William Katt facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Katt
|
|
|---|---|
.jpg)
William Katt in 2024
|
|
| Born |
William Theodore Katt
February 16, 1951 Los Angeles, California, U.S.
|
| Other names | Billy Katt |
| Occupation |
|
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Spouse(s) |
Deborah Kahane
(m. 1979; div. 1992)Danielle Hirsch
(m. 1993) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parents |
|
William Theodore Katt (born February 16, 1951) is an American actor and musician. He is famous for playing Ralph Hinkley in the TV show The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983). In this show, his character was a schoolteacher who got a special suit with superpowers from aliens.
Katt first became known for his role as Tommy Ross in the movie Carrie (1976). He also starred in other movies like First Love (1977) and Big Wednesday (1978). Later, he appeared in nine Perry Mason TV movies. In these movies, he acted alongside his real-life mother, Barbara Hale. She played her famous role of Della Street from the original Perry Mason TV series.
Contents
Early Life and Family
William Katt was born in Los Angeles, California. His parents were both actors: his father was Bill Williams and his mother was Barbara Hale. He grew up in the San Fernando Valley. As a teenager, he started acting and sometimes appeared with his parents. He went to the Army and Navy Academy in Carlsbad, California.
Becoming an Actor and Musician
Katt first went to Orange Coast College. He wanted to become a musician. But his father inspired him to try acting. He started acting in plays during the summer. He also got small roles on television.
His first big movie role was in the 1976 horror film Carrie. He played Tommy Ross, a kind jock. This role helped him become well-known. In 1978, he played a young surfer named Barlow in the movie Big Wednesday. His mother in that movie was also his real mother, Barbara Hale. The next year, he played the Sundance Kid in the 1979 movie Butch and Sundance: The Early Days. Because of his role in Big Wednesday, he became very popular in the surfing world.
In 1975, Katt tried out for the role of Luke Skywalker in the movie Star Wars. He was seriously considered for the part, but Mark Hamill got the role instead.
The Greatest American Hero
In 1981, William Katt got his most famous role. He played Ralph Hinkley in the TV show The Greatest American Hero. His character was a mild-mannered schoolteacher. He was given a special super-powered suit by aliens. The show was very popular and still has many fans today. The show's theme song, "Believe It or Not", also became a hit song. Because the show was so successful, Katt released a soft rock music album called Secret Smiles in 1982.
Other Roles and Later Career
After The Greatest American Hero, Katt starred in the movie Baby: Secret of the Lost Legend (1985). This film was about explorers looking for dinosaurs in Africa. He also starred in the horror-comedy movie House (1985). He later appeared in a sequel, House IV, in 1992.
From 1985 to 1988, Katt played Paul Drake Jr. in nine Perry Mason TV movies. Paul Drake Jr. was a private detective. Katt's mother, Barbara Hale, played Della Street in these movies. He also appeared in other TV shows like Top of the Hill and Good Sports.
William Katt continues to act in movies and on television. He also does voice acting for cartoons and video games. He appeared in an episode of House in 2006. He has also been in science fiction and fantasy shows like Andromeda and Justice League. Some of his recent movies include Gamers (2006), The Man from Earth (2007), and Alien vs Hunter (2007).
In 2008, he voiced Hawkman in the animated series Batman: The Brave and the Bold. He also played a reporter in Heroes in 2008. In 2010, he appeared in Mirrors 2 and House of Payne.
Katt has also written a comic book based on The Greatest American Hero. In 2013, he played himself in the movie Paranormal Movie. He appeared in The Unwanted in 2014 and The 2nd in 2020.
Personal Life
William Katt married Deborah Kahane in 1979. They had two sons, Clayton and Emerson. They divorced in 1992.
In 1993, he married Danielle Hirsch. They have a daughter named Dakota. He also has a stepson named Andrew.
Images for kids
-
William Katt in 2008 at San Diego Comic-Con
See also
In Spanish: William Katt para niños
