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William Atherton

Actor

William Atherton

Born July 30, 1947 in Orange, Connecticut, USA61 films

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.

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The best way into William Atherton's work
Die Hard posterFirst watchDie Hard19887.8as Richard ThornburgHigh above the city of L.A. a team of terrorists has seized a building, taken hostages, and declared war. One man has manages to escape... An off-duty cop hiding somewhere inside.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Ghostbusters poster7.5Ghostbusters1984The Last Samurai poster7.6The Last Samurai2003Die Hard 2 poster7.0Die Hard 21990Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire poster6.4Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire2024The Pelican Brief poster6.6The Pelican Brief1993The Girl Next Door poster6.7The Girl Next Door2007Real Genius poster6.7Real Genius1985Oscar poster6.4Oscar1991

Filmography

61 films as actor
  1. TBAMidnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story
  2. 2025Where Did the Adults Go?The Father
  3. 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter Peck
  4. 2018Bad Company
  5. 2017ClinicalTerry Drummond
  6. 2014JinnFather Westhoff
  7. 2012The Citizen
  8. 2012Jersey Shore Shark AttackDolan
  9. 2012Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieEarle Swinter
  10. 2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel Morgan
  11. 2008GhoulsStefan
  12. 2008Black Crescent MoonJo Dexton
  13. 2008Aces 'N' EightsHoward
  14. 2007The Girl Next DoorAdult David Moran
  15. 2007KushKing
  16. 2007Towards DarknessJohn
  17. 2005Into the SunAgent Block
  18. 2005HeadspaceDr. Ira Gold
  19. 2005Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray Colby
  20. 2004Who's Your Daddy?Duncan Mack
  21. 2003The Last SamuraiWinchester Rep
  22. 2001Race to SpaceRalph Stanton
  23. 2001Burning Down the HouseArthur Kranston
  24. 2000Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)
  25. 2000The Crow: SalvationNathan Randall
  26. 1999The Stranger
  27. 1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl Zanuck
  28. 1998Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames Denit
  29. 1997Mad CityDohlen
  30. 1997Executive PowerPresident Fields
  31. 1997HoodlumThomas E. Dewey
  32. 1996Raven HawkPhilip Thorne
  33. 1996Bio-DomeDr. Noah Faulkner
  34. 1995Broken TrustNeil Roemer
  35. 1995VirusDr. Reginald Holloway
  36. 1994Frank & JesseAllan Pinkerton
  37. 1994Saints and SinnersTerence
  38. 1993The Pelican BriefBob Gminski
  39. 1992Chrome SoldiersSheriff Blackwell
  40. 1992Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric Walker
  41. 1991OscarOverton
  42. 1990Grim Prairie TalesArthur
  43. 1990Die Hard 2Richard Thornberg
  44. 1990Buried AliveCort van Owen
  45. 1988IntrigueDoggett
  46. 1988Die HardRichard Thornburg
  47. 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' Loeber
  48. 1986No MercyAllan Deveneux
  49. 1986A Fight for JennyMichael Rosen
  50. 1985Real GeniusProfessor Hathaway
  51. 1984GhostbustersWalter Peck
  52. 1983MalibuStan Harvey
  53. 1982Tomorrow's ChildJim Spence
  54. 1981The House of MirthLawrence Selden
  55. 1977Looking for Mr. GoodbarJames
  56. 1976IndependenceBenjamin Rush
  57. 1975The HindenburgBoerth
  58. 1975The Day of the LocustTod Hackett
  59. 1974The Sugarland ExpressClovis Poplin
  60. 1973Class of '44Fraternity President
  61. 1972The New CenturionsJohnson