Actor

William Atherton

William Atherton’s screen credits include Richard Thornburg in Die Hard, Winchester Rep in The Last Samurai, and Walter Peck in Ghostbusters.

Born July 30, 1947 Orange, Connecticut, USA4 movies on MoviHero

Explore movies

WHERE TO START

Where to start

A selection of released films from our catalog, with the credited role to help you choose.

Die Hard

1988 · 2h 12m · Action · Thriller

See the performance as Richard Thornburg.

Open movie guide

The Last Samurai

2003 · 2h 34m · Action · Drama

See the performance as Winchester Rep.

Open movie guide

Ghostbusters

1984 · 1h 45m · Comedy · Fantasy

See the performance as Walter Peck.

Open movie guide

THE PERSON BEHIND THE ROLES

About William Atherton

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.

GALLERY

Photos

Portraits of William Atherton.

MOVIHERO CREDITS

Movies and roles

Explore 4 movie guides, credited roles and upcoming releases.

Movies on MoviHero 4

Showing 4 of 4 credits

More film credits 60 additional titles

These credits do not currently have a MoviHero movie guide. Use the filters to separate released and upcoming work.

Search movie titles, years and roles

Showing 8 of 60 credits

2025
Where Did the Adults Go?
The Father
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Mayor Walter Peck
2020
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
Self
2018
Bad Company
Actor
2017
Clinical
Terry Drummond
2016
Ghostheads
Self
2014
Jinn
Father Westhoff
2012
The Citizen
Actor
2012
Jersey Shore Shark Attack
Dolan
2012
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
Earle Swinter
2010
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
Daniel Morgan
2008
Ghouls
Stefan
2008
Black Crescent Moon
Jo Dexton
2008
Aces 'N' Eights
Howard
2007
The Girl Next Door
Adult David Moran
2007
Kush
King
2007
Towards Darkness
John
2005
Into the Sun
Agent Block
2005
Headspace
Producer · Dr. Ira Gold
2005
Gone But Not Forgotten
Sen. Ray Colby
2004
Who's Your Daddy?
Duncan Mack
2001
Race to Space
Ralph Stanton
2001
Burning Down the House
Arthur Kranston
2000
Bread and Roses
Party Guest (uncredited)
2000
The Crow: Salvation
Nathan Randall
1999
The Stranger
Actor
1999
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Darryl Zanuck
1998
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
James Denit
1997
Mad City
Dohlen
1997
Executive Power
President Fields
1997
Hoodlum
Thomas E. Dewey
1996
Raven Hawk
Philip Thorne
1996
Bio-Dome
Dr. Noah Faulkner
1995
Broken Trust
Neil Roemer
1995
A Night to Die For
Self
1995
Virus
Dr. Reginald Holloway
1994
Frank & Jesse
Allan Pinkerton
1994
Saints and Sinners
Terence
1992
Chrome Soldiers
Sheriff Blackwell
1992
Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder
Eric Walker
1991
Oscar
Overton
1990
Grim Prairie Tales
Arthur
1990
Die Hard 2
Richard Thornberg
1990
Buried Alive
Cort van Owen
1988
Intrigue
Doggett
1987
The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
1986
No Mercy
Allan Deveneux
1986
A Fight for Jenny
Michael Rosen
1985
Real Genius
Professor Hathaway
1983
Malibu
Stan Harvey
1982
Tomorrow's Child
Jim Spence
1981
The House of Mirth
Lawrence Selden
1977
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
James
1976
Independence
Benjamin Rush
1975
The Hindenburg
Boerth
1975
The Day of the Locust
Tod Hackett
1974
The Sugarland Express
Clovis Poplin
1973
Class of '44
Fraternity President
1972
The New Centurions
Johnson
Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story
Actor

CONNECTED THROUGH MOVIES

Shared credits

Discover the people who share these films.

Actor

Tony Goldwyn

2 shared films on MoviHero

The Last Samurai The Pelican Brief

Director

Alan J. Pakula

1 shared film on MoviHero

The Pelican Brief

Actor

Alan Rickman

1 shared film on MoviHero

Die Hard

Actor

Alexander Godunov

1 shared film on MoviHero

Die Hard

Browse all people

Actor

William Atherton

William Atherton’s screen credits include Richard Thornburg in Die Hard, Winchester Rep in The Last Samurai, and Walter Peck in Ghostbusters.

