William Ragsdale

Biography

William Ragsdale is an American actor, born in El Dorado, Arkansas, who appeared in plays at Hendrix College. He came to attention as Charley Brewster, the young hero of Fright Night (1985) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988), and also acted onstage in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and Biloxi Blues. For three years he played Herman Brooks on Herman's Head, and he had a recurring role on Judging Amy, a one-season part on Grosse Pointe, and guest roles including several episodes of Less than Perfect. His film credits include Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991) and the 2014 remake Left Behind. From 2010 to 2012 he played Gary Hawkins across twelve episodes of Justified. He appeared Off-Broadway in Man from Nebraska in 2017, and in 2023 he took the part of a vampire-hunting priest in Renfield.

65years old

Turns 66 on January 19in 98 days

Born January 19, 1961El Dorado
Star sign: CapricornLast day of the sign, on the Aquarius cusp

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 39 years1979 to 2018

Genres

Comedy38%, 6 films
Drama38%, 6 films
Thriller38%, 6 films
Horror25%, 4 films
Action19%, 3 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Ragsdale landed a role in the pilot for Charmed, yet he declined the series so he could appear in Brother's Keeper, a situation comedy that was short-lived.
Early training
William Ragsdale went to Hendrix College, and while he was a student there he acted in plays with Natalie Canerday.

William Ragsdale movies on Netflix

Alex Strangelove2018IMDb rating 6.3as Ron Truelove
A Very Merry Toy Store2017IMDb rating 5.6as Pete Griffin
You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night2016IMDb rating 8.1as Himself
Left Behind2014IMDb rating 3.2as Chris Smith
Broken City2013IMDb rating 6.1as Mr. Davies
Thunderstruck2012IMDb rating 5.2as Joe Newall
Living Proof2008IMDb rating 6.8as Andy Marks
The Reaping2007IMDb rating 5.6as Sheriff Cade
Road House 2: Last Call2006IMDb rating 4.3as Sands Cooper
The Last Time2006IMDb rating 6.0as Rogers
Romy and Michele: In the Beginning2005IMDb rating 4.0as Kevin
Mannequin Two: On the Move1991IMDb rating 4.5as Jason Williamson / Prince William
Fright Night Part 21988IMDb rating 6.0as Charley Brewster
Fright Night1985IMDb rating 7.1as Charley Brewster
Smooth Talk1985IMDb rating 6.6as Jeff
Screams of a Winter Night1979IMDb rating 4.7as The Kid - Service Station Attendant

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Fright Night1985 Fantasy, Horror, Thrilleras Charley Brewster
IMDb rating 7.189K votes
Fright Night Part 21988 Comedy, Horroras Charley Brewster
IMDb rating 6.016K votes
The Reaping2007as Sheriff Cade
IMDb rating 5.646K votes
Mannequin Two: On the Move1991as Jason Williamson / Prince William
IMDb rating 4.57.4K votes
Left Behind2014as Chris Smith
IMDb rating 3.245K votes
Alex Strangelove2018as Ron Truelove
IMDb rating 6.321K votes
Broken City2013as Mr. Davies
IMDb rating 6.186K votes
Thunderstruck2012as Joe Newall
IMDb rating 5.26.5K votes

Most often with

Andrea Frankle appears in three of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Andrea Frankle

Roddy McDowall

Jon Gries

Gary Grubbs

David Jensen

Chris Sarandon

Films together

Andrea Frankle3 films together, 2007 to 2013
Andrea Frankle's page
- Broken City2013IMDb rating 6.1Ragsdale as Mr. DaviesFrankle as Prosecutor
- Thunderstruck2012IMDb rating 5.2Ragsdale as Joe NewallFrankle as Math Teacher
- The Reaping2007IMDb rating 5.6Ragsdale as Sheriff CadeFrankle as Maddie McConnell
Roddy McDowall2 films together, 1985 to 1988
Roddy McDowall's page
- Fright Night Part 21988IMDb rating 6.0Ragsdale as Charley BrewsterMcDowall as Peter Vincent
- Fright Night1985IMDb rating 7.1Ragsdale as Charley BrewsterMcDowall as Peter Vincent
Jon Gries2 films together, 1988 to 2016
Jon Gries's page
- You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night2016IMDb rating 8.1Ragsdale as HimselfGries as Himself
- Fright Night Part 21988IMDb rating 6.0Ragsdale as Charley BrewsterGries as Louie
Gary Grubbs2 films together, 2006 to 2014
Gary Grubbs's page
- Left Behind2014IMDb rating 3.2Ragsdale as Chris SmithGrubbs as Dennis
- The Last Time2006IMDb rating 6.0Ragsdale as RogersGrubbs as Toby Margolin
David Jensen2 films together, 2006 to 2007
David Jensen's page
- The Reaping2007IMDb rating 5.6Ragsdale as Sheriff CadeJensen as Jim Wakeman
- The Last Time2006IMDb rating 6.0Ragsdale as RogersJensen as J.D. Wachowitz
Chris Sarandon2 films together, 1985 to 2016
Chris Sarandon's page
- You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night2016IMDb rating 8.1Ragsdale as HimselfSarandon as Himself
- Fright Night1985IMDb rating 7.1Ragsdale as Charley BrewsterSarandon as Jerry Dandrige
Also two films together6 more actors
- Art EvansYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night (1985)
- Brian ThompsonYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
- Julie CarmenYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night Part 2 (1988)
- Stephen GeoffreysYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night (1985)
- Jonathan StarkYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night (1985)
- Amanda BearseYou're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night (2016) and Fright Night (1985)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Box office

What William Ragsdale's films earned in cinemas worldwide.

Top

Combined worldwide box office

$149 million

7 of the 16 films have a worldwide figure.

7Worldwide figure
1US gross only
6Never in cinemas
2Figure not found

Top grosser

The Reaping2007Sheriff Cade$62.8 million

Highest grossing

The seven biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.

1
The Reaping2007as Sheriff Cade
$63M42.0% of the total
2
Broken City2013as Mr. Davies
$35M23.2% of the total
3
Fright Night1985as Charley Brewster
$25M16.7% of the total
4
Left Behind2014as Chris Smith
$20M13.2% of the total
5
Mannequin Two: On the Move1991as Jason Williamson / Prince William
$3.8M2.5% of the total
6
Fright Night Part 21988as Charley Brewster
$3.0M2.0% of the total
7
Thunderstruck2012as Joe Newall
$587K0.4% of the total