William Atherton

Biography

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.

Career Overview

William Atherton has 83 screen credits in a career dating back to 1972. Their work spans 5 cinematic universes — most prominently Ghostbusters with 2 titles. Signature works include Die Hard, Ghostbusters, Die Hard 2. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

83

Birth Date

1947-07-30 00:00:00

Birth Place

Orange, Connecticut, USA

Known For

• 

  Die Hard
• 

  Ghostbusters
• 

  Die Hard 2
• 

  The Crow: Salvation
• 

  Real Genius
• 

  The Sugarland Express

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 5 universes

• Ghostbusters (2 titles)
• Die Hard (2 titles)
• The Crow (1 titles)
• Buried Alive Collection (1 titles)
• Summer of '42 Collection (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Reginald VelJohnson (3 collaborations)
• Bruce Willis (2 collaborations)
• Bonnie Bedelia (2 collaborations)
• David Ursin (2 collaborations)
• David Katz (2 collaborations)
• Britt Leary (2 collaborations)
• Alan Rickman (1 collaborations)
• Alexander Godunov (1 collaborations)
• Paul Gleason (1 collaborations)
• De'voreaux White (1 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (82 credits)

  • Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Where Did the Adults Go?

    The Father

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

    Mayor Walter Peck

    actor

    actors
    2024
  • Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2020
  • Bad Company

    actor

    actors
    2018
  • Clinical

    Terry Drummond

    actor

    actors
    2017
  • Ghostheads

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2016
  • Jinn

    Father Westhoff

    actor

    actors
    2014
  • The Citizen

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Jersey Shore Shark Attack

    Dolan

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie

    Earle Swinter

    actor

    actors
    2012
  • Workaholics

    - The Meat Jerking Beef Boys (2012) ... Thor Holmvik actor actors
    2011
  • The Kane Files: Life of Trial

    Daniel Morgan

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • Castle

    - Head Case (2011) ... Ari Weiss actor actors
    2009
  • Ghouls

    Stefan

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Black Crescent Moon

    Jo Dexton

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Aces 'N' Eights

    Howard

    actor

    actors
    2008
  • Childrens Hospital

    - Wine Tasting (2013) ... Levon Bainter actor actors
    2008
  • The Girl Next Door

    Adult David Moran

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Towards Darkness

    John

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Life

    - One (2009) ... Mickey Rayborn actor actors

    - Shelf Life (2009) ... Mickey Rayborn actor actors

    - I Heart Mom (2009) ... Mickey Rayborn actor actors

    - Trapdoor (2008) ... Mickey Rayborn actor actors

    - Canyon Flowers (2008) ... Mickey Rayborn actor actors
    2007
  • Into the Sun

    Agent Block

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Headspace

    Dr. Ira Gold

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Gone But Not Forgotten

    Sen. Ray Colby

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Numb3rs

    - Tabu (2007) ... Warren Pierce actor actors
    2005
  • Who's Your Daddy?

    Duncan Mack

    actor

    actors
    2004
  • Lost

    - Dr. Linus (2010) ... Donald Reynolds actor actors
    2004
  • Desperate Housewives

    - Remember (2006) ... Dr. Barr actor actors
    2004
  • Boston Legal

    - It Girls and Beyond (2005) ... A.D.A. Howard Zale actor actors
    2004
  • The Last Samurai

    Winchester Rep

    actor

    actors
    2003
  • Monk

    - Mr. Monk Is Underwater (2008) ... Commander Nathan Whitaker actor actors
    2002
  • Race to Space

    Ralph Stanton

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Burning Down the House

    Arthur Kranston

    actor

    actors
    2001
  • Justice League

    - Only a Dream (2) (2003) ... Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice) actor actors

    - Only a Dream (1) (2003) ... Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice) actor actors
    2001
  • Bread and Roses

    Party Guest (uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • The Crow: Salvation

    Nathan Randall

    actor

    actors
    2000
  • The Stranger

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Introducing Dorothy Dandridge

