ACTOR
William Atherton
Known for Die Hard · Lost · Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
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.
Snapshot 2026-10-15
- Born
- Jul 30, 1947
- Birthplace
- Orange, Connecticut, USA
- Known For
- Acting
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.
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Known For
MOVIE
Die HardRichard Thornburg · 1988
★ 7.8
★ 7.8
TV
LostDonald Reynolds · 2004
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
TV
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNed Bogden · 1999
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
TV
CastleAri Weiss · 2009
★ 8.0
★ 8.0
TV
Desperate HousewivesDr. Barr · 2004
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
TV
Stargate SG-1Emissary Varta · 1997
★ 8.3
★ 8.3
TV
MonkCommander Nathan Whitaker · 2002
★ 7.9
★ 7.9
TV
Law & OrderDon Snyder · 1990
★ 7.3
★ 7.3
Filmography
Movies
The New CenturionsJohnson
1972
Class of '44Fraternity President
1973
The Sugarland ExpressClovis Poplin
1974
The Day of the LocustTod Hackett
1975
The HindenburgBoerth
1975
IndependenceBenjamin Rush
1976
Looking for Mr. GoodbarJames
1977TH
The House of MirthLawrence Selden
1981
Tomorrow's ChildJim Spence
1982
MalibuStan Harvey
1983
GhostbustersWalter Peck
1984
Real GeniusProfessor Hathaway
1985
A Fight for JennyMichael Rosen
1986
No MercyAllan Deveneux
1986
The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' Loeber
1987
Die HardRichard Thornburg
1988
IntrigueDoggett
1988
Buried AliveCort van Owen
1990
Die Hard 2Richard Thornberg
1990
Grim Prairie TalesArthur
1990
OscarOverton
1991
Chrome SoldiersSheriff Blackwell
1992
Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric Walker
1992
The Pelican BriefBob Gminski
1993
Frank & JesseAllan Pinkerton
1994
Saints and SinnersTerence
1994
A Night to Die ForSelf
1995
Broken TrustNeil Roemer
1995
VirusDr. Reginald Holloway
1995
Bio-DomeDr. Noah Faulkner
1996
Raven HawkPhilip Thorne
1996
Executive PowerPresident Fields
1997
HoodlumThomas E. Dewey
1997
Mad CityDohlen
1997
Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames Denit
1998
Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl Zanuck
1999
The Stranger
1999
Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)
2000
The Crow: SalvationNathan Randall
2000
Burning Down the HouseArthur Kranston
2001
Race to SpaceRalph Stanton
2001
The Last SamuraiWinchester Rep
2003
Who's Your Daddy?Duncan Mack
2004
Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray Colby
2005
HeadspaceDr. Ira Gold
2005HeadspaceCo-Producer
2005
Into the SunAgent Block
2005
KushKing
2007
The Girl Next DoorAdult David Moran
2007
Towards DarknessJohn
2007
Aces 'N' EightsHoward
2008
Black Crescent MoonJo Dexton
2008
GhoulsStefan
2008
The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel Morgan
2010
Jersey Shore Shark AttackDolan
2012
The Citizen
2012
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar MovieEarle Swinter
2012
JinnFather Westhoff
2014
GhostheadsSelf
2016
ClinicalTerry Drummond
2017
Bad Company
2018
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering GhostbustersSelf
2020
Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter Peck
2024
Where Did the Adults Go?The Father
2025
Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story
Television
CentennialJim Lloyd · 12 eps
1978
Murder, She WroteLarry Holleran · 1 eps
1984Murder, She WroteGreg Dalton · 1 eps
1984Murder, She WroteAndy Henley · 1 eps
1984
The EqualizerMartin 'Alpha' Loeber · 2 eps
1985The EqualizerGideon · 1 eps
1985
The Twilight ZoneBrian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek") · 1 eps
1985The Twilight Zone(segment "The Card") · 1 eps
1985
Tales from the CryptMalcolm Mayflower · 1 eps
1989
Law & OrderDon Snyder · 1 eps
1990Law & OrderDan Jensen · 1 eps
1990MM
Max Monroe: Loose CannonSloane · 1 eps
1990
HBO First Look1 eps
1992
The Outer LimitsFranklin Murdoch · 1 eps
1995
Nash BridgesDr. Linus Mills · 1 eps
1996
Stargate SG-1Emissary Varta · 1 eps
1997
The PracticeKeith Pratt · 3 eps
1997
Law & Order: Special Victims UnitNed Bogden · 1 eps
1999
Justice LeagueDr. Destiny / John Dee (voice) · 2 eps
2001
Night VisionsWilliam Price (segment "Hate Puppet") · 1 eps
2001
MonkCommander Nathan Whitaker · 1 eps
2002
Boston LegalA.D.A. Howard Zale · 1 eps
2004
Desperate HousewivesDr. Barr · 1 eps
2004
LostDonald Reynolds · 1 eps
2004
Numb3rsWarren Pierce · 1 eps
2005
LifeMickey Rayborn · 8 eps
2007
Childrens HospitalLevon Bainter · 1 eps
2008
CastleAri Weiss · 1 eps
2009
WorkaholicsThor Holmvik · 1 eps
2011
Reunited ApartSelf · 1 eps
2020Photos
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