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Actor

1961-01-19 · El Dorado, Arkansas, USA · Male

24 series in the catalog

Robert William Ragsdale (born January 19, 1961) is an American actor. He is known for playing Charley Brewster in the cult horror-comedy film Fright Night (1985) and its sequel Fright Night Part 2 (1988), and Herman Brooks on the television series Herman's Head (1991–1994).

Early life and education

William Ragsdale was born January 19, 1961, in El Dorado, Arkansas and attended Hendrix College, where he appeared in plays alongside Natalie Canerday.

Career

Ragsdale garnered attention as the Charley Brewster, the young hero of Fright Night and Fright Night Part 2 and onstage in Neil Simon's plays Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues, two of the three parts of Simon's Eugene trilogy, which ends with Broadway Bound. Ragsdale featured in the romance comedy movie Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991).

Ragsdale featured for three years on Herman's Head. He had a brief recurring role in the television series Judging Amy. He played a television producer for Grosse Pointe, which lasted one season. He was cast in the pilot for Charmed, but refused the series to feature in the short-lived situation comedy Brother's Keeper. He appeared on Ellen as the boyfriend of Ellen Morgan (played by Ellen DeGeneres) before her character came out as a lesbian. He has had guest roles on television, including a four-episode stint on Less than Perfect, as well as several feature movie roles.

Ragsdale played the role of Gary Hawkins in 12 episodes of the television series Justified from March 2010 through March 2012 during the series' first three seasons. In 2014, he played Chris Smith in the remake of the movie Left Behind. In 2017, he appeared in the role of Reverend Todd in the Off-Broadway production of Man from Nebraska at the Second Stage Theatre. In 2023, Ragsdale appeared as a vampire-hunting priest in the horror comedy Renfield, a nod to his Fright Night role.

William Ragsdale at the Internet Broadway Database

William Ragsdale at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)