    Darryl Zanuck

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

    - Bedtime (2010) ... Ned Bogden actor actors
    1999
  • Michael Kael vs. the World News Company

    James Denit

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • Mad City

    Dohlen

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Executive Power

    President Fields

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Hoodlum

    Thomas E. Dewey

    actor

    actors
    1997
  • Stargate SG-1

    - Collateral Damage (2006) ... Emissary Varta actor actors
    1997
  • The Practice

    - Marooned (1999) ... D.A. Keith Pratt actor actors

    - Sex, Lies and Monkeys (2) (1997) ... D.A. Keith Pratt actor actors

    - First Degree (1) (1997) ... D.A. Keith Pratt actor actors
    1997
  • Raven Hawk

    Philip Thorne

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Bio-Dome

    Dr. Noah Faulkner

    actor

    actors
    1996
  • Nash Bridges

    - Key Witness (1996) ... Dr. Linus Mills actor actors
    1996
  • Broken Trust

    Neil Roemer

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • A Night to Die For

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • The Outer Limits

    - To Tell the Truth (1998) ... Franklin Murdoch actor actors
    1995
  • Frank & Jesse

    Allan Pinkerton

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • Saints and Sinners

    Terence

    actor

    actors
    1994
  • The Pelican Brief

    Bob Gminski

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Chrome Soldiers

    Sheriff Blackwell

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder

    Eric Walker

    actor

    actors
    1992
  • Oscar

    Overton

    actor

    actors
    1991
  • Grim Prairie Tales

    Arthur

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Die Hard 2

    Richard Thornberg

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Buried Alive

    Cort van Owen

    actor

    actors
    1990
  • Law & Order

    - Evil Breeds (2004) ... Dan Jensen actor actors

    - Dazzled (2002) ... Don Snyder actor actors
    1990
  • Tales from the Crypt

    - Easel Kill Ya (1991) ... Malcolm Mayflower actor actors
    1989
  • Intrigue

    Doggett

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Die Hard

    Richard Thornburg

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine

    Martin 'Alpha' Loeber

    actor

    actors
    1987
  • No Mercy

    Allan Deveneux

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • A Fight for Jenny

    Michael Rosen

    actor

    actors
    1986
  • Real Genius

    Professor Hathaway

    actor

    actors
    1985
  • The Equalizer

    - 17 Zebra (1989) ... Gideon actor actors

    - Blood & Wine (2) (1987) ... Martin 'Alpha' Loeber actor actors

    - Blood & Wine (1) (1987) ... Martin 'Alpha' Loeber actor actors
    1985
  • The Twilight Zone

    - The Card / The Junction (1987) ... (segment "The Card") actor actors

    - Night of the Meek / But Can She Type? / The Star (1985) ... Brian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek") actor actors
    1985
  • Ghostbusters

    Walter Peck

    actor

    actors
    1984
  • Murder, She Wrote

    - Judge Not (1991) ... Andy Henley actor actors

    - Murder, She Spoke (1987) ... Greg Dalton actor actors

    - Murder in the Afternoon (1985) ... Larry Holleran actor actors
    1984
  • Malibu

    Stan Harvey

    actor

    actors
    1983
  • Tomorrow's Child

    Jim Spence

    actor

    actors
    1982
  • The House of Mirth

    Lawrence Selden

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Looking for Mr. Goodbar

    James

    actor

    actors
    1977
  • Independence

    Benjamin Rush

    actor

    actors
    1976
  • The Hindenburg

    Boerth

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • The Day of the Locust

    Tod Hackett

    actor

    actors
    1975
  • The Sugarland Express

    Clovis Poplin

    actor

    actors
    1974
  • Class of '44

    Fraternity President

    actor

    actors
    1973
  • The New Centurions

    Johnson

    actor

    actors
    1972

• production (1 credits)

  • Headspace

    co-producer

    production
    2005