William Katt became a fixture of 1970s and 1980s pop culture by balancing wholesome charm with an everyman vulnerability. While many remember him best as the reluctant superhero who lost his instruction manual, his career spans major studio horror, classic westerns, and a rich theatrical background rooted in a Hollywood family.
Born to actors Bill Williams and Barbara Hale, Katt didn't just inherit an industry connection; he carved out a distinct niche that defied typecasting. Beyond his iconic television turns, his filmography includes milestone entries in teen horror, surf culture cinema, and enduring cult classics.
Early Life and Hollywood Roots
Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, Katt was surrounded by the realities of television production long before stepping onto a soundstage. His mother, Barbara Hale, achieved legendary status playing secretary Della Street in the original Perry Mason television series, while his father starred in the 1940s series The Adventures of Kit Carson.
Despite his parents' pedigree, Katt initially gravitated toward music. He attended Orange Coast College, focusing on music composition and performance before the pull of the dramatic arts took over. He honed his craft on stage, joining the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera Workshop and participating in local theatrical productions. These early stage repetitions gave him the comedic timing and physical presence that would later define his breakout screen performances.
Breaking Out on Screen: From Carrie to Big Wednesday
Katt's transition to film happened swiftly in the mid-1970s. After minor television appearances on shows like MASH* and Gunsmoke, he landed his breakthrough film role as Tommy Ross in Brian De Palma's adaptation of Stephen King's Carrie (1976). As the well-meaning prom date who takes Carrie White to the ill-fated dance, Katt brought a genuine decency to a character easily played as a stereotype. His performance established his template: the approachable, empathetic nice guy.
Following Carrie, Katt secured major roles that showcased his versatility across genres:
- First Love (1977): Starred opposite Susan Dey in a grounded, melancholy romantic drama exploring the complexities of youth and intimacy.
- Big Wednesday (1978): Directed by John Milius, this coming-of-age surf epic cast Katt as Jack Barlow. The film was a box-office failure upon release but later attained legendary status among surfing enthusiasts. Notably, his real-life mother, Barbara Hale, played his mother on screen.
- Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979): Stepped into cinematic history playing the Sundance Kid, matching wits and screen presence with Tom Berenger's Butch Cassidy.
Before securing these roles, Katt famously tested for the part of Luke Skywalker in George Lucas's Star Wars, losing out to Mark Hamill in the final stages. Had that casting swung the other way, science fiction history would look entirely different, though Katt's trajectory kept him open to other iconic genre paths.
The Greatest American Hero and Cultural Immortality
In 1981, Stephen J. Cannell cast Katt in the role that defined his television career: Ralph Hinkley in ABC's The Greatest American Hero. The premise featured a mild-mannered high school special education teacher who is gifted a red and black suit with extraordinary superpowers by a group of extraterrestrials.
The core comedic and dramatic engine of the series came from a simple premise: Ralph immediately lost the instruction manual. Forced to learn flight, invulnerability, and telekinesis through painful trial and error, Katt played the superhero with bruised shins, chaotic landings, and an authentic sense of panic. Paired with Robert Culp as gruff FBI agent Bill Maxwell, the show blended superhero action with lighthearted comedy.
Behind the scenes, the production presented physical challenges. Katt found the synthetic suit restrictive and uncomfortable. Producers adjusted filming schedules and modified the costume to ease the physical toll on the actor.
The show's theme song, "Believe It or Not" composed by Mike Post and Stephen Geyer and performed by Joey Scarbury, became a massive Billboard chart hit. Even though the series ran for only three seasons (1981–1983) across 44 episodes, it generated a passionate, enduring cult following that persists through conventions, home video releases, and cultural references. Katt later returned to the franchise conceptually by helping develop a comic book continuation of the series.
Transitioning to Mature Roles and Perry Mason
As television landscape shifts concluded The Greatest American Hero, Katt pivoted smoothly into adult dramatic television and feature films.
In 1985, he stepped into the Perry Mason television film franchise revival on NBC, playing private investigator Paul Drake Jr. across nine telefilms. This project offered a unique family dynamic: Katt worked alongside his mother, Barbara Hale, who reprised her iconic role as Della Street. These movies rated exceptionally well, bridging classic television nostalgia with cozy mystery storytelling.
During the same decade, Katt leaned into genre filmmaking by starring in the horror-comedy hit House (1985) as troubled author Roger Cobb. The film mixed scares with dark humor, proving that Katt could anchor commercial genre pictures outside of network television. He later reprised his role in House IV (1992).
Directing, Voice Work, and Later Career
As the television industry evolved through the 1990s and 2000s, Katt maintained a steady presence as a character actor, voice performer, and director.
He lent his voice to prominent animated series, including Batman: The Animated Series and The Justice League, bridging generational fandoms. His live-action television guest spots included appearances on JAG, House, Numbers, and later procedural dramas. Behind the camera, Katt directed independent features such as The Clean and Narrow (2000) and River's End (2005), exercising creative control over narrative storytelling.
To learn more about his extensive television credits and filmography, check out the William Katt IMDb Profile. For historical context on his foundational series, explore the Television Academy Interviews Archive.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did William Katt really sing the theme song for The Greatest American Hero?
No. While Katt is an accomplished musician who released a soft-rock album titled Secret Smiles during the show's run, the iconic theme song "Believe It or Not" was recorded by singer Joey Scarbury.
Why was Ralph Hinkley's name changed on the show?
During the first season, the character's last name was Hinkley. Following the March 1981 assassination attempt on U.S. President Ronald Reagan by John Hinckley Jr., producers and network executives briefly worried about audience sensitivity and altered the character's pronunciation and spelling to Hanley for a portion of the run before returning closer to the original baseline.
Is William Katt related to Barbara Hale?
Yes. Barbara Hale, famous for playing Della Street in Perry Mason, was his real-life mother. They worked together extensively, most notably in the series of Perry Mason television movies during the late 1980s.
What happened to the superhero suit from his famous show?
The original red suits worn during production experienced significant wear and tear. Surviving pieces have occasionally surfaced at auction houses or pop-culture museums, though authentic, complete original costumes from the early 1980s production remain rare collector pieces.
