---
name: "William Atherton"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/william-atherton"
fi1m_id: "william-atherton"
imdb_id: "nm0040472"
tmdb_id: 7676
wikidata_id: "Q495487"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "30 July 1947"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 7
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 7
updated: "2026-10-05T02:47:48.709414+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# William Atherton

## Identity

William Atherton

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/william-atherton
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** william-atherton
- **IMDb ID:** nm0040472
- **TMDB ID:** 7676
- **Wikidata ID:** Q495487
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Atherton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495487, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040472/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7676

Actor. Born 30 July 1947 in Orange, Connecticut, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 30 July 1947, Orange, Connecticut, USA
- **Active:** 1984–present
- **Also known as:** William Atherton Knight , ویلیام آترتون, William Atherton Knight Jr.
- **Frequently works with:** [Bonnie Bedelia](https://film.one/person/bonnie-bedelia.md), [Bruce Willis](https://film.one/person/bruce-willis.md), [Joel Silver](https://film.one/person/joel-silver.md), [Lawrence Gordon](https://film.one/person/lawrence-gordon.md), [Steven E. de Souza](https://film.one/person/steven-e-de-souza.md)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 7 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 84 (2), 1990s 66 (2), 2000s 76 (2), 2020s 52 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 67 across 7 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 3 at 60–79, 1 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 5 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Action 3, Drama 3, Thriller 3, Comedy 2, Fantasy 2, Action & Adventure 1
- **Screen time:** 13 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,531m across 6 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Atherton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q495487, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0040472/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7676

## Streaming the US now

- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Die Hard*](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md) (89), [*The Pelican Brief*](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md) (63)
- **Netflix:** [*Ghostbusters*](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md) (80)
- **HBO Max:** [*The Last Samurai*](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md) (72)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on William Atherton

> William Atherton makes officious men funny by taking their self-importance seriously. We rate him as a supporting actor who gives likeable leads useful opposition, though repeated casting as the objectionable man has narrowed what films ask of him.

In *Ghostbusters* (1984), William Atherton's Walter Peck has the self-importance of a man who expects his job title to end the discussion. As an EPA agent opposite Bill Murray's deadpan, he gives Ivan Reitman's comedy someone whose officiousness is funny without needing a joke of his own. We laughed at Peck because Atherton takes that officiousness so seriously; he never seems to be asking us to enjoy it. That is what we value in his supporting work, even when the character offers little beyond a reason to dislike him.

He was a leading actor before those obstructive supporting parts became his familiar work. Steven Spielberg's *The Sugarland Express* (1974) gave him his breakthrough leading role as Clovis Michael Poplin. He followed it with Tod Hackett in John Schlesinger's *The Day of the Locust* (1975), then another starring part in *Looking for Mr. Goodbar* (1977). *Real Genius* (1985), in which he plays the unctuous Professor Jerry Hathaway, belongs to the later pattern of supporting antagonists.

In John McTiernan's *Die Hard* (1988), his reporter Richard Thornburg supplies a different sort of nuisance. The film earns its tension through clear staging, Bruce Willis's vulnerability and Alan Rickman's composure; Atherton's contribution is smaller, and we should keep it in proportion. He makes the newsman's self-importance irritating enough to register without treating him as the centre of the film. That is a modest job, done well, in a film whose foolish police business is a more serious distraction.

The cost of such recognisable work is repetition, and a succession of condescending men can make a capable actor feel predictable. The later parts have not always escaped that problem, with *Bio-Dome* (1996) among the variations on the familiar unpleasant academic. Returning as Mayor Walter Peck in *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024) gives him the same character with a grander title. Start with *Ghostbusters*, and spare a little appreciation for the man making himself unwelcome.

## Biography

William Atherton is an American actor. Born in Orange, Connecticut, he studied at Carnegie Mellon University and began his career on the New York stage, appearing in productions by playwrights including David Rabe, John Guare and Arthur Miller, and receiving several awards for his work.

