William Atherton
American actor · United States · On the map · Actors · Born 1947 · age 79
William Atherton is an American actor. He had starring roles in The Sugarland Express (1974), The Day of the Locust (1975), The Hindenburg (1975) and Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977), but is most recognized for what have become iconic roles in the Ghostbusters and Die Hard film series.
William Atherton is read about 1,087 times a day, in 30 languages.
A typical day, 30 days to 6 November 2026
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Something wrong?A life in dates
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireFilm, Mayor Walter Peck2020
Reunited ApartSeries2017
ClinicalFilm, Terry Drummond2014
JinnFilm, Father Westhoff2009
CastleSeries, Ari Weiss2008
Aces 'N' EightsFilm, Howard2007
LifeSeries, Mickey Rayborn2005
Gone But Not ForgottenFilm, Sen. Ray Colby2004
Boston LegalSeries, A.D.A. Howard Zale2003
The Last SamuraiFilm, Winchester Rep2001
Justice LeagueSeries, Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)2000
Bread and RosesFilm, Party Guest (uncredited)1997
Stargate SG-1Series, Emissary Varta1996
Bio-DomeFilm, Dr. Noah Faulkner1995
The Outer LimitsSeries, Franklin Murdoch1993
The Pelican BriefFilm, Bob Gminski1990
Law & OrderSeries, Don Snyder
Buried AliveFilm, 1990Cort van Owen1986
No MercyFilm, Allan Deveneux1985
The EqualizerSeries, Martin 'Alpha' Loeber1984
GhostbustersFilm, Walter Peck1978
CentennialSeries, Jim Lloyd1975
The Day of the LocustFilm, Tod Hackett1972Theatre World AwardAward
The New CenturionsFilm, 1972Johnson1947Born30 July 1947
Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireFilm, Mayor Walter Peck2020Reunited ApartSeries2017ClinicalFilm, Terry Drummond2014JinnFilm, Father Westhoff2009CastleSeries, Ari Weiss2008Aces 'N' EightsFilm, Howard2007LifeSeries, Mickey Rayborn2005Gone But Not ForgottenFilm, Sen. Ray Colby2004Boston LegalSeries, A.D.A. Howard Zale2003The Last SamuraiFilm, Winchester Rep2001Justice LeagueSeries, Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)2000Bread and RosesFilm, Party Guest (uncredited)1997Stargate SG-1Series, Emissary Varta1996Bio-DomeFilm, Dr. Noah Faulkner1995The Outer LimitsSeries, Franklin Murdoch1993The Pelican BriefFilm, Bob Gminski1990Law & OrderSeries, Don SnyderBuried AliveFilm, 1990Cort van Owen1986No MercyFilm, Allan Deveneux1985The EqualizerSeries, Martin 'Alpha' Loeber1984GhostbustersFilm, Walter Peck1978CentennialSeries, Jim Lloyd1975The Day of the LocustFilm, Tod Hackett1972Theatre World AwardAwardThe New CenturionsFilm, 1972Johnson1947Born30 July 1947People around William
Close ties
Joel Silver Produced Die Hard and Die Hard 2
Lawrence Gordon Produced Die Hard and Die Hard 2
Martha Coolidge Directed Real Genius (1986)
John Landis Directed Oscar (1991), also in Mad City (1997)
Elmer Bernstein Wrote Ghostbusters, Oscar and Hoodlum
Ernie Hudson Also in Desperate Housewives and Ghostbusters
Reginald VelJohnson Also in Die Hard 2, Ghostbusters and Die Hard
Pepe Serna Also in The New Centurions (1972)
Elliott Kastner Produced Frank and Jesse (1994)- Charles Gordon Produced Die Hard 2 (1990)
Steven Spielberg Directed The Sugarland Express (1974)
Steven Seagal Produced Into the Sun (2005)
Tom Cruise Produced The Last Samurai (2007)
Bruce Willis Also in Die Hard 2 and Die Hard
Richard Gere Also in Looking for Mr. Goodbar and No Mercy
Bill Murray Also in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
George C. Scott Also in The New Centurions and The Hindenburg
Dan Aykroyd Also in Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Ken Loach Directed Bread and Roses (2001)
Alan J. Pakula Directed The Pelican Brief (1994)
Tony Goldwyn Also in The Last Samurai and The Pelican Brief
Bonnie Bedelia Also in Die Hard 2 and Die Hard
Jason Reitman Produced Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire (2024)
Renny Harlin Directed Die Hard 2 (1990)
Known for
View all 40 titles
Die Hard 1988
The Last Samurai 2003
Ghostbusters 1984
Die Hard 2 1990
The Girl Next Door 2007
Filmography 40
95 credits on file
Television 24
Media & music
Photos 1
Awards
About this person
Country
United States
Category
Actors
Type
Actor
Status
Living
Dates
Born 1947 · age 79
