William Ragsdale

William Ragsdale (January 19, 1961) is an American film and television actor best known for playing teen vampire slayer hero Charley Brewster in the horror vampire classic, Fright Night (1985), and as Herman Brooks on Herman's Head from 1991-94.

Life and career

Robert William Ragsdale (he later dropped his forename) was born in El Dorado, Arkansas, and attended Hendrix College, where he appeared in plays opposite future Sling Blade actress, fellow Arkansan Natalie Canerday. He garnered attention as the young hero of Fright Night and Fright Night II and 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. Ragsdale starred in the romance comedy Mannequin Two: On the Move (1991).

Ragsdale has had a sporadic career on prime-time television. He starred for three years on Herman's Head. He had a brief recurring role in Judging Amy. He played a television producer on Grosse Pointe, which lasted one season. He was cast in the pilot for Charmed, but turned down the series to star in the short-lived sitcom Brother's Keeper. He appeared on Ellen as the boyfriend of Ellen Morgan (played by Ellen DeGeneres) before her character came out of the closet. He has had guest roles on television, including a four-episode stint on Less than Perfect, as well as small feature film roles.