He made his feature film debut in *The New Centurions* (1972) and had early leading roles in *The Sugarland Express* (1974), *The Day of the Locust* (1975) and *Looking for Mr. Goodbar* (1977). Atherton is best known for portraying Walter Peck in *Ghostbusters* (1984) and Richard Thornburg in *Die Hard* (1988) and *Die Hard 2* (1990). He has also appeared in films such as *The Last Samurai* (2003) and television series including *Lost* (2004) and *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (7)

- *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), Fi1m 52, as Mayor Walter Peck — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md)
- *Lost* (2004), Fi1m 81, as Donald Reynolds — [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), Fi1m 72, as Winchester Rep — [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *The Pelican Brief* (1993), Fi1m 63, as Bob Gminski — [page](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md)
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), Fi1m 70, as Richard Thornberg — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Die Hard* (1988), Fi1m 89, as Richard Thornburg — [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *Ghostbusters* (1984), Fi1m 80, as Walter Peck — [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md)

## Complete filmography (85)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Where Did the Adults Go?* (2025), as The Father
- *Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire* (2024), as Mayor Walter Peck — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters-frozen-empire.md)
- *Bad Company* (2018), Actor
- *Clinical* (2017), as Terry Drummond
- *Jinn* (2014), as Father Westhoff
- *The Citizen* (2012), Actor
- *Jersey Shore Shark Attack* (2012), as Dolan
- *Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie* (2012), as Earle Swinter
- *Workaholics* (2011), series, as Thor Holmvik
- *The Kane Files: Life of Trial* (2010), as Daniel Morgan
- *Castle* (2009), series, as Ari Weiss — Fi1m 73, [page](https://film.one/tv/castle.md)
- *Childrens Hospital* (2008), series, as Levon Bainter
- *Ghouls* (2008), as Stefan
- *Black Crescent Moon* (2008), as Jo Dexton
- *Aces 'N' Eights* (2008), as Howard
- *Life* (2007), series, as Mickey Rayborn
- *The Girl Next Door* (2007), as Adult David Moran
- *Kush* (2007), as King
- *Towards Darkness* (2007), as John
- *Into the Sun* (2005), as Agent Block
- *Headspace* (2005), as Dr. Ira Gold · Co-Producer
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Warren Pierce
- *Gone But Not Forgotten* (2005), as Sen. Ray Colby
- *Desperate Housewives* (2004), series, as Dr. Barr — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/desperate-housewives.md)
- *Boston Legal* (2004), series, as A.D.A. Howard Zale — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/boston-legal.md)
- *Lost* (2004), series, as Donald Reynolds — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/lost.md)
- *Who's Your Daddy?* (2004), as Duncan Mack
- *The Last Samurai* (2003), as Winchester Rep — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/the-last-samurai.md)
- *Monk* (2002), series, as Commander Nathan Whitaker
- *Justice League* (2001), series, as Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)
- *Race to Space* (2001), as Ralph Stanton
- *Night Visions* (2001), series, as William Price (segment "Hate Puppet")
- *Burning Down the House* (2001), as Arthur Kranston
- *Bread and Roses* (2000), as Party Guest (uncredited)
- *The Crow: Salvation* (2000), as Nathan Randall
- *The Stranger* (1999), Actor
- *Law & Order: Special Victims Unit* (1999), series, as Ned Bogden
- *Introducing Dorothy Dandridge* (1999), as Darryl Zanuck
- *Michael Kael vs. the World News Company* (1998), as James Denit
- *Mad City* (1997), as Dohlen
- *Executive Power* (1997), as President Fields
- *Hoodlum* (1997), as Thomas E. Dewey
- *Stargate SG-1* (1997), series, as Emissary Varta
- *The Practice* (1997), series, as D.A. Keith Pratt
- *Raven Hawk* (1996), as Philip Thorne
- *Nash Bridges* (1996), series, as Dr. Linus Mills
- *Bio-Dome* (1996), as Dr. Noah Faulkner
- *Broken Trust* (1995), as Neil Roemer
- *Virus* (1995), as Dr. Reginald Holloway
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Franklin Murdoch
