William Atherton

William Atherton is an American actor known for his extensive work across motion pictures, Broadway, and television, often recognized for embodying antagonistic roles in prominent films. After establishing a distinguished career on the New York stage, originating roles in plays by leading American playwrights such as David Rabe, John Guare, and Arthur Miller, William Atherton earned multiple accolades including the Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, and the Theatre World Award. Following his graduation from Carnegie Mellon University in 1969, Atherton transitioned to film, making his debut as Clovis Poplin in Steven Spielberg’s acclaimed feature, The Sugarland Express (1974). Building on this early success, Atherton landed significant roles throughout the 1970s, including appearances in John Schlesinger’s The Day of the Locust (1975), Robert Wise’s The Hindenburg (1975), and Richard Brooks’ Looking for Mr.

He further expanded his portfolio by lending his voice to video games, reprising his role as Walter Peck in Ghostbusters: The Video Game (2009) and contributing to Planet Coaster (2016). More recently, Atherton co-starred in the Netflix thriller Clinical (2017) and was featured in the documentary Cleanin’ Up the Town: Remembering Ghostbusters (2019). In 2024, he reprised his iconic role as Mayor Walter Peck in the highly anticipated Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, underscoring his enduring legacy in popular culture.