Every generation has its own superstars – those whom they look up and expect to have around forever – leading the charge on some of the favorite films and television shows on screen. Unfortunately, that is not always the case. Some artists fame and glory are only meant for one generation, with the rest resigned to look back and admire their glory and brilliance in their heyday. One artist whose work undoubtedly impacted a generation before he slowly receded from the public eye is William Katt.
Katt is an American actor who has appeared in both films and television, playing time-lasting roles across both mediums, especially his role in The Greatest American Hero. Adults and teenagers in the 70s and 80s would be familiar with William Katt, but for those who do not know him, learn about him below.
Biography & Age
The long active career of William Katt is no surprise considering he was born and raised in Hollywood’s most significant city, Los Angeles. He was born to actors, Bill Williams and Barbara Hale, on the 16th of February 1951. The Los Angeles-born actor then made his way through Army & Navy Academy, Carlsbad in California before proceeding to Orange Coast College.
William initially pursued a career as a musician, but as a child who has the acting blood running in his veins, it was only a matter of time before he found his way back to acting. At the young age of 19, he found his way and began to appear in small television roles while he acted in stage plays in summer stock theatre. Of course, he would later go on to star in a couple of iconic roles, starting with playing Sundance Kid in the classic film, Butch and Sundance: The Early Days.
Before he got to the point of playing iconic characters, however, he starred in a few early roles such as playing Tommy Ross in the 1976 horror film, Carrie. His performance in the film helped pull him out of the shadows and onto the limelight as a rising actor, a fact that was recognized in 1977 by John Willis’ Screen World Vol. 29 which named him among 12 Promising New Actors. After Carrie, his next notable project was Big Wednesday, where he starred alongside and Jan-Michael Vincent.
The film also provided him with a chance to work alongside his mother, Barbara Hale, who played his mother in the film, creating an interesting piece of film trivia in the process.
Without a doubt, William Katt has had a pretty successful career but it could have been a very different career had he been cast as Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars franchise. William famously auditioned for the role but it eventually went to . He did later get his chance to play a celebrated hero in the television show, The Greatest American Hero, playing the lead character, Ralph Hinkley who became a superhero after he was given a superpowered suit by aliens.
The show ran for three years and till today has kept its cult-like following. Not only did the show give William a chance to play a superhero, but he also got his chance to live his original passion as a musician, recording and releasing a soft rock album titled Secret Smiles.
Other notable films and television appearances are the House films and the Perry Mason films, of which he starred in nine of them, playing Paul Drake Jr. Others include Gamers, The Man from Earth, Andromeda, a few others.
Net Worth
William Katt has certainly done well for himself so far in Hollywood. He has managed to star in a few classic projects and continues to make appearances in several films and television shows till date. This has helped the ‘Sundance Kid’ to a decent net worth of $500,000.
Is William Katt Married? Family, Wife
William Katt has been married twice. His first marriage was to Deborah Kahane in 1979. The couple was together for 13 years, during which they had two children – Clayton and Emerson, before they got divorced in 1992. William Katt was not single for very long after his first divorce. He married Danielle Hirsch in 1993 and had a daughter, Dakota with her. In total, William Katt has four children from two wives, with the fourth being a stepson, Andrew from his wife, Danielle Hirsch’s previous marriage.
Also Read: Top 10 Richest People in the world with full biography and details.
