William Atherton

Acting·July 30, 1947 — 78 years old·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

Die Hard

Ghostbusters

The Last Samurai

Die Hard 2

Lost

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit

1999·8.0

Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire

Castle

Desperate Housewives

Stargate SG-1

The Pelican Brief

Monk

Filmography · 89

—Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story 2025Where Did the Adults Go?The Father 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen EmpireMayor Walter Peck 2020Reunited ApartTVSelf 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 2011WorkaholicsTVThor Holmvik 2010The Kane Files: Life of TrialDaniel Morgan 2009CastleTVAri Weiss 2008Childrens HospitalTVLevon Bainter 2008GhoulsStefan 2008Black Crescent MoonJo Dexton 2008Aces 'N' EightsHoward 2007LifeTVMickey Rayborn 2007The Girl Next DoorAdult David Moran 2007KushKing 2007Towards DarknessJohn 2005Into the SunAgent Block 2005HeadspaceDr. Ira Gold · Co-Producer 2005Numb3rsTVWarren Pierce 2005Gone But Not ForgottenSen. Ray Colby 2004Desperate HousewivesTVDr. Barr 2004Boston LegalTVA.D.A. Howard Zale 2004LostTVDonald Reynolds 2004Who's Your Daddy?Duncan Mack 2003The Last SamuraiWinchester Rep 2002MonkTVCommander Nathan Whitaker 2001Justice LeagueTVDr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)2001Race to SpaceRalph Stanton 2001Night VisionsTVWilliam Price (segment "Hate Puppet")2001Burning Down the HouseArthur Kranston 2000Bread and RosesParty Guest (uncredited)2000The Crow: SalvationNathan Randall 1999The Stranger 1999Law & Order: Special Victims UnitTVNed Bogden 1999Introducing Dorothy DandridgeDarryl Zanuck 1998Michael Kael vs. the World News CompanyJames Denit 1997Mad CityDohlen 1997Executive PowerPresident Fields 1997HoodlumThomas E. Dewey 1997Stargate SG-1TVEmissary Varta 1997The PracticeTVD.A. Keith Pratt 1996Raven HawkPhilip Thorne 1996Nash BridgesTVDr. Linus Mills 1996Bio-DomeDr. Noah Faulkner 1995Broken TrustNeil Roemer 1995A Night to Die ForSelf 1995VirusDr. Reginald Holloway 1995The Outer LimitsTVFranklin Murdoch 1994Frank & JesseAllan Pinkerton 1994Saints and SinnersTerence 1993The Pelican BriefBob Gminski 1992HBO First LookTV 1992Chrome SoldiersSheriff Blackwell 1992Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of MurderEric Walker 1991OscarOverton 1990Grim Prairie TalesArthur 1990Law & OrderTVDon Snyder · Dan Jensen 1990Die Hard 2Richard Thornberg 1990Buried AliveCort van Owen 1990Max Monroe: Loose CannonTVSloane 1989Tales from the CryptTVMalcolm Mayflower 1988IntrigueDoggett 1988Die HardRichard Thornburg 1987The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & WineMartin 'Alpha' Loeber 1986No MercyAllan Deveneux 1986A Fight for JennyMichael Rosen 1985The Twilight ZoneTVBrian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek") · (segment "The Card")1985The EqualizerTVMartin 'Alpha' Loeber · Gideon 1985Real GeniusProfessor Hathaway 1984Murder, She WroteTVLarry Holleran · Greg Dalton · Andy Henley 1984GhostbustersWalter Peck 1983MalibuStan Harvey 1982Tomorrow's ChildJim Spence 1981The House of MirthLawrence Selden 1978CentennialTVJim 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