Born July 30, 1947 Orange, Connecticut, USA4 movies on MoviHero

Explore movies

WHERE TO START

Where to start

A selection of released films from our catalog, with the credited role to help you choose.

Die Hard

1988 · 2h 12m · Action · Thriller

See the performance as Richard Thornburg.

Open movie guide

The Last Samurai

2003 · 2h 34m · Action · Drama

See the performance as Winchester Rep.

Open movie guide

Ghostbusters

1984 · 1h 45m · Comedy · Fantasy

See the performance as Walter Peck.

Open movie guide

THE PERSON BEHIND THE ROLES

About William Atherton

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.

GALLERY

Photos

Portraits of William Atherton.

MOVIHERO CREDITS

Movies and roles

Explore 4 movie guides, credited roles and upcoming releases.

Movies on MoviHero 4

Showing 4 of 4 credits

More film credits 60 additional titles

These credits do not currently have a MoviHero movie guide. Use the filters to separate released and upcoming work.

Search movie titles, years and roles

Showing 8 of 60 credits

2025
Where Did the Adults Go?
The Father
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire
Mayor Walter Peck
2020
Cleanin' Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters
Self
2018
Bad Company
Actor
2017
Clinical
Terry Drummond
2016
Ghostheads
Self
2014
Jinn
Father Westhoff
2012
The Citizen
Actor
2012
Jersey Shore Shark Attack
Dolan
2012
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
Earle Swinter
2010
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
Daniel Morgan
2008
Ghouls
Stefan
2008
Black Crescent Moon
Jo Dexton
2008
Aces 'N' Eights
Howard
2007
The Girl Next Door
Adult David Moran
2007
Kush
King
2007
Towards Darkness
John
2005
Into the Sun
Agent Block
2005
Headspace
Producer · Dr. Ira Gold
2005
Gone But Not Forgotten
Sen. Ray Colby
2004
Who's Your Daddy?
Duncan Mack
2001
Race to Space
Ralph Stanton
2001
Burning Down the House
Arthur Kranston
2000
Bread and Roses
Party Guest (uncredited)
2000
The Crow: Salvation
Nathan Randall
1999
The Stranger
Actor
1999
Introducing Dorothy Dandridge
Darryl Zanuck
1998
Michael Kael vs. the World News Company
James Denit
1997
Mad City
Dohlen
1997
Executive Power
President Fields
1997
Hoodlum
Thomas E. Dewey
1996
Raven Hawk
Philip Thorne
1996
Bio-Dome
Dr. Noah Faulkner
1995
Broken Trust
Neil Roemer
1995
A Night to Die For
Self
1995
Virus
Dr. Reginald Holloway
1994
Frank & Jesse
Allan Pinkerton
1994
Saints and Sinners
Terence
1992
Chrome Soldiers
Sheriff Blackwell
1992
Diagnosis Murder: Diagnosis of Murder
Eric Walker
1991
Oscar
Overton
1990
Grim Prairie Tales
Arthur
1990
Die Hard 2
Richard Thornberg
1990
Buried Alive
Cort van Owen
1988
Intrigue
Doggett
1987
The Equalizer - The Movie: Blood & Wine
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
1986
No Mercy
Allan Deveneux
1986
A Fight for Jenny
Michael Rosen
1985
Real Genius
Professor Hathaway
1983
Malibu
Stan Harvey
1982
Tomorrow's Child
Jim Spence
1981
The House of Mirth
Lawrence Selden
1977
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
James
1976
Independence
Benjamin Rush
1975
The Hindenburg
Boerth
1975
The Day of the Locust
Tod Hackett
1974
The Sugarland Express
Clovis Poplin
1973
Class of '44
Fraternity President
1972
The New Centurions
Johnson
Midnight Men: A John Schlesinger and Michael Childers Story
Actor

CONNECTED THROUGH MOVIES

Shared credits

Discover the people who share these films.

Actor

Tony Goldwyn

2 shared films on MoviHero

The Last Samurai The Pelican Brief

Director

Alan J. Pakula

1 shared film on MoviHero

The Pelican Brief

Actor

Alan Rickman

1 shared film on MoviHero

Die Hard

Actor

Alexander Godunov

1 shared film on MoviHero

Die Hard

Browse all people