William Atherton

Best known as a Supporting Actor based on credits in that role in 13 films, with $1,591,933,989 worldwide aggregate box office (rank #1,428)
Best-known acting roles: Walter Peck (Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire), Winchester Rep (The Last Samurai), Walter Peck (Ghostbusters), Richard 'Dick' Thornburg, Reporter WWTW-TV News (Die Hard 2), Bob Gminski (The Pelican Brief)
Most productive collaborators: Tom Cruise, Edward Zwick, John Logan, Timothy Spall, Tony Goldwyn
                                    

  1. Summary
  2. Acting Credits
  3. Technical Credits

Career Summary


  MoviesDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
As an ActorSupporting13$838,202,034$753,731,955$1,591,933,989
Leading1$24,296$24,471$48,767
(Unclassified)6$81,823,706$746,128$82,569,834

Latest Ranking on Selected Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 8,401-8,500) 8,430 $24,296
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,306 $920,050,036
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 7,701-7,800) 7,731 $24,471
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,716 $754,502,554
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 9,701-9,800) 9,745 $48,767
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,801-1,900) 1,827 $1,674,552,590

See the Acting Credits tab for all Acting Box Office Records and the Technical Credits tab for all Technical Box Office Records.


All Acting Credits



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Release
Date		TitleRoleDomestic
Box Office		International
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office
Mar 22, 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen E… Walter Peck $113,376,590$87,419,651$200,796,241
Apr 4, 2014Jinn Father Westhoff $202,348$134,876$337,224
Sep 20, 2013The Citizen Joseph Winston $24,296$24,471$48,767
Mar 2, 2012Tim and Eric's Billion… Earle Swinter $201,436$22,216$223,652
Mar 14, 2008Hacia la Oscuridad John
Dec 5, 2003The Last Samurai Winchester Rep $111,110,575$345,700,000$456,810,575
May 11, 2001Bread and Roses Himself $536,465$746,128$1,282,593
Nov 7, 1997Mad City Dohlen $10,561,038$10,561,038
Aug 27, 1997Hoodlum Thomas Dewey $23,489,997$23,489,997
Jan 12, 1996Bio-Dome Dr. Noah Faulkner $13,294,762$13,294,762
Dec 17, 1993The Pelican Brief Bob Gminski $100,768,056$87,227,803$187,995,859
Apr 26, 1991Oscar Overton $23,562,716$23,562,716
Jul 3, 1990Die Hard 2 Richard 'Dick' Th… $117,323,878$122,490,010$239,813,888
Jul 15, 1988Die Hard Richard Thornburg $85,892,546$57,759,104$143,651,650
Dec 19, 1986No Mercy Allan Deveneux $12,303,904$12,303,904
Aug 7, 1985Real Genius Professor Jerry H… $12,952,019$12,952,019
Jun 8, 1984Ghostbusters Walter Peck $242,604,185$52,978,295$295,582,480
Oct 19, 1977Looking for Mr. Goodbar James $16,900,000$16,900,000
Dec 25, 1975The Hindenburg Boerth $27,945,225$27,945,225
Apr 5, 1974The Sugarland Express Clovis Poplin $7,000,000$7,000,000
 
Averages $48,423,686$75,450,255$88,134,347
Totals 20 $920,050,036$754,502,554$1,674,552,590


Leading or Lead Ensemble Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Sep 20, 2013The Citizen $3686$24,296$48,76749.8%
 
Averages $3686$24,296$48,76749.8%
Totals 1 $24,296$48,767


Supporting Roles


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Release
Date		TitleOpening
Weekend		Maximum
Theaters		Domestic
Box Office		Worldwide
Box Office		Domestic
Share
Mar 22, 2024Ghostbusters: Frozen E… $45,004,6734,345$113,376,590$200,796,24156.5%
Apr 4, 2014Jinn $149,337201$202,348$337,22460.0%
Mar 2, 2012Tim and Eric's Billion… $87,47533$201,436$223,65290.1%
Dec 5, 2003The Last Samurai $24,271,3542,938$111,110,575$456,810,57524.3%
Nov 7, 1997Mad City $4,649,7422,194$10,561,038$10,561,038100.0%
Jan 12, 1996Bio-Dome $6,018,2031,510$13,294,762$13,294,762100.0%
Dec 17, 1993The Pelican Brief $16,864,4042,022$100,768,056$187,995,85953.6%
Apr 26, 1991Oscar $5,091,0271,391$23,562,716$23,562,716100.0%
Jul 3, 1990Die Hard 2 $21,744,6612,507$117,323,878$239,813,88848.9%
Jul 15, 1988Die Hard $601,8511,713$85,892,546$143,651,65059.8%
Dec 19, 1986No Mercy $2,198,0691,206$12,303,904$12,303,904100.0%
Jun 8, 1984Ghostbusters $13,612,5641,506$242,604,185$295,582,48082.1%
Apr 5, 1974The Sugarland Express $7,000,000$7,000,000100.0%
 
Averages $11,691,1131,797$64,477,080$122,456,46175.0%
Totals 13 $838,202,034$1,591,933,989

Latest Ranking on All Acting Box Office Record Lists


RecordRankAmount
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 8,401-8,500) 8,430 $24,296
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 901-1,000) 947 $838,202,034
Top Live Action Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,001-1,100) 1,045 $920,050,036
Top Above the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,496 $338,694,256
Top Below the Line Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,501-1,600) 1,546 $475,676,274
Top Stars at the Domestic Box Office (Rank 1,301-1,400) 1,306 $920,050,036
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 7,701-7,800) 7,731 $24,471
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the International Box Office (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,141 $753,731,955
Top Live Action Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,196 $754,502,554
Top Above the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 2,001-2,100) 2,006 $297,184,151
Top Below the Line Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,585 $456,572,275
Top Stars at the International Box Office (Rank 2,701-2,800) 2,716 $754,502,554
Top 100 Stars in Leading Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 9,701-9,800) 9,745 $48,767
Top 100 Stars in Supporting Roles at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,428 $1,591,933,989
Top Live Action Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,401-1,500) 1,450 $1,674,552,590
Top Above the Line Stars at the Wordwide Box Office (Rank 1,701-1,800) 1,755 $635,878,407
Top Below the Line Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 2,501-2,600) 2,588 $932,248,549
Top Stars at the Worldwide Box Office (Rank 1,801-1,900) 1,827 $1,674,552,590
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 6,001-6,100) 6,076 $24,296
Top International Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 5,601-5,700) 5,677 $24,471
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Original Screenplay Movies (Rank 7,101-7,200) 7,140 $48,767
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 7,801-7,900) 7,816 $24,296
Top International Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 7,001-7,100) 7,083 $24,471
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Live Action Movies (Rank 9,001-9,100) 9,046 $48,767
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 1,901-2,000) 1,916 $24,296
Top International Leading Stars for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 1,601-1,700) 1,602 $24,471
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Historical Fiction Movies (Rank 2,101-2,200) 2,116 $48,767
Top Domestic Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 3,501-3,600) 3,582 $24,296
Top International Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 3,201-3,300) 3,271 $24,471
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for Drama Movies (Rank 4,101-4,200) 4,159 $48,767
Top Domestic Leading Stars for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,801-2,900) 2,810 $24,296
Top International Leading Stars for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,301-2,400) 2,394 $24,471
Top Worldwide Leading Stars for PG-13 Movies (Rank 2,901-3,000) 2,902 $48,767

All Technical Credits