Cast & creator
William Ragsdale
Best known for The Mentalist, NCIS, Law & Order
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.
Also known as: Bill Ragsdale, Robert William Ragsdale
29
film credits
40
television credits
69
1979–2026 · acting roles
6.7
average across scored titles
Signature credits
Known for
Across film & television
Filmography (69)
Showing 69 of 69 credits
The Mentalist
Murphy Traver
2008
NCIS
Brett Creevy
2003
Law & Order
Fire Marshal Julian Jenca
1990
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Dr. Bill Ryan
2000
The Blacklist
Carl Conway
2013
Desperate Housewives
Scott McKinney
2004
CSI: Miami
Kenneth McGuire
2002
Elementary
Patrick Moore
2012
Curb Your Enthusiasm
Dr. Anthony Parker
2000
Medium
2005
Entourage
Frank Giovanello
2004
White Collar
Jack Conroy
2009
Blindspot
Russell Franklin
2015
Crossing Jordan
Bob
2001
Without a Trace
Robert Newton
2002
Madam Secretary
Peter Gunderson
2014
black-ish
Dr. Chubb
2014
Judging Amy
Charles Duff
1999
The Equalizer
Kent, Comic Book Store Owner
2021
The Good Fight
Rodney Pebbler
2017
American Playhouse
Jeff
1982
Justified
Gary Hawkins
2010
Younger
Jeffrey Jacobs
2015
Ellen
Dan
1994
Perception
Dr. Julian Corvis
2012
Shake It Up
Announcer
2010
Touch
Travis Cooper
2012
Still Standing
Dan Goldman
2002
Less than Perfect
Mitch Calgrove
2002
Herman's Head
Herman Brooks
1991
NOS4A2
Auctioneer
2019
The War at Home
Doctor
2005
Miss Match
Russell Dixon
2003
WeCrashed
Chris
2022
BrainDead
Hank
2016
Search Party
Chuck
2016
Big Momma's House 2
Bob
2006
Left Behind
Chris Smith
2014
Fright Night
Charley Brewster
1985
Hope and Gloria
Danny Saterfield
1995
Renfield
Older Priest
2023
Brother's Keeper
Porter Waide
1998
Grosse Pointe
Rob Fields
2000
Broken City
Mr. Davies
2013
The Reaping
Sheriff Cade
2007
Fright Night Part 2
Charley Brewster
1988
What Just Happened
Agent #1
2008
Mannequin Two: On the Move
Jason Williamson / Prince William
1991
Thunderstruck
Joe Newall
2012The Bad Girl's Guide
2005
Road House 2: Last Call
Sands Cooper
2006
Alex Strangelove
Ron Truelove
2018
Romy and Michele: In the Beginning
Kevin
2005
Just a Little Harmless Sex
Brent
1999
National Lampoon's Favorite Deadly Sins
Todd Farrit
1995
Living Proof
Andy Marks
2008
The Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street Brothel
B. B. Boudreaux
2004
A Very Merry Toy Store
Pete Griffin
2017
Smooth Talk
Jeff
1985
Frankenstein: The College Years
Mark Chrisman
1991
Screams of a Winter Night
The Kid - Service Station Attendant
1979
The Eye from Beyond
The Barn Part III
2026
You're So Cool, Brewster! The Story of Fright Night
Himself
2016
Re-Election
2025
For One Night
Earl Randall
2006
In Search of Darkness: Part III
Self
2022
Love in Storytown
Mayor Jeff
2026
LA Blues
Paul
2007