William Atherton American actor Date of Birth: 30.07.1947 Country: USA

1. Early Life and Education
2. Breakthrough Role in "The Sugarland Express"
3. "Die Hard" Franchise Success
4. Other Notable Roles
5. Late Career and Television

Early Life and Education

William Atherton Knight II was born in 1947 in Connecticut, USA, to Myrtle (née Robinson) and Robert Atherton Knight. He received his education from Carnegie Mellon University.

Breakthrough Role in "The Sugarland Express"

After a series of minor roles in several films, Atherton landed his first significant role in Steven Spielberg's "The Sugarland Express" (1974), where he played the hapless fugitive Clovis Michael Poplin. This performance paved the way for his subsequent roles in "Looking for Mr. Goodbar" (1977) and "The Day of the Locust" (1975).

"Die Hard" Franchise Success

In 1988, Atherton gained widespread recognition for his portrayal of Richard Thornburg, the narcissistic reporter in the action blockbuster "Die Hard." He reprised the role in the 1990 sequel "Die Hard 2."

Other Notable Roles

Atherton continued to grace the big screen with his presence throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in films such as "No Mercy" (1986), "The Pelican Brief" (1993), "Frank and Jesse" (1994), and "Black Hawk Down" (2001).

Late Career and Television

In the 2000s, Atherton's film appearances became less frequent. However, he remained active in television, with roles in series such as "Lost," "Desperate Housewives," and "Stargate: SG-1."