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William Ragsdale

William Ragsdale

Actor · Born January 19, 1961 (65) · El Dorado, Arkansas, USA

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
January 19, 1961 (65)
From
El Dorado, Arkansas, USA
Works as
Actor
Titles
54 on MovieCove · 68 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 64 days to Oct 27Down 30% in 30 days

What are William Ragsdale's films like?

Across their 14 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Self and Bonds.

Genres

Comedy8 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 25th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Horror2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 54th percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Horror movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Self
41%
Bonds
26%
Morality
14%
Society
10%
Survival
9%
Self-worth3 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love3 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship3 titles, browse their movies with this themeComing of age3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival2 titles, browse their movies with this themeAmbition3 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose2 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 14 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Light: How heavy the subject matter and outlook get. Browse their light movies.
Tone · Weight
lightdark

Light 8 · Serious 3 · Dark 3

Grounded: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their grounded movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

Grounded 9 · Stylized 5 · Heightened 0

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

A split, not a type: Gentle 7 · Charged 5 · Intense 2

Shifting: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their shifting movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

A split, not a type: Steady 7 · Shifting 6 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 3 · Some laughs 6 · Funny 5

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 3 · Even-paced 11 · Relentless 0

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 9 · Engaged 5 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 11 · Open-ended 2 · Ambiguous 1

Roles they play

5 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 4 of 5 analyzed roles.

Hero
4 of 5
Ally
1 of 5

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Joyful
7
Tense
5
Absurd
5
Hopeful
4
Warm
3
Other
13

How their films linger

Feel-good8 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHopeful6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 1 with a twist

  • Happy10
  • Bittersweet1
  • Ambiguous3

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch William Ragsdale's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 40 of their 54 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on The Roku Channel (13).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for William Ragsdale's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

68 credits, 54 with a MovieCove page; 2 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • The Barn Part III(2026)

    Actor

  • Love in Storytown(2026)

    as Mayor Jeff

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all films (provisional, few ratings)

  • Re-Election(2025)

    Actor

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • Renfield(2023)

    as Older Priest

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • WeCrashed(2022)

    Show 1 episode · as Chris

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all shows

  • The Equalizer(2021)

    Show 1 episode · as Kent, Comic Book Store Owner

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all shows

  • NOS4A2(2019)

    Show 1 episode · as Auctioneer

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all shows

  • Alex Strangelove(2018)

    as Ron Truelove

    Midcredits score: 50th percentile of all films

  • A Very Merry Toy Store(2017)

    as Pete Griffin

    Midcredits score: 35th percentile of all films

  • The Good Fight(2017)

    Show 1 episode · as Rodney Pebbler

    Midcredits score: 91st percentile of all shows

  • Search Party(2016)

    Show 3 episodes · as Chuck

    Midcredits score: 73rd percentile of all shows

  • BrainDead(2016)

    Show 1 episode · as Hank

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Blindspot(2015)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell Franklin

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • Younger(2015)

    Show 2 episodes · as Jeffrey Jacobs

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Left Behind(2014)

    as Chris Smith

    Midcredits score: 1st percentile of all films

  • Black-ish(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Chubb

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • Madam Secretary(2014)

    Show 1 episode · as Peter Gunderson

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • The Blacklist(2013)

    Show 1 episode · as Carl Conway

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Broken City(2013)

    as Mr. Davies

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • Elementary(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Patrick Moore

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all shows

  • Thunderstruck(2012)

    as Joe Newall

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Perception(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Julian Corvis

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Touch(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Travis Cooper

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Shake It Up(2010)

    Show 1 episode · as Announcer

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all shows

  • Justified(2010)

    Show 12 episodes · as Gary Hawkins

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • White Collar(2009)

    Show 1 episode · as Jack Conroy

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • Living Proof(2008)

    as Andy Marks

    Midcredits score: 70th percentile of all films

  • What Just Happened(2008)

    as Agent #1

    Midcredits score: 24th percentile of all films

  • The Mentalist(2008)

    Show 1 episode · as Murphy Traver

    Midcredits score: 96th percentile of all shows

  • LA Blues (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    as Paul

  • The Reaping(2007)

    as Sheriff Cade

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Road House 2: Last Call(2006)

    as Sands Cooper

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • For One Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2006)

    as Earl Randall

  • Big Momma's House 2(2006)

    as Bob

    Midcredits score: 17th percentile of all films

  • The Last Time(2006)

    as Rogers

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • The War at Home (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · as Doctor

