William Ragsdale

Robert William Ragsdale, born on January 19, 1961, in El Dorado, Arkansas, began his acting career in community theater at the age of eleven. His early talent was recognized by the International Thespian Society during his high school years, culminating in his win at the state level of the National Society of Arts and Letters Drama competition, where he was the youngest participant to compete nationally. After graduating from Hendrix College in Arkansas, he further honed his craft at the Drama Studio London’s American school in Berkeley, CA. While still a student, a significant audition for the role of Rocky in the feature film “Mask,” directed by Peter Bogdanovich, though not secured, led to his casting as Laura Dern’s love interest in her debut film, “Smooth Talk.” Promptly thereafter, casting director Jackie Burch, who had remembered him from the “Mask” audition, cast him as Charley Brewster in the Columbia Pictures horror classic “Fright Night” (1985). This role became a career-defining moment, leading him to reprise it in the sequel, “Fright Night Part 2” (1988), and to a recent voice role in the “Table Read Podcast” (2024).

Following his film successes, Ragsdale made his Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s “Biloxi Blues,” taking over the lead role of Eugene Jerome from Matthew Broderick. He later toured nationally in “Broadway Bound,” another play by Simon, alongside Nathan Lane. His transition to television saw him anchoring the Fox Network’s Sunday night lineup as Herman Brooks on “Herman’s Head” (1991–1994), which ran for three years and was paired with shows like “The Simpsons” and “Married With Children.” Over the years, Ragsdale has maintained a prolific career with numerous television credits, including recurring roles in “Judging Amy” (2000–2003) and “Justified” (2010–2012), where he appeared in 13 episodes as Gary Hawkins. He has also made guest appearances in popular series such as “Ellen” (1994–1997), “Blue Bloods” (2020), “The Blacklist” (2021), and “Only Murders in the Building” (2021).

In recent years, William Ragsdale has continued to expand his acting portfolio, appearing in films like “Thunderstruck” (2012), “Left Behind” (2014), and “Alex Strangelove” (2018). His career came full circle in 2023 with a role as a vampire-hunting priest in the horror comedy “Renfield,” a deliberate reference to his iconic role in “Fright Night.” Ragsdale’s consistent work across different mediums showcases his adaptability and enduring presence in the entertainment industry.