William Atherton

William Atherton

Acting

Born July 30, 1947 · 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

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990

Law & Order

Law & Order

1990

Lost

Lost

2004

Desperate Housewives

Desperate Housewives

2004

Castle

Castle

2009

Stargate SG-1

Stargate SG-1

1997

Murder, She Wrote

Murder, She Wrote

1984

Acting(89)

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

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