  • Romy and Michele: In the Beginning(2005)

    as Kevin

    Midcredits score: 10th percentile of all films

  • The Bad Girl's Guide (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Medium(2005)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 61st percentile of all shows

  • The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel(2004)

    as B. B. Boudreaux

    Midcredits score: 36th percentile of all films

  • Desperate Housewives(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Scott McKinney

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all shows

  • Entourage(2004)

    Show 1 episode · as Frank Giovanello

    Midcredits score: 93rd percentile of all shows

  • Miss Match (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Russell Dixon

  • NCIS(2003)

    Show 1 episode · as Brett Creevy

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all shows

  • Less Than Perfect(2002)

    Show 4 episodes · as Mitch Calgrove

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Still Standing (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Dan Goldman

  • Without a Trace(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Robert Newton

    Midcredits score: 53rd percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Miami(2002)

    Show 1 episode · as Kenneth McGuire

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all shows

  • Crossing Jordan(2001)

    Show 1 episode · as Bob

    Midcredits score: 57th percentile of all shows

  • Curb Your Enthusiasm(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Anthony Parker

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all shows

  • CSI: Crime Scene Investigation(2000)

    Show 1 episode · as Dr. Bill Ryan

    Midcredits score: 80th percentile of all shows

  • Grosse Pointe (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2000)

    Show 17 episodes · as Rob Fields

  • Judging Amy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1999)

    Show 5 episodes · as Charles Duff

  • Just a Little Harmless Sex(1998)

    as Brent

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Brother's Keeper (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    Show 23 episodes · as Porter Waide

  • Favorite Deadly Sins(1995)

    as Todd Farrit

    Midcredits score: 19th percentile of all films

  • Hope and Gloria (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Danny Saterfield

  • Ellen(1994)

    Show 4 episodes · as Dan

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all shows

  • Frankenstein: The College Years(1991)

    as Mark Chrisman

    Midcredits score: 18th percentile of all films

  • Herman's Head (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 72 episodes · as Herman Brooks

  • Mannequin: On the Move(1991)

    as Jason Williamson / Prince William

    Midcredits score: 15th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order(1990)

    Show 1 episode · as Fire Marshal Julian Jenca

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all shows

  • Fright Night Part 2(1988)

    as Charley Brewster

    Midcredits score: 45th percentile of all films

  • Smooth Talk(1985)

    as Jeff

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Fright Night(1985)

    as Charley Brewster

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • American Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 1 episode · as Jeff

  • Screams of a Winter Night (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1979)

    as The Kid - Service Station Attendant

  • The Eye from Beyond (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

Career shape

Star power in the 96th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 67 titles, 66 of them dated from 1979 to 2026; peak year 1984.

Biggest box office

The Reaping (2007)

$63M worldwide

Highest rated

Fright Night (1985)

Midcredits 83rd

Most popular right now

Left Behind (2014)

Film career

MilestoneBreakout
19792026

Peak 1984 · back in prominent film roles after a quiet stretch. Top draw in 1 MovieCove title. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

  • 1979Screen debut· Screams of a Winter Night
  • 1988First top-billed film· Fright Night Part 2
  • 1988Breakout· Fright Night Part 2

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting67 of 67: 67 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1970s1 · acting1980s4 · acting1990s10 · acting2000s26 · acting2010s19 · acting2020s6 · acting

Billing

usually 8th · top billed in 8% of 13 roles
7904

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

How do William Ragsdale's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 25th percentile, the median of the 23 of 24 with a score; across their 14 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 27th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

27thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Approval · how many liked their films

29thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Reach · how many have seen their films

80thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 14

Midcredits score across 53 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up16
  • 50th to 74th14
  • 25th to 49th10
  • Below 25th13

Shape of the crowd

23 of their 53 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved7
  • Divisive2
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser23
  • Broadly Agreed2
  • Mixed18

Most divisive · actor

Re-Election (2025)

91st percentile spread · 39% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Justified (2010)

Midcredits 98th · 93% liked

Reviewers score the acting 59/100 in their films, across 12 reviewed titles; fans 74, detractors 39. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is William Ragsdale's work okay for kids?

Across up to 7 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore3 titlesmedian 70 · intenseMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity7 titles20–53 · median 42 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity3 titlesmedian 33 · mildMedian of all films: 36
Frightening / Intense4 titlesmedian 65 · intenseMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does William Ragsdale work with?

People who share at least 2 of William Ragsdale's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Tom Holland shares the most, 2.

Writers

Actors

Composers

Producers