William Katt Net Worth, Relationships, Age/Birthdate & Birthday

William Katt is an American actor and musician best known for his starring role in The Greatest American Hero, whose decades-long career and Hollywood lineage have shaped a modest—but enduring—legacy.

Introduction

William Katt (born February 16, 1951) is a veteran American actor and musician whose work spans film, television and voice acting. Known for his iconic turn as Ralph Hinkley in the television series The Greatest American Hero, Katt has maintained a steady presence in Hollywood across decades. His estimated net worth stands at around US$500,000.  In his personal life, Katt has been married twice and remains married to his current spouse. This profile explores his background, career journey, relationships, earnings, and the legacy he continues to build.

Quick Facts

A Hollywood Legacy and Early Calling: From Silver Screen Roots to Stardom

William Theodore Katt was born on February 16, 1951, in Los Angeles, California, into a family already deeply rooted in Hollywood. His parents — actor Bill Williams (born Herman August Wilhelm Katt) and actress Barbara Hale — offered him a childhood steeped in the rhythms of film sets and the expectations of a show-business legacy.  Growing up in the San Fernando Valley alongside siblings, Katt was exposed early on to the craft of acting.

Though initially he enrolled at Orange Coast College with aspirations toward a career in music, the pull of acting proved stronger. He gravitated toward summer-stock theater and small television roles in the early 1970s — a choice that would soon lead him to bigger opportunities. 

Defining moments in William Katt’s journey include:

• His breakout film role as prom-date Tommy Ross in the original adaptation of Carrie (1976), which brought him widespread notice. 

• Portraying the surfer Jack Barlow in Big Wednesday (1978), a role that resonated deeply with the surfing community and marked his versatility beyond horror and drama. 

• Auditioning for the role of Luke Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope — a near-miss that nonetheless underscored his standing as a rising talent. 

• Landing the title role in The Greatest American Hero (1981–1983), a television series that cemented his status in pop-culture history. 

Through these milestones, Katt transitioned from the child of established actors to a recognizable name carrying his own weight in Hollywood.

The Core Pillars of William Katt’s Wealth

The core pillars of William Katt’s wealth include:

• Film and Television Acting

• Voice Acting and Guest Appearances

• Music Work and Early Career Aspirations

His long career — with featured roles in major films, recurring television characters, and voice-acting work — forms the backbone of his earnings. Notably, his lead role in The Greatest American Hero and his roles in Carrie, Big Wednesday, and several other films and TV-movies represent the bulk of his mainstream income. 

Despite a broad filmography, most public-domain estimators place his net worth at a modest figure (about US$500,000), reflecting both the volatility of acting careers and likely a period of lesser mainstream prominence. 

William Katt Relationships & Personal Life

Katt’s personal life reflects both the legacy of Hollywood family ties and a relatively private approach to romance and family.

• He first married Deborah Kahane in 1979. The marriage produced two sons: Clayton Alexander Katt and Emerson Hunter Katt. The couple divorced in the early 1990s.

• In 1993, Katt married Danielle Hirsch, with whom he has had a daughter, Dakota. He is also the stepfather to Danielle’s son, Andrew. 

Key insights into William Katt’s relationships and personal life:

• Comes from a Hollywood acting family — both parents successful actors — which likely shaped his career path and opportunities.

• Experienced both marriage and divorce before finding long-term partnership with Danielle Hirsch. 

• Father and stepfather to a family of children, but has kept his private life relatively out of tabloid spotlight compared to many in his industry.

Lifestyle, Assets & Interests

Beyond career success, William Katt leads a lifestyle reflective of a seasoned actor who values longevity, variety, and purposeful choices:

• He has maintained a long-term career in the entertainment industry, transitioning across film, television, and voice acting, displaying adaptability. 

• Katt once pursued music — even releasing a soft-rock album under the name “Billy Katt” — showcasing a broader artistic interest beyond acting. 

• His choice to participate in both mainstream and genre films (horror, drama, surf-culture, etc.) suggests a willingness to diversify rather than chasing only blockbuster fame. 

Public documentation of lavish assets — such as mansions, exotic cars, or major investments — is scarce. Instead, the modest net worth estimate and lack of tabloid coverage suggest a more low-key, perhaps financially cautious, lifestyle, rather than a flash-rich celebrity existence.

Net Worth Breakdown & Analysis

This breakdown reveals that while Katt’s career has spanned decades, his financial returns remained modest compared with many modern Hollywood stars. The relatively low net worth estimate likely reflects the ebb and flow of acting roles, changing prominence over time, and perhaps prudent financial choices rather than high-risk lifestyle spending.

Public Image, Legacy & Influence

William Katt enjoys a legacy that is quietly respected among fans of classic film and television. His portrayal of Ralph Hinkley in The Greatest American Hero has secured a lasting place in pop-culture memory — the show retains a cult following decades after its original run. 

Among surfers and fans of surf-culture cinema, his performance in Big Wednesday earned him a unique niche, to the extent that he once appeared at a major surfing-community award event in 2004. 

Though not a headline-grabbing celebrity in tabloids, Katt’s enduring career — with transitions from horror films to TV series to voice roles — demonstrates a versatility and resilience that many in his field admire. His willingness to choose roles based on personal interest rather than fame echoes a professional integrity that underscores his public image. 

In the broader tapestry of Hollywood history, Katt represents a bridge between classic film lineage and modern diversified entertainment — a legacy actor rather than a flashy star, but one whose work continues to resonate.

Conclusion

William Katt’s journey — from a Hollywood family upbringing to a varied career across film, television, and music — paints a portrait of an artist committed to craft over glamour. Born on February 16, 1951, his birthdate and birthday anchor a life rooted in legacy and versatility. With an estimated net worth of around US$500,000, Katt remains a figure whose value lies less in financial landmarks and more in an enduring presence, diverse body of work, and understated professionalism. His relationships, including his longstanding marriage to Danielle Hirsch, reflect a stable personal life that mirrored his steady, unflashy career — a testament to longevity, integrity, and quiet influence in the entertainment world.