william katt  

Handsome, blond-haired actor William Katt, well-known to audiences for his portrayal of a superman-like hero in the TV series "The Greatest American Hero," enters a different realm with his role of Roger Cobb.

Born 16th February 1950,and raised in Southern California, Katt grew up in a showbusiness household -- his mother is actress Barbara Hale who played Della Street on the long-running TV series 'Perry Mason' and his father Bill Williams, was a cowboy star before switching his career to Real Estate.

Katt's interest in acting began when he was studying music at Orange Coast College in Newport Beach, Ca. It was there that he discovered theatre. "I was seduced into acting over a long period of time," says Katt. "It was not a conscious choice at first."

Katt landed his first role in the West Coast production of Joseph Heller's 'We Bombed in New Haven,' while simultaneously studying classical guitar,music theory and composition.

After winning a scholarship for the renowned Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, he embarked on a National Tour as Rolf in 'The Sound Of Music,' followed by a succession of stage roles including the turn-of-the-century farce 'Too Much Johnson' and the Pulitzer Prize-winning play 'The Shadow Box.'

Katt doesnt subscribe to any one theory or method of acting. He merely listens for what he calls "the ring of truth."

"I just say my lines, and if i believe them, then they're right," says Katt.

"All of the characters i play are part of me. Acting is like looking at a giant bookshelf and taking down exactly what you need."

Katt made his motion picture debut in the highly successful 1976 classic thriller 'Carrie' starring Sissy Spacek and Directed by Brian DePalma. His subsequent feature film credits include starring roles in the controversial 'First Love,' the surfing saga 'The Big Wednesday'; and the prequel to 'Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid', called 'Butch and Sundance: The Early Years,' in which he was chosen to play a young Robert Redford.

In television, Katt spent the next two years starring in the hit series 'The Greatest American Hero.' Following that, he starred opposite Ben Vereen in the cable TV adaptation of the Tony award-winning Broadway musical 'Pippin,' Directed by Bob Fosse. He also appeared in John Frankenheimer's cable TV production of 'The Rainmaker' starring Tommy Lee Jones and Tuesday Weld. In addition, Katt played the pirate king in a touring production of 'The Pirates of Penzance' and had a starring role in the 'Thumbelina' segment of Shelley Duvall's 'Faerie Tale Theatre.'

The 1980's were a period of discovery for Katt.Professionally he discovered new talents and disciplines through the diversity of the roles he played, but the most dramatic change was his marriage at age 33.

"My priorities have changed since i've been married," says Katt. "I've gone from being idealistic to being realistic. My family is first, it's the strongest influence in my life. We all make decisions together. Debbie is my own worst critic. The only thing certain about success in this business is that it wont last. Your family will always be there."

Katt and his wife Debbie live in Encino,California with their children.

Filmography

Twin Falls Idaho (1999) .... Surgeon

Jawbreaker (1999) .... Mr. Purr

Catch Me If You Can (1998) (TV) .... Jean Benoit

aka Hide and Seek (1998) (TV) (USA)

Hyacinth (1998)

Rough Riders (1997) (TV) .... Edward Marshall

Mother Teresa: In the Name of God's Poor (1997) .... Harry Harper

aka Mutter Teresa (1998) (Germany)

Daddy's Girl (1996) .... Don Mitchell

Devil's Food (1996) (TV)

Rattled (1996) .... Paul Donohue

Romantic Undertaking (1996) (TV) .... Richard Tennant

Cyborg 3: The Recycler (1995) .... Decaf

aka Cyborg 3 (1995)

Piranha (1995) (TV) .... Paul Grogan

aka Roger Corman Presents Piranha (1995) (TV)

Problem Child 3 (1995) (TV) .... Ben Healy

aka Problem Child 3: Junior in Love (1995) (TV) (USA)

"Models Inc." (1994) TV Series .... Paul Carson (1994)

Americanski Blues (1994) (TV) .... Dr. Dell Davis

aka American Cop (1994) (TV)

