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William Atherton

Birth Place: Orange, CT, USA

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STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1983
Lt. Com. John Challee

[Broadway]
1980
Lee Baum

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1980
Johnny Case [Replacement]

[Broadway]
Closed on the road, 1978
Performer

[Broadway]
Unknown, 1972
David Ragin


Movies

The New Centurions
[ 1972 ] Johnson
Class of '44
[ 1973 ] Fraternity President
The Sugarland Express
[ 1974 ] Clovis
The Hindenburg
[ 1975 ] Karl Boerth
The Day of the Locust
[ 1975 ] Tod
Looking for Mr. Goodbar
[ 1977 ] James
Ghostbusters
[ 1984 ] Walter Peck
Real Genius
[ 1985 ] Professor Jerry Hathaway
No Mercy
[ 1986 ] Allan Deveneux
Die Hard
[ 1988 ] Thornburg
Grim Prairie Tales
[ 1990 ] Arthur
Die Hard 2
[ 1990 ] Thornberg
Oscar
[ 1991 ] Overton
The Pelican Brief
[ 1993 ] Bob Gminski
Frank & Jesse
[ 1994 ] Allan Pinkerton
Saints and Sinners
[ 1994 ] Terence, Detective
Bio-Dome
[ 1996 ] Dr. Noah Faulkner
Mad City
[ 1997 ] Dohlen
Hoodlum
[ 1997 ] Thom Dewey
Michael Kael contre la World News Company
[ 1998 ] James Denit
The Stranger
[ 1999 ] Arthur
The Crow: Salvation
[ 2000 ] Nathan Randall
Burning Down the House
[ 2001 ] Arthur Kranston
Race to Space
[ 2001 ] Ralph Stanton
The Last Samurai
[ 2003 ] Winchester Rep
Into the Sun
[ 2005 ] CIA Agent Block
Headspace
[ 2005 ] Dr. Ira Gold
The Girl Next Door
[ 2007 ] Adult David Moran
Towards Darkness
[ 2007 ] John
Kush
[ 2007 ] King
Black Crescent Moon
[ 2008 ] Jo Dexton
The Kane Files: Life of Trial
[ 2010 ] Daniel Morgan
Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie
[ 2012 ] Earle Swinter
The Citizen
[ 2012 ] Winston
Jinn
[ 2014 ] Father Westhoff
Clinical
[ 2017 ] Terry

TV Shows

Law & Order
Dan Jensen, Don Snyder
Life
Mickey Rayborn
Murder, She Wrote
Andy Henley
The Equalizer
Martin 'Alpha' Loeber, Gideon
The Practice
Keith Pratt

Awards and Nominations


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1972 - Outstanding Performance

William Athertow, Suggs


winner
Theatre World Awards - 1972 - Performance

William Atherton, Suggs

Videos

News


Tribeca Festival Unveils Lineup With Guests Including Andy Cohen, Steven Spielberg, and More

The 2024 Tribeca Festival has unveiled its lineup of talks with iconic artists, critically acclaimed directors, and multi-hyphenate entertainers, as well as reunions and retrospectives of venerable and lauded films and TV series. See the full lineup here!
Miracle Chance, Ellis Kirk & More to Join HEATHERS at The Other Palace This Month

Heathers the Musical, will be ushering in a new cast from 21st February at The Other Palace, with the show now booking until 3 September 2023.
BWW Interview: At Home With Anita Gillette

This year's recipient for the MAC Award for Lifetime Achievement knows how to thrive, survive and stay alive in a business that can be unforgiving. Anita Gillette doesn't just take the prize, she takes the cake. Here, she talks with Stephen Mosher about her lifetime of achievements.
SEE IT BIG! Holiday Films Features 14 Classic and Unconventional Movies

