William Atherton
ActingAbout William Atherton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Atherton Knight (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.
William Atherton Movies & Career Overview
The filmography of William Atherton reflects a career marked by diverse experimentation. Across 50 major appearances, the actor has built a reputation through performances in multiple genres and storytelling styles.
Dominant Genre
A large portion of William Atherton's work falls within the Drama genre, where audiences tend to respond most strongly to their on-screen presence.
Success Ratio
Approximately 34% of William Atherton's films maintain ratings above 6.5, indicating a consistent level of audience approval.
One of the most highly rated entries in their career remains Burning Down the House, which stands out as a key performance.
Best William Atherton Movies Ranked
Must-watch hits from William Atherton's career based on audience ratings.
Full Filmography
Every movie William Atherton has appeared in, with audience ratings and verdicts.
| Year | Movie | Character | Success | More |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire | Mayor Walter Peck | Hit | Similar → |
| 2020 | Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters | Self | Hit | Similar → |
| 2018 | Bad Company | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2017 | Clinical | Terry Drummond | Flop | Similar → |
| 2016 | Ghostheads | Self | Average | Similar → |
| 2014 | Jinn | Father Westhoff | Flop | Similar → |
| 2012 | The Citizen | - | Average | Similar → |
| 2012 | Jersey Shore Shark Attack | Dolan | Flop | Similar → |
| 2012 | Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie | Earle Swinter | Average | Similar → |
| 2010 | The Kane Files: Life of Trial | Daniel Morgan | Flop | Similar → |
| 2008 | Aces 'N' Eights | Howard | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | The Girl Next Door | Adult David Moran | Hit | Similar → |
| 2007 | Towards Darkness | John | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | Into the Sun | Agent Block | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | Headspace | Dr. Ira Gold | Flop | Similar → |
| 2005 | Gone But Not Forgotten | Sen. Ray Colby | Flop | Similar → |
| 2004 | Who's Your Daddy? | Duncan Mack | Flop | Similar → |
| 2003 | The Last Samurai | Winchester Rep | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2001 | Race to Space | Ralph Stanton | Average | Similar → |
| 2001 | Burning Down the House | Arthur Kranston | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 2000 | Bread and Roses | Party Guest (uncredited) | Average | Similar → |
| 2000 | The Crow: Salvation | Nathan Randall | Average | Similar → |
| 1999 | Introducing Dorothy Dandridge | Darryl Zanuck | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Mad City | Dohlen | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Executive Power | President Fields | Average | Similar → |
| 1997 | Hoodlum | Thomas E. Dewey | Average | Similar → |
| 1996 | Bio-Dome | Dr. Noah Faulkner | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | Broken Trust | Neil Roemer | Flop | Similar → |
| 1995 | Virus | Dr. Reginald Holloway | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Frank & Jesse | Allan Pinkerton | Flop | Similar → |
| 1994 | Saints and Sinners | Terence | Flop | Similar → |
| 1993 | The Pelican Brief | Bob Gminski | Hit | Similar → |
| 1992 | Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder | Eric Walker | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1991 | Oscar | Overton | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Grim Prairie Tales | Arthur | Average | Similar → |
| 1990 | Die Hard 2 | Richard Thornberg | Hit | Similar → |
| 1990 | Buried Alive | Cort van Owen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1988 | Intrigue | Doggett | Average | Similar → |
| 1988 | Die Hard | Richard Thornburg | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1987 | The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine | Martin 'Alpha' Loeber | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1986 | No Mercy | Allan Deveneux | Average | Similar → |
| 1986 | A Fight for Jenny | Michael Rosen | Hit | Similar → |
| 1985 | Real Genius | Professor Hathaway | Hit | Similar → |
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | Walter Peck | Super Hit | Similar → |
| 1977 | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | James | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Hindenburg | Boerth | Average | Similar → |
| 1975 | The Day of the Locust | Tod Hackett | Average | Similar → |
| 1974 | The Sugarland Express | Clovis Poplin | Hit | Similar → |
| 1973 | Class of '44 | Fraternity President | Average | Similar → |
| 1972 | The New Centurions | Johnson | Hit | Similar → |
William Atherton - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best movie of William Atherton?
According to audience ratings, the best movie starring William Atherton is "Burning Down the House" with a rating of 10.0/10.
How many movies has William Atherton acted in?
William Atherton has been featured in at least 50 major films throughout their career.
What are some other popular movies by William Atherton?
Other notable films include "The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine", "Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder", and "Die Hard".