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William Atherton
★ Acting

William Atherton

Born 1947 · Orange, Connecticut, USA · Active 1972–2025

William Atherton, born in 1947, is an American actor known for his sharp portrayals in various genres. In No Mercy (1986), he delivers a compelling performance that captures the tension of a gritty narrative set against the backdrop of New Orleans' criminal underworld. Atherton's ability to embody complex characters adds depth to the film's exploration of vengeance and survival. His work in cult cinema, particularly in No Mercy, showcases his knack for engaging with narratives that challenge moral boundaries.

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No Mercy

No Mercy

1986 ★ 5.8
as Allan Deveneux

Eddie Jilette is a Chicago cop on the vengeance trail as he follows his partner's killers to New Orleans to settle his own personal score. Eddie flees through the Louisiana bayous with Michel Duval, the beautiful Cajun mistress of a murderous crime lord who aims to destroy the Chicago detective before he can avenge his partner's murder. Michel and Eddie fall for each other, although they clash repeatedly while handcuffed together as they attempt to elude the brutal underworld figure and his henchmen.

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Career Highlights Top 6 by popularity · TMDB

Filmography

95 credits
2020s 4 credits
2025
Movie
2024
Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire as Mayor Walter Peck
Movie ★ 6.5
2020
TV ★ 5.5
2010s 9 credits
2018
Movie ★ 5.9
2017
Clinical as Terry Drummond
Movie ★ 5.3
2016
Ghostheads as Self
Movie ★ 6.0
2014
Jinn as Father Westhoff
Movie ★ 4.1
2012
Movie ★ 5.5
2012
Movie ★ 4.6
2012
Movie ★ 6.4
2011
Workaholics as Thor Holmvik
TV ★ 7.4
2010
Movie ★ 4.8
2000s 25 credits
2009
Castle as Ari Weiss
TV ★ 8.0
2008
Movie ★ 6.5
2008
Ghouls as Stefan
Movie ★ 3.3
2008
Movie ★ 3.5
2008
Childrens Hospital as Levon Bainter
TV ★ 7.0
2007
Kush as King
Movie ★ 3.4
2007
The Girl Next Door as Adult David Moran
Movie ★ 6.6
2007
Movie ★ 4.9
2007
Life as Mickey Rayborn
TV ★ 7.7
2005
Into the Sun as Agent Block
Movie ★ 4.6
2005
Headspace as Dr. Ira Gold
Movie ★ 5.1
2005
Gone But Not Forgotten as Sen. Ray Colby
Movie ★ 4.9
2005
Numb3rs as Warren Pierce
TV ★ 7.0
2004
Who's Your Daddy? as Duncan Mack
Movie ★ 4.9
2004
TV ★ 7.9
2004
Lost as Donald Reynolds
TV ★ 8.0
2004
Boston Legal as A.D.A. Howard Zale
TV ★ 7.9
2003
The Last Samurai as Winchester Rep
Movie ★ 7.6
2002
Monk as Commander Nathan Whitaker
TV ★ 8.0
2001
Race to Space as Ralph Stanton
Movie ★ 6.0
2001
Burning Down the House as Arthur Kranston
Movie ★ 8.5
2001
Night Visions as William Price (segment "Hate Puppet")
TV ★ 7.1
2001
Justice League as Dr. Destiny / John Dee (voice)
TV ★ 8.2
2000
The Crow: Salvation as Nathan Randall
Movie ★ 5.5
2000
Bread and Roses as Party Guest (uncredited)
Movie ★ 6.3
1990s 29 credits
1999
Movie ★ 6.4
1999
Movie ★ 4.3
1999
TV ★ 7.9
1998
Movie ★ 4.0
1997
Mad City as Dohlen
Movie ★ 6.3
1997
Executive Power as President Fields
Movie ★ 5.9
1997
Hoodlum as Thomas E. Dewey
Movie ★ 6.4
1997
The Practice as D.A. Keith Pratt
TV ★ 7.7
1997
Stargate SG-1 as Emissary Varta
TV ★ 8.3
1996
Bio-Dome as Dr. Noah Faulkner
Movie ★ 4.6
1996
Raven Hawk as Philip Thorne
Movie ★ 4.0
1996
Nash Bridges as Dr. Linus Mills
TV ★ 6.6
1995
Broken Trust as Neil Roemer
Movie ★ 6.3
1995
Movie ★ 7.0
1995
Virus as Dr. Reginald Holloway
Movie ★ 4.8
1995
The Outer Limits as Franklin Murdoch
TV ★ 7.7
1994
Frank & Jesse as Allan Pinkerton
Movie ★ 5.2
1994
Movie ★ 5.0
1993
The Pelican Brief as Bob Gminski
Movie ★ 6.6
1992
Chrome Soldiers as Sheriff Blackwell
Movie ★ 4.4
1992
Movie ★ 8.2
1992
TV ★ 5.6
1991
Oscar as Overton
Movie ★ 6.4
1990
Die Hard 2 as Richard Thornberg
Movie ★ 7.0
1990
Buried Alive as Cort van Owen
Movie ★ 6.7
1990
Movie ★ 5.8
1990
TV ★ 5.0
1990
Law & Order as Don Snyder
TV ★ 7.3
1990
Law & Order as Dan Jensen
TV ★ 7.3
1980s 18 credits
1989
Tales from the Crypt as Malcolm Mayflower
TV ★ 8.0
1988
Die Hard as Richard Thornburg
Movie ★ 7.8
1988
Intrigue as Doggett
Movie ★ 6.4
1987
Movie ★ 8.7
1986
No Mercy as Allan Deveneux
Movie ★ 5.8
1986
A Fight for Jenny as Michael Rosen
Movie ★ 7.7
1985
Real Genius as Professor Hathaway
Movie ★ 6.6
1985
The Twilight Zone as Brian Wolfe (segment "Night of the Meek")
TV ★ 7.7
1985
The Equalizer as Martin 'Alpha' Loeber
TV ★ 7.1
1985
The Equalizer as Gideon
TV ★ 7.1
1985
The Twilight Zone as (segment "The Card")
TV ★ 7.7
1984
Ghostbusters as Walter Peck
Movie ★ 7.5
1984
Murder, She Wrote as Larry Holleran
TV ★ 7.5
1984
Murder, She Wrote as Greg Dalton
TV ★ 7.5
1984
Murder, She Wrote as Andy Henley
TV ★ 7.5
1983
Malibu as Stan Harvey
Movie ★ 3.8
1982
Tomorrow's Child as Jim Spence
Movie ★ 5.5
1981
The House of Mirth as Lawrence Selden
Movie ★ 8.0
1970s 8 credits
1978
Centennial as Jim Lloyd
TV ★ 7.7
1977
Movie ★ 6.4
1976
Independence as Benjamin Rush
Movie ★ 9.0
1975
Movie ★ 6.4
1975
Movie ★ 6.3
1974
The Sugarland Express as Clovis Poplin
Movie ★ 6.6
1973
Class of '44 as Fraternity President
Movie ★ 6.6
1972
Movie ★ 6.6
Crew Credits
2000s 1 credit
2005
Headspace Co-Producer
Movie ★ 5.1