The career of veteran character actor William Katt spans over 40 years of television and film roles.
Beginning with small one-off parts in iconic 1970s TV series like M*A*S*H* and Kojack, Katt first got noticed for his role in the 1976 cult classic horror film Carrie as actress Sissy Spacek‘s prom date Tommy Ross. While things in that film turned out particularly bad for Katt’s character, the actor continued to excel in countless smaller roles.
In 1981, Katt landed his most well-known role, in the titular part of The Greatest American Hero, a quirky superhero show that ran on TV for five seasons. Since then, Katt has remained active on television while appearing in small roles for independent films voiceover parts for animated fare.
One of Katt’s most recent film roles, as the villainous Matanza in Sparks, finds him acting alongside other notable underground favorites Clint Howard (Apollo 13), Jake Busey (Starship Troopers) and Clancy Brown (The Shawshank Redemption). It’s a darkly humorous tale of superheroes that plays like a ’40s noir caper—with actual capes.
This week, Katt takes questions from the audience for two nights at Santa Rosa’s Roxy Theater, first at a screening of Carrie as part of the theater’s Cult Film Series on March 6, and the next night alongside Howard, Busey and other cast and crew members for a special screening of Sparks, which runs throughout the week. Roxy Stadium 14, 85 Santa Rosa Ave., Santa Rosa. $10. 707.522.0330.
