This One’s For the Underappreciated “Bad Guy,” William Atherton
You know those actors that were just born to play a good villain? I mean like Alan Rickman or Jonathan Pryce or that certain someone that knows how to relish evil so well that the audience literally hates them.
Well, today, I give a tip of the hat to 76-year old William Atherton.
If the name doesn’t sound familiar, just take a look at the work he’s been in and it’ll settle in. He played a number of great villains over the course of the 80s and early 90s, but his acting repertoire is much, much bigger, spanning roles like Looking For Mr. Goodbar and even the old 70s version of The Great Gatsby.
But, of course, his best work lies with just being a plain ol’ douche. That’s not to say he is one, and these people who recognize him in real life could be a little nicer (they are just roles, people). But his work is absolutely impeccable, and he’s created someone that we truly root to lose. That’s when you know an actor has it right.
Let’s start with a few key roles over the years.
Bio-Dome — Okay, so this isn’t my favorite Atherton film, nor is it my favorite Pauly Shore more (c’mon, man, Son In Law!). But this one’s goofy fun anyway, as Shore and Stephen Baldwin invade an earth-friendly dome that a scientist (William Atherton) is trying to push in the name of science. But over the course of the movie, the good guys look better and Atherton’s character slips into madness. It’s not the most thrilling of movies, but its goofy nature make it easy to take in.
Real Genius — Now this is just a tremendous piece of work. Atherton plays Professor Jerry Hathaway, who makes a deal with the government to create a superweapon that can vaporize targets from space. Only…he doesn’t have it. So he pressures certain students — like Val Kilmer’s Chris Knight — to find a solution without telling them. Atherton just oozes bad guy vibes here, telling Knight he’ll never graduate until, of course, he scores the right tech. But just when he’s giving the military what they want, surprise, the students turn the tables on him and fill his house with popcorn. Which he hates. C’mon, who hates popcorn?!
Die Hard — Though he isn’t the main bad guy in Die Hard, Atherton definitely leaves an uneasy preference. He portrays Richard Thornburg, a Los Angeles reporter that’s doing whatever it takes to stay relevant. So when terrorists take over the Nakatomi plaza, he wants all over it — and soon learns everything about the main hero, John McClane (Bruce Willis). Then, at the worst possible time, Thornburg forces his kids to reveal that he is, in fact, married to Holly Gennaro (Bonnie Bedelia) — putting her at greater risk. No wonder she socks him at the end of everything. Don’t mess with family. (I do love his, “Did you get that?” at the end.)
Die Hard 2: Die Harder — Another awesome example of Atherton channeling bad guy vibes at the absolute minimum. Thornburg finds himself on the same plane as Gennaro a few years later, insisting that he be moved due to a restraining order. But that’s just the tip of the douchey iceberg, as he later puts the entire airport in peril by telling everyone that their lives are in danger. Of course, Thornburg is thwarted yet again when Gennaro takes him out with a taser. And, of course, Willis saves the day.
Buried Alive — Yes, Atherton also did TV work, and his role in Buried Alive was something to enjoy. He’s having an affair with Joanna, and when her husband Clint catches on, they decide to bump him off and, sigh, bury him alive. But Clint (Tim Matheson) survives and finds the best kind of way to get even. I won’t spoil it here, but it involves an interestingly placed syringe and the best kind of reaction. Hunt this one down if you can.
Ghostbusters — Really, most audiences remember Atherton as the vile Walter Peck (Pecker?), an inspector for the Environmental Protection Agency that tries to shut down the Ghostbusters, insisting they’re putting on a lightshow. He even has them arrested when the city is being overrun with spirits. Alas, the Mayor sees right through his crap and dismisses him, allowing Bill Murray and the gang to save the day. But the way Atherton plays along with everyone is just awesome, especially when someone mentions that he’s “dickless.”
It’s also worth noting that Peck shows up in Ghostbusters: The Video Game as well, creating a problem for the Ghostbusters to solve (of course). And Atherton voices him wonderfully.
Ghostbusters: Afterlife — Back in his prime. Even in his mid-70’s, Atherton doesn’t hold back, this time as Mayor for the city of New York (how’d he get elected?). Once again he’s giving the Ghostbusters a hard time, especially young Phoebe (McKenna Grace), who he deems a threat. However, in the end, despite just one person calling him “dickless,” he finds himself forced to support him, or lose his adoring public. While Atherton’s screen time is lessened here, he’s still fun to watch.
So, yeah, I think we owe more appreciation to Atherton, who amped up the badness of his characters to an 11 and made him a great part of whatever he took part in.
And, please, if you see him in person, remember, they’re just characters. Be nice to the guy!
Have a great week, everyone!