- *Frank & Jesse* (1994), as Allan Pinkerton
- *Saints and Sinners* (1994), as Terence
- *The Pelican Brief* (1993), as Bob Gminski — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/the-pelican-brief.md)
- *HBO First Look* (1992), series, Actor
- *Chrome Soldiers* (1992), as Sheriff Blackwell
- *Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder* (1992), as Eric Walker
- *Oscar* (1991), as Overton
- *Grim Prairie Tales* (1990), as Arthur
- *Law & Order* (1990), series, as Don Snyder, Dan Jensen — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/law-and-order.md)
- *Die Hard 2* (1990), as Richard Thornberg — Fi1m 70, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard-2.md)
- *Buried Alive* (1990), as Cort van Owen
- *Max Monroe: Loose Cannon* (1990), series, as Sloane
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Malcolm Mayflower
- *Intrigue* (1988), as Doggett
- *Die Hard* (1988), as Richard Thornburg — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/film/die-hard.md)
- *The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine* (1987), as Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
- *No Mercy* (1986), as Allan Deveneux
- *A Fight for Jenny* (1986), as Michael Rosen
- *The Twilight Zone* (1985), series, as Brian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek"), (segment "The Card")
- *The Equalizer* (1985), series, as Martin 'Alpha' Loeber, Gideon
- *Real Genius* (1985), as Professor Hathaway
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Larry Holleran, Greg Dalton, Andy Henley
- *Ghostbusters* (1984), as Walter Peck — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/ghostbusters.md)
- *Malibu* (1983), as Stan Harvey
- *Tomorrow's Child* (1982), as Jim Spence
- *The House of Mirth* (1981), as Lawrence Selden
- *Centennial* (1978), series, as Jim Lloyd
- *Looking for Mr. Goodbar* (1977), as James
- *Independence* (1976), as Benjamin Rush
- *The Hindenburg* (1975), as Boerth
- *The Day of the Locust* (1975), as Tod Hackett
- *The Sugarland Express* (1974), as Clovis Poplin
- *Class of '44* (1973), as Fraternity President
- *The New Centurions* (1972), as Johnson
- *Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![(left to right:) William Atherton, Catherine Curtin, Dan Ziskie, Steven Rosen, Raynor Scheine and Sean McCourt in Franz Kafka's The Castle at Manhattan Ensemble (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-7476cc89cc8a.jpg) (left to right:) William Atherton, Catherine Curtin, Dan Ziskie, Steven Rosen, Raynor Scheine and Sean McCourt in Franz Kafka's The Castle at Manhattan Ensemble (2013) — Krayfish, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b9/%22Franz_Kafka%27s_The_Castle%22_at_MET%2C_Off-Bway%2C_2002.jpg/1280px-%22Franz_Kafka%27s_The_Castle%22_at_MET%2C_Off-Bway%2C_2002.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![William Atherton](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-f12de697bbe2.jpg) William Atherton — Ilya Haykinson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/2009_CUN_Award_Party_William_Atherton_008.JPG/1280px-2009_CUN_Award_Party_William_Atherton_008.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![William Atherton on the Children Uniting Nations Academy Award Viewing Party red carpet, at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Held pre (2009)](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-e333f00a623b.jpg) William Atherton on the Children Uniting Nations Academy Award Viewing Party red carpet, at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, Los Angeles, California. Held pre (2009) — Ilya Haykinson, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/2009_CUN_Award_Party_William_Atherton_008_%28cropped%29.JPG?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![William Atherton](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-c2d1b9409c58.jpg) William Atherton — Image via TMDB
- ![William Atherton](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-f56adef7fff1.jpg) William Atherton — Image via TMDB
- ![William Atherton](https://film.one/media/person/103236/gallery-0466d697f6f7.jpg) William Atherton — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won

- Theatre World Award 1972: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/william-atherton