Person

William Atherton

Acting · Born 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.

• 

  Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

  Ned Bogden

• 

  Law & Order

  Don Snyder

• 

  Lost

  Donald Reynolds

• 

  Desperate Housewives

  Dr. Barr

• 

  Stargate SG-1

  Emissary Varta

• 

  Castle

  Ari Weiss

• 

  Monk

  Commander Nathan Whitaker

• 

  Murder, She Wrote

  Larry Holleran

• 

  Numb3rs

  Warren Pierce

• 

  The Practice

  D.A. Keith Pratt

• 2025Where Did the Adults Go?The Father
• 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter Peck
• 2020Reunited ApartSelf
• 2020Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering GhostbustersSelf
• 2018Bad Company
• 2017ClinicalTerry Drummond
• 2016GhostheadsSelf
• 2014JinnFather Westhoff
• 2012The Citizen
• 2012Jersey Shore Shark AttackDolan
• 2012Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieEarle Swinter
• 2011WorkaholicsThor Holmvik
• 2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel Morgan
• 2009CastleAri Weiss
• 2008Childrens HospitalLevon Bainter
• 2008GhoulsStefan
• 2008Black Crescent MoonJo Dexton
• 2008Aces 'N' EightsHoward
• 2007LifeMickey Rayborn
• 2007The Girl Next DoorAdult David Moran
• 2007KushKing
• 2007Towards DarknessJohn
• 2005Into the SunAgent Block
• 2005HeadspaceDr. Ira Gold
• 2005Numb3rsWarren Pierce
• 2005Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray Colby
• 2004Desperate HousewivesDr. Barr
• 2004Boston LegalA.D.A. Howard Zale
• 2004LostDonald Reynolds
• 2004Who's Your Daddy?Duncan Mack
• 2003The Last SamuraiWinchester Rep
• 2002MonkCommander Nathan Whitaker
• 2001Justice LeagueDr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)
• 2001Race to SpaceRalph Stanton
• 2001Night VisionsWilliam Price (segment "Hate Puppet")
• 2001Burning Down the HouseArthur Kranston
• 2000Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)
• 2000The Crow: SalvationNathan Randall
• 1999The Stranger
• 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNed Bogden
• 1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl Zanuck
• 1998Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames Denit
• 1997Mad CityDohlen
• 1997Executive PowerPresident Fields
• 1997HoodlumThomas E. Dewey
• 1997Stargate SG-1Emissary Varta
• 1997The PracticeD.A. Keith Pratt
• 1996Raven HawkPhilip Thorne
• 1996Nash BridgesDr. Linus Mills
• 1996Bio-DomeDr. Noah Faulkner
• 1995Broken TrustNeil Roemer
• 1995A Night to Die ForSelf
• 1995VirusDr. Reginald Holloway
• 1995The Outer LimitsFranklin Murdoch
• 1994Frank & JesseAllan Pinkerton
• 1994Saints and SinnersTerence
• 1993The Pelican BriefBob Gminski
• 1992HBO First Look
• 1992Chrome SoldiersSheriff Blackwell
• 1992Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric Walker
• 1991OscarOverton
• 1990Grim Prairie TalesArthur
• 1990Law & OrderDon Snyder
• 1990Die Hard 2Richard Thornberg
• 1990Buried AliveCort van Owen
• 1990Max Monroe: Loose CannonSloane
• 1989Tales from the CryptMalcolm Mayflower
• 1988IntrigueDoggett
• 1988Die HardRichard Thornburg
• 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' Loeber
• 1986No MercyAllan Deveneux
• 1986A Fight for JennyMichael Rosen
• 1985The Twilight ZoneBrian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek")
• 1985The EqualizerMartin 'Alpha' Loeber
• 1985Real GeniusProfessor Hathaway
• 1984Murder, She WroteLarry Holleran
• 1984GhostbustersWalter Peck
• 1983MalibuStan Harvey
• 1982Tomorrow's ChildJim Spence
• 1981The House of MirthLawrence Selden
• 1978CentennialJim Lloyd
• 1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarJames
• 1976IndependenceBenjamin Rush
• 1975The HindenburgBoerth
• 1975The Day of the LocustTod Hackett
• 1974The Sugarland ExpressClovis Poplin
• 1973Class of '44Fraternity President
• 1972The New CenturionsJohnson
• —Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story