William Ragsdale
Acting • Born 1961-01-19
Biography
William Ragsdale (born Robert William Ragsdale) is an American actor. He graduated from Hendrix College in Conway, Arkansas studying religion and humanities. His parents gave him a graduation present in the form of tuition for the Drama Studio London’s American school at Berkeley, California. He's known for playing teenaged vampire slayer Charley Brewster in the horror vampire film Fright Night. He also garnered attention onstage in Neil Simon's plays, Biloxi Blues and Brighton Beach Memoirs, two of the three parts of Simon's trilogy, which ends with Broadway Bound. He starred in the romance comedy movie Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991). He featured for three years as Herman Brooks in the series Herman's Head, had a brief recurring role in the television series Judging Amy, and played television producer Rob Fields on the series Grosse Pointe, which lasted one season. He starred in the short-lived sitcom Brother's Keeper, and appeared on Ellen as the boyfriend of Ellen Morgan (played by Ellen DeGeneres) before her character revealed her homosexuality. He's had numerous guest roles on television throughout the years, including multi-episode stints on Less than Perfect, Necessary Roughness, Mistresses, Search Party, and Younger, as well as small feature movie roles. He played the role of Gary Hawkins in 12 episodes of the drama series Justified, during the series' first three seasons. In 2014, he played Chris Smith in the remake of the movie Left Behind.
Filmography
65 credits
The Reaping
Movie • 2007
Sheriff Cade
Frankenstein: The College Years
Movie • 1991
Mark Chrisman
Fright Night
Movie • 1985
Charley Brewster
Mannequin Two: On the Move
Movie • 1991
Jason Williamson / Prince William
In Search of Darkness: Part III
Movie • 2022
Self
Renfield
Movie • 2023
Older Priest
Fright Night Part 2
Movie • 1988
Charley Brewster
What Just Happened
Movie • 2008
Agent #1
Big Momma's House 2
Movie • 2006
Bob
Broken City
Movie • 2013
Mr. Davies
Just a Little Harmless Sex
Movie • 1999
Brent
Thunderstruck
Movie • 2012
Joe Newall
For One Night
Movie • 2006
Earl Randall
Left Behind
Movie • 2014
Chris Smith
Screams of a Winter Night
Movie • 1979
The Kid - Service Station Attendant
Smooth Talk
Movie • 1985
Jeff
Road House 2: Last Call
Movie • 2006
Sands Cooper
LA Blues
Movie • 2007
Paul
You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night
Movie • 2016
Himself
A Very Merry Toy Store
Movie • 2017
Pete Griffin
Alex Strangelove
Movie • 2018
Ron Truelove
Romy and Michele: In the Beginning
Movie • 2005
Kevin
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
Movie • 2004
B. B. Boudreaux
National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins
Movie • 1995
Todd Farrit
Living Proof
Movie • 2008
Andy Marks
Re-Election
Movie • 2025
The Barn Part III
Movie • 2026
Medium
TV • 2005
Less than Perfect
TV • 2002
Mitch Calgrove
Ellen
TV • 1994
Dan
Still Standing
TV • 2002
Dan Goldman
Judging Amy
TV • 1999
Charles Duff
Miss Match
TV • 2003
Russell Dixon
Desperate Housewives
TV • 2004
Scott McKinney
The War at Home
TV • 2005
Doctor
Crossing Jordan
TV • 2001
Bob
The Blacklist
TV • 2013
Carl Conway
Without a Trace
TV • 2002
Robert Newton
Herman's Head
TV • 1991
Herman Brooks
Grosse Pointe
TV • 2000
Rob Fields
Brother's Keeper
TV • 1998
Porter Waide
The Bad Girl's Guide
TV • 2005
Younger
TV • 2015
Jeffrey Jacobs
Search Party
TV • 2016
Chuck
NCIS
TV • 2003
Brett Creevy
The Equalizer
TV • 2021
Kent, Comic Book Store Owner
Perception
TV • 2012
Dr. Julian Corvis
White Collar
TV • 2009
Jack Conroy
NOS4A2
TV • 2019
Auctioneer
The Mentalist
TV • 2008
Murphy Traver
Curb Your Enthusiasm
TV • 2000
Dr. Anthony Parker
BrainDead
TV • 2016
Hank
Blindspot
TV • 2015
Russell Franklin
Elementary
TV • 2012
Patrick Moore
WeCrashed
TV • 2022
Chris
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
TV • 2000
Dr. Bill Ryan
Justified
TV • 2010
Gary Hawkins
The Good Fight
TV • 2017
Rodney Pebbler
Hope and Gloria
TV • 1995
Danny Saterfield
black-ish
TV • 2014
Dr. Chubb
Touch
TV • 2012
Travis Cooper
Shake It Up
TV • 2010
Announcer
Madam Secretary
TV • 2014
Peter Gunderson
Entourage
TV • 2004
Frank Giovanello
CSI: Miami
TV • 2002
Kenneth McGuire