William Atherton is an American film, theatre and television actor. In 1974, Atherton took a major role the film The Sugarland Express. In 1977, he starred in the drama movie Looking for Mr. Goodbar. His well known roles are in The Hindenburg released in 1975, the 1984 hit Ghostbusters as the fanatical EPA agent Walter Peck, the 1985 comedy Real Genius as Professor Jerry Hathaway, the 1988 action hit film Die Hard and the 1990 sequel Die Hard 2: Die Harder as the egotistical reporter Dick Thornburg.