I’m working on a project, and in the background, Die Hard is on. The actor that plays reporter Richard Thornberg (William Atherton) plays the perfect prick. He’s not a likable character, he’s got a face that has a permanent smug smirk, and he’s easily not likeable. It got me thinking. I immediately remembered 3 other movies where he played the asshole to perfection. Die Hard 2, of course, Real Genius (Professor Hathaway), and Ghost Busters (Walter Peck).
That’s 4 movies where I didn’t even have to think. I haven’t looked at his IMDb page yet, but I am wondering:
are there more movies out there where he plays the asshole character, and
is there any other actor/actress you can think of that falls into this category?
The fact I can even remember his character names amazes me. I loved to hate this guy.
The late J.T. Walsh offered a variation on the theme: instead of a smug asshole getting his comeuppance, he portrayed a quietly menacing asshole you’d think twice about crossing.
Just to interupt the sausage fest, how about Louise Fletcher? Won an oscar for being a prick in One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest. Asshole Grandma in Flowers in the Attic. Pretty unpleasant as Bajoran priest in DS9.
Bill McKinney he played a lot of sickos. He was in Outlaw Josey Wales too.