William Ragsdale
About
Biography
Biography
This stage-trained young leading man of middle-budget genre films and TV sitcoms hails from El Dorado, Arkansas. William Ragsdale has been quite convincing as a nice small town boy fitfully adjusting to the complexities of big city life in Fox's cultish sitcom, "Herman's Head" (1991-94) and as the overprotective widower raising his young son who also takes in his disreputable football star sibling in ABC's family comedy "Brother's Keeper" (1998-99). The wholesome and boyishly handsome young actor had a solid New York theater background before turning to film and TV. Ragsdale appeared on stage in the leading role of Eugene in the Broadway production of Neil Simon's "Biloxi Blues" and continued the same role in the conclusion of Simon's autobiographical trilogy, "Broadway Bound," leading the show's national touring company.
In his best known feature film, the popular teen horror comedy "Fright Night" (1985), Ragsdale literally plays the boy-next-door--in this case, next door to a sensually handsome vampire (Chris Sarandon) whose bedroom window faces his in this witty amalgam of "Rear Window" and Hammer horror movies. Ragsdale's other film credits include "Smooth Talk" (1985), "Fright Night, Part II" (1988), and "Mannequin Two: On the Move" (1991).
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Cast (TV Mini-Series)
Life Events
1985
Starred in writer-director Tom Holland's cult horror comedy, "Fright Night"
1989
Starred in busted NBC-TV pilot, "Wally and the Valentines", a musical comedy
1991
Starred in Fox TV-movie "Frankenstein: The College Years"
1991
Starred in Fox sitcom, "Herman's Head"
1995
Played recurring role of Ellen's boyfriend on "Ellen"
1996
Had featured role in the short-lived Broadway play "Getting Away With Murder"
1998
Headlined the ABC sitcom "Brother's Keeper"
2000
Cast as Rob Fields in the WB series, "Grosse Pointe"
2000
Had a recurring role on the CBS series, "Judging Amy"
2004
Appeared in four episodes of the ABC series, "Less Than Perfect"
2007
Co-starred with Hilary Swank in the religion-themed horror film "The Reaping"
