Stage debut in "The Boy Friend" at the Clinton (Connecticut) Playhouse

Portrayed Ronnie Shaughnessy in original off-Broadway production of John Guare's "The House of Blue Leaves"

Originated title role in off-Broadway production of David Rabe's "The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel"

Screen acting debut in "The New Centurions"

Broadway debut, "The Sign in Sidney Brustein's Window"

Created title role of David Wiltse's "Suggs in the City" on stage

Gained critical attention for his work opposite Goldie Hawn in Steven Spielberg's "The Sugarland Express"

Sang "What'll I Do?" behind title credits for "The Great Gatsby"

Portrayed a budding art director smitten by aspiring starlet Karen Black in "The Day of the Locust"

Played saboteur who planted the bomb on "The Hindenberg"

Acted the part of Bing Ringling in New York Shakespeare Festival production of Guare's "Rich and Famous"

Cast as Diane Keaton's beau in "Looking for Mr. Goodbar"

Performed in one-man show, "William Atherton: Acting, Ethics, Person"

TV miniseries debut, "Centennial" (NBC)

Returned to Broadway in Arthur Miller's "The American Clock"

Back on Broadway as Lieutenant Commander John Challee in revival of Herman Wouk's "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial"

Co-starred in "Ghostbusters" as the butt of perhaps Bill Murray's funniest line

Created role of newscaster Dick Thornburg in "Die Hard"

Reprised role of Thornburg in "Die Hard 2: Die Harder"

Delivered an assured performance as the corrupt sheriff in "Chrome Soldiers" (USA Network)

Appeared in "The Pelican Brief"

Portrayed Allan Pinkerton in "Frank and Jesse" (HBO)

Co-starred as Dr. Noah Faulkner, the head of the environmentally-controlled scientific community called "Bio-Dome"

Played New York state prosecutor Thomas E Dewey in "Hoodlum"

Returned to journalistic mode as an arrogant TV newscaster in Costa-Gavras' "Mad City"

Essayed pathetically hormonal US President in routine thriller "Executive Power"

Portrayed Darryl Zanuck in Martha Coolidge's "Introducing Dorothy Dandridge" (HBO)