William Katt
About William Katt
The son of actors Bill Williams and Barbara Hale, curly-haired leading man William Katt is fond of noting that he made his movie "debut" while residing in his mother's womb during filming of Lorna Doone (1951). After attending Orange Coast College, Katt pursued a career as a musician. He then made his formal acting bow in summer stock and small TV roles. Among Katt's film credits are the role of the high-school jock date of telekinetic wallflower Sissy Spacek in Carrie (1977), and one-half of the title role in Butch and Sundance, The Early Days (1979). From 1981 through 1983, Katt played the reluctant-superhero protagonist (originally named Ralph Hinkley, redubbed Ralph Hanley after the '81 assassination attempt on Ronald Reagan) on TV's Greatest American Hero. Beginning in 1987, Katt played the recurring role of detective Paul Drake Jr. in the periodic Perry Mason TV movies, co-starring with his mother Barbara Hale, who resumed her "Della Street" characterization from the original 1961-66 Mason run. Katt also worked on the scripts of several of these latter-day Masons. More recently, William Katt was a regular on the 1991 Farrah Fawcett-Ryan O'Neal TV sitcom Good Sports. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
| Name: | Relation: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Deborah Kahane | wife | married on July 2, 1979 |
| Emerson Hunter Katt | son | born on April 5, 1985 |
| Clayton Alexander Katt | son | born on January 27, 1980 |
| Barbara Hale | mother | best-known as Della Street on "Perry Mason" |
| Bill Williams | father |
| Name: | Relation: | Notes: |
|---|---|---|
| Amy Irving | companion | dated before filming of "Carrie" |
| Did six year stint in the US Air National Guard | |
| Grew up in Southern California | |
| Had recurring role on "Models Inc." (Fox) | |
| Stage acting debut at the South Coast Repertory Theater in "We Bombed in New Haven" | |
| 1971 | Feature debut, "The Late Liz" |
| 1976 | Breakout role in a feature, "Carrie" |
| 1978 | First starring role in a feature, "Big Wednesday" |
| 1981 - 1983 | TV debut as star of fantasy series, "The Greatest American Hero" |
| 1982 | TV-movie debut, "The Rainmaker" |
| 1985 | Co-starred with his mother Barbara Hale in a series of Perry Mason reunion TV-movies beginning with "Perry Mason Returns" |
| 1986 | Regular role in a series, "Our House" |
| 1989 | Star of short-lived TV series, "Top of the Hill" |
| 1991 | Had featured role on the short-lived series "Good Sports" (CBS) |
| 1999 | Feature directorial debut, "The Clean and Narrow"; also co-wrote script |
More William Katt videos Related Videos
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VIDEO
The Greatest American Hero: Season 2
The Greatest American Hero: Season 2 starring William Katt, Connie Sellecca, Robert Culp
Quick Facts
Born
February, 16 1951 in Los Angeles, California
Education
- Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Workshop, Los Angeles, California
- Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, California
Professions
actor