
2018Bad CompanyFilm
2017ClinicalTerry DrummondFilm
2016GhostheadsSelfFilm
2014JinnFather WesthoffFilm
2012Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieEarle SwinterFilm
2012Jersey Shore Shark AttackDolanFilm
2012The CitizenFilm
2011WorkaholicsThor HolmvikSeries
2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel MorganFilm
2009CastleAri WeissSeries
2008Childrens HospitalLevon BainterSeries
2008Aces 'N' EightsHowardFilm
2008GhoulsStefanFilm
2008Black Crescent MoonJo DextonFilm
2007The Girl Next DoorAdult David MoranFilm
2007LifeMickey Rayborn · 8 episodesSeries
2007Towards DarknessJohnFilm
2007KushKingFilm
2005Numb3rsWarren PierceSeries
2005Into the SunAgent BlockFilm
2005HeadspaceDr. Ira GoldFilm
2005Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray ColbyFilm
2004LostDonald ReynoldsSeries
2004Desperate HousewivesDr. BarrSeries
2004Boston LegalA.D.A. Howard ZaleSeries
2004Who's Your Daddy?Duncan MackFilm
2003The Last SamuraiWinchester RepFilm
2002MonkCommander Nathan WhitakerSeries
2001Justice LeagueDr. Destiny / John Dee (voice) · 2 episodesSeries
2001Night VisionsWilliam Price (segment "Hate Puppet")Series
2001Race to SpaceRalph StantonFilm
2001Burning Down the HouseArthur KranstonFilm
2000The Crow: SalvationNathan RandallFilm
2000Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)Film
1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNed BogdenSeries
1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl ZanuckFilm
1999The StrangerFilm
1998Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames DenitFilm
1997Stargate SG-1Emissary VartaSeries
1997Mad CityDohlenFilm
1997HoodlumThomas E. DeweyFilm
1997The PracticeD.A. Keith Pratt · 3 episodesSeries
1997Executive PowerPresident FieldsFilm
1996Bio-DomeDr. Noah FaulknerFilm
1996Nash BridgesDr. Linus MillsSeries
1996Raven HawkPhilip ThorneFilm
1995The Outer LimitsFranklin MurdochSeries
1995VirusDr. Reginald HollowayFilm
1995Broken TrustNeil RoemerFilm
1995A Night to Die ForSelfFilm
1994Frank & JesseAllan PinkertonFilm
1994Saints and SinnersTerenceFilm
1993The Pelican BriefBob GminskiFilm
1992HBO First LookSeries
1992Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric WalkerFilm
1992Chrome SoldiersSheriff BlackwellFilm
1991OscarOvertonFilm
1990Die Hard 2Richard ThornbergFilm
1990Law & OrderDon Snyder, Dan JensenSeries
1990Buried AliveCort van OwenFilm
1990Grim Prairie TalesArthurFilm
1990Max Monroe: Loose CannonSloaneSeries
1989Tales from the CryptMalcolm MayflowerSeries
1988Die HardRichard ThornburgFilm
1988IntrigueDoggettFilm
1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' LoeberFilm
1986No MercyAllan DeveneuxFilm
1986A Fight for JennyMichael RosenFilm
1985Real GeniusProfessor HathawayFilm
1985The Twilight ZoneBrian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek"), (segment "The Card")Series
1985The EqualizerMartin 'Alpha' Loeber · 2 episodes, GideonSeries
1984GhostbustersWalter PeckFilm
1984Murder, She WroteLarry Holleran, Greg Dalton, Andy HenleySeries
1983MalibuStan HarveyFilm
1982Tomorrow's ChildJim SpenceFilm
1981The House of MirthLawrence SeldenFilm
1978CentennialJim Lloyd · 12 episodesSeries
1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarJamesFilm
1976IndependenceBenjamin RushFilm
1975The HindenburgBoerthFilm
1975The Day of the LocustTod HackettFilm
1974The Sugarland ExpressClovis PoplinFilm
1973Class of '44Fraternity PresidentFilm
1972The New CenturionsJohnsonFilm
—Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers StoryFilm
Production (1)
2005HeadspaceCo-ProducerFilm