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.Clement, Olivia (February 15, 2017). "'Man from Nebraska' Opens at Second Stage" Playbill. In 2023, Ragsdale appeared as a vampire-hunting priest in the horror comedy Renfield, a nod to his Fright Night role.

Filmography

Film +YearTitleRole1979Screams of a Winter NightService Station Attendant 1985Fright NightCharley BrewsterSmooth TalkJeff1988Fright Night Part 2Charley Brewster1991Mannequin Two: On the MoveJason Williamson / Prince William1998Just a Little Harmless SexBrent2006Big Momma's House 2BobRoad House 2Sands CooperThe Last TimeRogers 2007The ReapingSheriff CadeLA BluesPaul Cooper2008What Just HappenedAgent #12009Wonderful WorldBuford Parks2012ThunderstruckJoe Newall2013Broken CityMr. Davies2014Left BehindChris Smith2018Alex StrangeloveRon Truelove2019When We Dance the Music DiesTom Walton2023Knock at the CabinEric's FatherRenfieldPriest2025Re-ElectionMr. Polly

Television YearTitleRoleNotes1984Santa BarbaraStudentEpisode #1.431989Wally and the ValentinesWally GillisTelevision film1990The Bobby & Larry ShowLarry1991Frankenstein: The College YearsMark Chrisman1991–1994Herman's HeadHerman Brooks72 episodes1994–1997EllenDan4 episodes1995Favorite Deadly SinsTodd FarritTelevision filmNowhere FastZack1996Hope & GloriaDanny Saterfield2 episodesBunk Bed BrothersMatt ArcherTelevision film1997Faster Baby, KillAndrew KincaidEpisode: "Pilot"1998–1999Brother's KeeperPorter Waide23 episodes1999Starship RegularsTychoVoice; 10 episodes2000–2001Grosse PointeRob Fields17 episodes2000–2003Judging AmyCharles Duff5 episodes2003Miss MatchRussell DixonEpisode: "Pilot"2004Curb Your EnthusiasmDr. Anthony ParkerEpisode: "The 5 Wood"Less than PerfectMitch Calgrove4 episodesThe Madam's Family: The Truth About the Canal Street BrothelB. B. BoudreauxTelevision film2005Romy and Michele: In the BeginningKevinTelevision filmThe Bad Girl's GuideMr. DooleyEpisode: "The Guide to Baby Talk"Pizza My HeartTommyTelevision filmCampus ConfidentialPrincipal GlavinTelevision film2006For One NightEarl RandallTelevision filmStill StandingDan GoldmanEpisode: "Still Graduating"2007Crossing JordanBobEpisode: "Shattered"The War at HomeDoctorEpisode: "The Graduate"The GameRickEpisode: "The Big Chill"Desperate HousewivesScott McKinneyEpisode: "What Would We Do Without You?"EntourageFrank GiovanelloEpisode: "The Day Fuckers"2008Without a TraceRobert NewtonEpisode: "Hard Reset"MediumRussell FurlongEpisode: "A Cure for What Ails You"Living ProofMarkTelevision film2009Cold CaseGlenn Drew '67Episode: "The Brush Man"2010The MentalistMurphy TraverEpisode: "Cackle-Bladder Blood"CSI: MiamiKenneth McGuireEpisode: "Manhunt"2010–2012JustifiedGary Hawkins13 episodes2011Bird DogDeputy Russell GitzTelevision film2012CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationDr. Bill RyanEpisode: "Tressed to Kill"Shake It UpAnnouncerEpisode: "Judge It Up"PerceptionDr. Julian CorvisEpisode: "Lovesick"TouchTravis CooperEpisode: "The Road Not Taken"2013Necessary RoughnessDr. Strauss2 episodesNCISBrett CreevyEpisode: "Oil and Water"2014Drop Dead DivaAlan PetersonEpisode: "Desperate Housewife"MistressesDr. Blakeley3 episodesWhite CollarJack ConroyEpisode: "All's Fair"2015Red Band SocietyLeo's FatherEpisode: "The Guilted Age"Criminal MindsCapt. Dale ShaversEpisode: "Lockdown"2016BlindspotRussell FranklinEpisode: "Swift Hardhearted Stone"BrainDeadHank LeaftonEpisode: "Playing Politics: Living Life in the Shadow of the Budget Showdown - A Critique"Search PartyChuck3 episodesElementaryPatrick MooreEpisode: "Pick Your Poison"2017A Very Merry Toy StorePete GriffinTelevision film2018Madam SecretaryPeter GundersonEpisode: "Mitya"The Good FightRodney PebblerEpisode: "Day 464"2019NOS4A2AuctioneerEpisode: "Gunbarrel"InstinctLockhartEpisode: "Finders Keepers"The DeuceHoffmanEpisode: "This Trust Thing"2019–2021YoungerJeffrey Jacobs2 episodes2020Blue BloodsLt. Dean StaffordEpisode: "Vested Interests"Black-ishDr. ChubbEpisode: "Best Supporting Husband"2021The BlacklistCarl ConwayEpisode: "The Fribourg Confidence (No. 140)"2022WeCrashedChrisEpisode: "The Power of We"2023The EqualizerKentEpisode: "Never Again"2025The White LotusBart NixonEpisode: "Same Spirits, New Forms"2026Love in StorytownMayor JeffTelevision filmLaw & OrderJulian JencaEpisode: "Once Burned"

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