With a wide selection of great movies by directors including Ingmar Bergman, Joe Dante, John Huston, Stanley Kubrick, Vincente Minnelli, and more, Museum of the Moving Image presents a holiday edition of its popular ongoing series See It Big!, from November 19 through December 24, 2016. The season opens this Today with back-to-back screenings of Tim Burton and Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas, screening in Dolby Digital 3-D; Barry Levinson's heartfelt, autobiographical Avalon, chronicling generations of a Jewish family in Baltimore; and Hannah and Her Sisters, Woody Allen's funny yet philosophical family dramedy starring Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest, and Michael Caine-with the last two films centered around Thanksgiving meals.
SEE IT BIG! Holiday Films Features 14 Classic and Unconventional Movies

With a wide selection of great movies by directors including Ingmar Bergman, Joe Dante, John Huston, Stanley Kubrick, Vincente Minnelli, and more, Museum of the Moving Image presents a holiday edition of its popular ongoing series See It Big!, from November 19 through December 24, 2016. The season opens this Saturday with back-to-back screenings of Tim Burton and Henry Selick's The Nightmare Before Christmas, screening in Dolby Digital 3-D; Barry Levinson's heartfelt, autobiographical Avalon, chronicling generations of a Jewish family in Baltimore; and Hannah and Her Sisters, Woody Allen's funny yet philosophical family dramedy starring Mia Farrow, Barbara Hershey, Dianne Wiest, and Michael Caine-with the last two films centered around Thanksgiving meals.
BWW Review: LIGHTS OUT at Warner Bros. Production

Everyone has at least some fear of the dark - no one walks into a completely dark room and thinks 'Oh good, I can't see anything and that's how I prefer it!' No, you fumble for a light switch ASAP, because even if you're not afraid of a creepy monster in there, you ARE afraid of walking into a desk and banging up your knee - it's still a fear! For many, they DO fear what could be lurking in the unknown and will only feel safe when the lights are turned on, so it's no surprise that Lights Out isn't the first nor will it be the last horror film to focus on a horror villain that sticks to the dark, where even a basic flashlight can keep you safe and ward the evil thing off. Darkness Falls is the obvious example, and I feared that this would be similarly underwhelming - luckily, that wasn't the case, and I suspect the movie will be a big draw, especially among those who hated The Witch for daring to be more subtle with its brand of terror. You want jump scares? You'll get your jump scares here - and they're actually pretty effective!
Syfy Airs SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE Tonight

Sharknado 2: The Second One has been given a premiere date by Syfy. If you're a fan of the first film, then tune in tonight, July 30 at 9/8c.
Syfy's New Epic Supernatural Drama Series DOMINION and Returning DEFIANCE Score Strong Premieres on Thursday, June 19

Successfully establishing a potent Thursday night original scripted programming block, the premieres of Syfy's new epic supernatural drama series Dominion and the second season return of the popular series Defiance each delivered two million total viewers during their June 19 premieres.
VIDEO: Check Out Trailers for Syfy Series DEFIANCE and DOMINION

Syfy will host a marathon of the entire first season of DEFIANCE all day on Monday, May 26th starting at 8 a.m. ET (7 a.m. PT).
Linda Hamilton to Guest on Syfy's DEFIANCE

Linda Hamilton joins the season two cast of Syfy's highly-rated and groundbreaking drama series, Defiance, in the recurring guest role of Pilar, the mysterious and long-separated wife of Rafe McCawley (Graham Greene). Premiering its second season on Thursday, June 19 at 8PM ET/PT, the ambitious series delivered an average of 1.5 million viewers 18-49 and 3.2 million total viewers in its first season, based on Live +7 data.
Photo Flash: First Look - New Poster and Still for Supernatural Thriller JINN

In honor of Today the 13th, Detroit-based Exxodus Pictures and Freestyle Releasing have revealed a new poster and chilling still from Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad's upcoming supernatural thriller JINN, set for release on April 4, 2014. Check them out below!
Syfy Announces July Release Date for SHARKNADO 2: THE SECOND ONE