Paper Boy, The (1994) .... Brian

aka Paperboy, The (1994)

Stranger by Night (1994) .... Troy Rooney

Tollbooth (1994) .... Waggy

Distant Cousins (1993) .... Richard Sullivan

aka Desperate Motive (1993)

Double X: The Name of the Game (1992) .... Michael Cooper

aka Double X (1992)

aka Run Rabbit Run (1992)

House IV (1992) .... Roger Cobb

aka House IV: Home Deadly Home (1992)

"Good Sports" (1991) TV Series .... Nick Calder

Naked Obsession (1991) .... Franklyn Carlysle

Last Call (1990) .... Paul Avery

Rebel Storm (1990)

aka Rebel Waves (1990)

aka Rising Storm (1990)

Wedding Band (1990) .... Marshall Roman

"Top of the Hill" (1989) TV Series .... Thomas Bell

Swimsuit (1989) (TV) .... Brian

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lady in the Lake (1988) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr

Perry Mason: The Case of the Avenging Ace (1988) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

White Ghost (1988) .... Steve Shepard

Perry Mason: The Case of the Scandalous Scoundrel (1987) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Murdered Madam (1987) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Sinister Spirit (1987) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Lost Love (1987) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

House (1986) .... Roger Cobb

Fangoria's Weekend of Horrors (1986) (V) .... Himself

Perry Mason: The Case of the Notorious Nun (1986) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Perry Mason: The Case of the Shooting Star (1986) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Baby... Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) .... George Loomis

aka Dinosaur... Secret of the Lost Legend (1985) (TV title)

Perry Mason Returns (1985) (TV) .... Paul Drake Jr.

Rainmaker, The (1982) (TV) .... Jimmy Curry

"Greatest American Hero, The" (1981) TV Series .... Ralph Hinkley/Hanley

Pippin (1981) (TV) .... Pippin

Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979) .... Sundance Kid

Big Wednesday (1978) .... Jack

aka Summer of Innocence (1978)

First Love (1977) .... Elgin Smith

Carrie (1976) .... Tommy Ross

Can Ellen Be Saved? (1974) (TV) .... Bob

Daughters of Joshua Cabe, The (1972) (TV) .... Billy Jack

Late Liz, The (1971)

Night Chase (1970) (TV) (as Bill Katt) .... Marine Private

aka Man in the Back Seat, The (1970) (TV)

Director

Clean and Narrow (1999)

Notable TV guest appearances

"Net, The" (1998) playing "Dr. Phillip Wayland" in episode: "Deleted" (episode # 1.1) 7/19/1998

"Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993) playing "Keith Portman" in episode: "Warriors" (episode # 5.120) 4/4/1998

"Dead Man's Gun" (1997) playing "Madison Butler" in episode: "Healer, The" (episode # 1.6) 8/20/1997

"7th Heaven" (1996) 1997

"Cybill" (1995) playing "Himself" in episode: "Lowenstein's Lament" (episode # 2.15) 2/11/1996

"Batman: The Animated Series" (1992) playing "Zowie" in episode: "Riddler's Reform" (episode # 1.73) 9/24/1994

"Burke's Law" (1994) in episode: "Who Killed the Fashion King?" (episode # 1.2) 1/14/1994

"Murder, She Wrote" (1984) playing "Derek Hartman" in episode: "Love's Deadly Desire" (episode # 9.22) 5/16/1993

"Animaniacs" (1993) playing "Dr. Roma"(voice)

"Sisters" (1991) playing "Teddy's best friend"

"Alfred Hitchcock Presents" (1985) playing "Dr. Burke" in episode: "Stolen Heart, A" (episode # 3.4) 2/27/1988

"M*A*S*H" (1972) playing "P.F.C."(as Bill Katt) in episode: "Dear Dad" (episode # 1.12) 12/17/1972

"Emergency!" (1972) in episode: "Weird Wednesday" (episode # 1.9) 3/18/1972