​DECEMBER 31ST 1973

William Katt

The Greatest American Hero

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Picture this: A charming jock in Carrie's fiery prom, then a fumbling superhero in a red cape on '80s TV.

 

That's William Katt—born February 16, 1951, in Los Angeles—whose boy-next-door vibe has lit up screens for decades.

 

For collectors at ICCC Katt's memorabilia, from signed posters to rare vinyl, captures pure pop culture gold. Son of Perry Mason's Barbara Hale and actor Bill Williams, Katt was destined for stardom.

 

He broke out as Tommy Ross in Brian De Palma's Carrie (1976), stealing scenes with his disarming smile amid the horror. TV stardom followed as Ralph Hinkley in The Greatest American Hero (1981–83), the everyman hero whose lost manual led to iconic laughs and heart.

 

Katt's versatility shone through in roles like the surfer in Big Wednesday (1978) and the young outlaw in Butch and Sundance: The Early Days (1979). He later reunited with his mom as Paul Drake Jr. in the Perry Mason TV movies, blending family ties with on-screen sleuthing. In the cult sci-fi The Man from Earth (2007), he added depth to a tale of immortality and mystery.

 

With over 100 credits, plus stints directing and voicing characters, Katt's a true multi-hyphenate who's kept evolving since the '70s.

 

Beyond acting, Katt moonlighted as Billy Katt, releasing the soft-rock album Secret Smiles, full of mellow, heartfelt tunes. Off-screen, he's been married to Danielle Hirsch since 1993, after an earlier union with Deborah Kahane, and at 74, he continues creating with quiet grace.

 

At ICCC, dive into Katt swag and panels celebrating his era-spanning legacy.

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