Sharknado 2: The Second One has been given a premiere date by Syfy. If you're a fan of the first film, then tune in on Wednesday, July 30 at 9/8c.
Syfy Sets Premiere Dates for DEFIANCE and DOMINION

This June, Syfy furthers its commitment to premium scripted programming by dedicating an all-new night to original dramas.
Black Box Studios to Stage HOUSE OF BLUE LEAVES at bergenPAC Performing Arts School, 3/27-4/6

Matt Okin, Artistic Director of Black Box Studios and its Ensemble, and Alex Diaz, Director of Education at The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, announced the next fully-produced theatrical production to hit downtown Englewood this season, John Guare's House of Blue Leaves. House will run from March 27 through April 6, with performances Thursdays at 8pm, Saturdays at 9:30pm, and Sundays at 8pm, at the Van Brunt Studios of The Performing Arts School at bergenPAC, 30 North Van Brunt, just two doors away from the bergenPAC Mainstage. Tickets, $20.00 (with group rates available), go on sale on March 5th, at www.blackboxnynj.com/house.
Photo Flash: First Look - New Poster and Still for Supernatural Thriller JINN

In honor of Friday the 13th, Detroit-based Exxodus Pictures and Freestyle Releasing have revealed a new poster and chilling still from Ajmal Zaheer Ahmad's upcoming supernatural thriller JINN, set for release on April 4, 2014. Check them out below!
William Atherton & Anna Hopkins Set for Second Season of Syfy's DEFIANCE

Syfy announces additional casting for Season 2 of its highly-rated and groundbreaking drama series, Defiance. William Atherton signs on to portray high-ranking Earth Republic official Viceroy Mercado andAnna Hopkins has inked the role of Earth Republic soldier and documentarian Jessica 'Berlin' Rai. Slated for a June 2014 launch, production is currently underway in Toronto, ON for the 13-episode second season of the ambitious series, which delivered an average of 1.5 million viewers 18-49 and 3.2 million total viewers in its first season, based on Live +7 data. Defiance is produced by Universal Cable Productions.
ASSEMBLED PARTIES' Judith Light Wins Best Featured Actress - Play

Judith Light has won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role for her portrayal of 'Faye' in THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES.
Monterey Media Acquires THE CITIZEN with Agnes Bruckner

monterey media has completed a deal with production company 3K Pictures for all US and Canada rights to Sam Kadi's debut drama THE CITIZEN starring Agnes Bruckner (BLOOD AND CHOCOLATE, THE WOODS), Khaled Nabawy (Fair Game, Kingdom of Heaven), William Atherton (GHOSTBUSTERS, THE LAST SAMURAI), and Cary Elwes (THE PRINCESS BRIDE, NEW YEAR'S EVE) with a theatrical release set for August 2013 as it was announced by monterey media's President Scott Mansfield.
Zach Appelman Stars in Folger Theatre's HENRY V, Now thru 3/3

The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from tonight, January 22 - March 3, 2013.
Zach Appelman to Star in Folger Theatre's HENRY V, 1/22-3/3

The epic story of King Henry V's battle with the French during the Hundred Years' War comes alive for the first time at the Folger Theatre, in William Shakespeare's historical drama Henry V. The production, directed by Robert Richmond (Othello and Henry VIII at the Folger), stars Zach Appelman (War Horse on Broadway) in his Folger Theatre debut as Henry V, and will run from January 22 - March 3, 2013.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has William Atherton been in?

William Atherton has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.

How many West End shows has William Atherton been in?

William Atherton has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has William Atherton been nominated for?

Outstanding Performance (Drama Desk Awards) for Suggs and Performance (Theatre World Awards) for Suggs.

What awards has William Atherton won?

William Atherton won the Outstanding Performance Award at the Drama Desk Awards for Suggs, as well as the Performance Award at the Theatre World Awards for the same production, Suggs.

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