William Atherton

Acting • 1947-07-30 • Orange, Connecticut, USA

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

7.0

Die Hard 2

1990

7.8

Die Hard

1988

7.5

Ghostbusters

1984

7.6

The Practice

1997

6.6

The Sugarland Express

1974

7.6

Life

2007

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Filmography

2025
Where Did the Adults Go?Film
The Father
★ 10.0
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireFilm
Mayor Walter Peck
★ 6.4
2020
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering GhostbustersFilm
Self
★ 6.8
2020
Reunited ApartTV
Self • 1 episodes
★ 5.5
2018
Bad CompanyFilm
★ 5.4
2017
ClinicalFilm
Terry Drummond
★ 5.3
2016
GhostheadsFilm
Self
★ 6.0
2014
JinnFilm
Father Westhoff
★ 4.1
2012
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieFilm
Earle Swinter
★ 5.4
2012
Jersey Shore Shark AttackFilm
Dolan
★ 4.6
2012
The CitizenFilm
★ 6.5
2011
WorkaholicsTV
Thor Holmvik • 1 episodes
★ 7.4
2010
The Kane Files: Life of TrialFilm
Daniel Morgan
★ 4.8
2009
CastleTV
Ari Weiss • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
2008
Childrens HospitalTV
Levon Bainter • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2008
Aces 'N' EightsFilm
Howard
★ 6.5
2008
GhoulsFilm
Stefan
★ 3.3
2008
Black Crescent MoonFilm
Jo Dexton
★ 3.5
2007
LifeTV
Mickey Rayborn • 8 episodes
★ 7.6
2007
The Girl Next DoorFilm
Adult David Moran
★ 6.7
2007
Towards DarknessFilm
John
★ 4.9
2007
KushFilm
King
★ 3.4
2005
Numb3rsTV
Warren Pierce • 1 episodes
★ 7.0
2005
Into the SunFilm
Agent Block
★ 4.5
2005
HeadspaceFilm
Dr. Ira Gold
★ 5.1
2005
Gone but Not ForgottenFilm
Sen. Ray Colby
★ 4.8
2004
Desperate HousewivesTV
Dr. Barr • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
2004
LostTV
Donald Reynolds • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
2004
Boston LegalTV
A.D.A. Howard Zale • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
2004
Who's Your Daddy?Film
Duncan Mack
★ 4.9
2003
The Last SamuraiFilm
Winchester Rep
★ 7.6
2002
MonkTV
Commander Nathan Whitaker • 1 episodes
★ 7.9
2001
Justice LeagueTV
Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice) • 2 episodes
★ 8.2
2001
Night VisionsTV
William Price (segment "Hate Puppet") • 1 episodes
★ 7.1
2001
Race to SpaceFilm
Ralph Stanton
★ 6.0
2001
Burning Down the HouseFilm
Arthur Kranston
★ 8.5
2000
The Crow: SalvationFilm
Nathan Randall
★ 5.4
2000
Bread and RosesFilm
Party Guest (uncredited)
★ 6.3
1999
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitTV
Ned Bogden • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1999
Introducing Dorothy DandridgeFilm
Darryl Zanuck
★ 6.4
1999
The StrangerFilm
★ 4.3
1998
Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyFilm
James Denit
★ 4.0
1997
Stargate SG-1TV
Emissary Varta • 1 episodes
★ 8.3
1997
The PracticeTV
Keith Pratt • 3 episodes
★ 7.6
1997
Mad CityFilm
Dohlen
★ 6.2
1997
HoodlumFilm
Thomas E. Dewey
★ 6.5
1997
Executive PowerFilm
President Fields
★ 5.9
1996
Nash BridgesTV
Dr. Linus Mills • 1 episodes
★ 6.6
1996
Bio-DomeFilm
Dr. Noah Faulkner
★ 4.6
1996
Raven HawkFilm
Philip Thorne
★ 4.0
1995
The Outer LimitsTV
Franklin Murdoch • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
1995
VirusFilm
Dr. Reginald Holloway
★ 4.8
1995
Broken TrustFilm
Neil Roemer
★ 6.3
1995
A Night to Die ForFilm
Self
★ 7.0
1994
Frank & JesseFilm
Allan Pinkerton
★ 5.2
1994
Saints and SinnersFilm
Terence
★ 5.0
1993
The Pelican BriefFilm
Bob Gminski
★ 6.6
1992
HBO First LookTV
★ 5.5
1992
Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderFilm
Eric Walker
★ 8.2
1992
Chrome SoldiersFilm
Sheriff Blackwell
★ 4.4
1991
OscarFilm
Overton
★ 6.4
1990
Law & OrderTV
Don Snyder • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1990
Law & OrderTV
Dan Jensen • 1 episodes
★ 7.3
1990
Die Hard 2Film
Richard Thornberg
★ 7.0
1990
Buried AliveFilm
Cort van Owen
★ 6.7
1990
Grim Prairie TalesFilm
Arthur
★ 5.8
1990
Max Monroe: Loose CannonTV
Sloane • 1 episodes
★ 5.0
1989
Tales from the CryptTV
Malcolm Mayflower • 1 episodes
★ 8.0
1988
Die HardFilm
Richard Thornburg
★ 7.8
1988
IntrigueFilm
Doggett
★ 6.4
1987
The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineFilm
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
★ 8.7
1986
No MercyFilm
Allan Deveneux
★ 5.8
1986
A Fight for JennyFilm
Michael Rosen
★ 6.2
1985
The Twilight ZoneTV
Brian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek") • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
1985
The Twilight ZoneTV
(segment "The Card") • 1 episodes
★ 7.7
1985
Real GeniusFilm
Professor Hathaway
★ 6.7
1985
The EqualizerTV
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber • 2 episodes
★ 7.2
1985
The EqualizerTV
Gideon • 1 episodes
★ 7.2
1984
Murder, She WroteTV
Larry Holleran • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1984
Murder, She WroteTV
Greg Dalton • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1984
Murder, She WroteTV
Andy Henley • 1 episodes
★ 7.5
1984
GhostbustersFilm
Walter Peck
★ 7.5
1983
MalibuFilm
Stan Harvey
★ 3.8
1982
Tomorrow's ChildFilm
Jim Spence
★ 4.3
1981
The House of MirthFilm
Lawrence Selden
★ 8.0
1978
CentennialTV
Jim Lloyd • 12 episodes
★ 7.7
1977
Looking for Mr. GoodbarFilm
James
★ 6.3
1976
IndependenceFilm
Benjamin Rush
★ 7.5
1975
The HindenburgFilm
Boerth
★ 6.4
1975
The Day of the LocustFilm
Tod Hackett
★ 6.4
1974
The Sugarland ExpressFilm
Clovis Poplin
★ 6.6
1973
Class of '44Film
Fraternity President
★ 6.5
1972
The New CenturionsFilm
Johnson
★ 6.7