And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Hes definitely tough as nails but he had the heart of a poet, she said. William Smith, Action Star Known for His Onscreen Brawls, Dies at 88, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/arts/television/william-smith-dead.html. CHICK VENNERA, 'GOLDEN GIRLS' AND 'ANIMANIACS' ACTOR, DEAD AT 74, Born in Columbia, Missouri, Smith would begin acting at age 8, playing small uncredited roles in 1940s films, including "The Ghost of Frankenstein" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Your email address will not be published. In the 1980s, the 6-foot-2 actor earned roles in Francis Ford Coppolas The Outsiders, (1983) and in Conan the Barbarian (1982), for which he was cast as the father of Conan, who was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. The actor William Smith in 1978. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ The scene was long but choreographed well. "Fight choreography and staging went out the window when Rod decided to really hit me," Smith recalled in an interview with the outlet in 2010. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Both walked away with broken bones. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. R.I.P. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. In excellent shape and healthy living. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. Ms. Smith said in a phone interview on Sunday that besides the tough guy roles that made her husband a star onscreen, he had a compassionate side as well. Smith was infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man.. Cue his Darker than Amber fight with Rod Taylor in memoriam. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. Ten years later, he made movie history again when he squared off against Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles, Smith said about the notorious scene. Here is all you want to know, and more! Smith left Hollywood for a while when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War, during which he served as a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. The TV actor William Smith died at the age of 88. Perhaps most well known for his portrayal of Anthony Falconetti in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, he was also notable for his role as James Kimo Carew in Hawaii Five-O, as well as for his work in The Virginian; The Asphalt Jungle; Laredo; and Zero One. The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 88. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. ", A third fan added: "Godspeed, William Smith. He was 88. pg.acq.push(function() { He was a polyglot, a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, according to his website. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. RIP: Famous actor and athlete William Smith, star of such titles as Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at the age of 88; seen here circa 1975 RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. Anyone can read what you share. hitType: 'event', ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. William Smith, Action Actor and Star of 'Laredo' and 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' Dies at 88 The legendary tough guy appeared in biker movies and blaxpoitation pics and went toe-to-toe with Clint. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." Prince Harry and Meghan are 'ok' about leaving Frogmore Cottage following Buckingham Palace's eviction notice, it has been reported. Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Smith was such a hardworking actor that he had over 280 credits in his career, and his most recent one was as the Hofbrau Bar Fly in the 2020 film "Irresistible" (via IMDb). In 1970, he portrayed a sadistic bodybuilder inDarker Than Amber, and performed what is considered to be one of the most realistic on-screen fights, with Taylor famously breaking three of his ribs and getting his nose busted. and Company with Ann-Margret, Joe Namath, Jennifer Billingsley and genre favorite, Sid Haig, the latter of which was directed by Seymour Robbie and written by Ann-Margret's husband, actor Roger Smith. So insanely violent for its time. It was the final season. }); & Company, Chrome and Hot Leather, Gentle Savage andEye of the Tiger., He played Texas Ranger Joe Riley in TVs Laredo from 1965 to 1967, and later joined the original cast of Hawaii Five-O for its last season in 1980. In 2009, Mr. Smith published a book of poetry, The Poetic Works of William Smith.. Personal Quotes (2) Sammy [ Sammy Davis Jr.] was really good friends with Peter Brown. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). }); Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? ", Greatest TV villain ever, as a kid in the 70's everyone and their aunt hated the character of Falconetti that he brought to life in 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Having both CIA and NSA clearance, Smith made up his mind to enter a classified position with the US government, but while he was working on his doctorate studies he took on an acting contract with MGM. The actor took his last breath at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills on Monday, July 5, according to his wife Joanne Cervelli Smith. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. } [1] Smith later reported that Taylor was "a very tough guy" who broke three of his ribs while he broke Taylor's nose.[7]. The cause of death is unknown. "And so the fight was on. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. Smith is survived by his wife, son, William E. Smith III, and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. He was 88. pic.twitter.com/rFPAKrQm1q, Just found out that one of my favorite, super talented character actors from my childhood passed away on Monday.William Smith was in films like The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, and Any Which Way You Can. Smith starred in one episode each of the Adam West Batman TV series (in the episode "Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires" as Adonis, one of the minions of the title guest villainess portrayed by Zsa Zsa Gabor), I Dream of Jeannie (in the episode "Operation: First Couple on the Moon" as Turk Parker), Kung Fu, and as The Treybor, a ruthless warlord, in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Buck's Duel to the Death". Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. In 1972, he appeared in a Columbo episode "The Greenhouse Jungle" as Ken Nichols, a handsome swindler who may be a person of interest in Columbo's murder investigation. Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. The movie actor William Hopper died at the age of 55. MovieWeb even states that Smith appeared in almost every TV series of the 1970s and 1980s, like"The Dukes of Hazzard" and "The A Team.". In addition to his Hollywood legacy, the Missouri native was also a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and a published poet. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Although often typecast as an anti-social personality, he sporadically got other kinds of roles as a law enforcement officer or an anti-heroic protagonist. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporter. eventAction: 'render' He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. "He was William (Big Bill) Smith, who played a lot of motorcycle gang leaders in films of the late 1960s and still looks as fearsome as ever. We are one of the worlds fastest growing The Hollywood star William Smith who starred in TV shows including Hawaii Five-O and Rich Man, Poor Man and films including Any Which Way You Can and Conan The Barbarian has died aged 88. He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. Not only was Smith an action star, but he was known as atough guy and appeared in two of the biggest brawls in movie history. She declined to give the cause of death. [1] His family later moved to Southern California, where he began his acting career at the age of eight in 1942; entering films as a child actor in such films as The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Song of Bernadette and Meet Me in St. Louis. Smith, whose acting career peaked in the late 1950s, died at his home here on Jan. 25 of what was probably a combination of cirrhosis and heart problems . }); Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. (Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images), "It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles," Smith said in an interview for the 2014 book "Tales From the Cult Film Trenches.". window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the actor's death to . LOS ANGELES (AP) _ John Smith, who changed his name from Robert Earl Van Orden as a joke, then gained starring roles in the TV westerns ``Laramie and ``Cimarron City, has died at age 63. Smith also made guest appearances opposite James Garner in the 1974 two-hour pilot for The Rockford Files (titled "Backlash of the Hunter" and also featuring Lindsay Wagner and Bill Mumy), and George Peppard in The A-Team (in two appearances as different characters, in the first season's "Pros and Cons" and the fourth season's "The A-Team Is Coming, The A-Team Is Coming"). Smith is also known for films like Any Which Way You Can (1980), Conan The Barbarian (1982), Rumble Fish (1983), and Red Dawn (1984), as well as lead roles in several exploitation films during the 1990s.[2]. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. He served in the Korean War and acted in bit parts in television shows throughout the 1950s before landing a regular role as a police sergeant in the 1961 ABC series "The Asphalt Jungle. Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. William Smith. He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. eventAction: 'click_adunit' },false) In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies at 88. . Good actor ! Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. He was 88. A cause of death was not revealed. William Smith, the action star who tussled with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, made a lasting impression as the evil Falconetti on TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and was a regular on . His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. Smith joined the cast of the final season of Hawaii Five-O as Detective James "Kimo" Carew, a new officer in the Five-O unit. Hollywood actor William Smith, who has played the roles of bikers, brawlers, cowboys and tough guys in films and television shows like 'Laredo', 'Rich Man, Poor Man' and 'Any Which Way You Can' has died at the age of 88. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); His other movie appearances include Darker Than Amber (1970), The Frisco Kid (1979), The Outsiders (1983), and Red Dawn (1984) in a career with more than 300 acting credits. Rest in Peace, William Smith. View. News editor, Legacy.com. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. Rest in Prominence & Peace, Big Bill. Home. Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. Legal Statement. She declined to give the cause of death. eventAction: 'view' The roles he is most known for are Anthony Falconetti in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man,and he appeared in the original Hawaii Five-O television series from 1979-1980 as Detective James Kimo Carew. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Mr. Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, amassing nearly . He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. Falconetti and William Smith. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. A fan tweeted: "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. Smith was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness and inducted into the Muscle Beach Venice Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2010. }) ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. The actress, 36, strutted out in a sheer bra which showcased plenty of cleavage and her toned abs. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ pg.acq.push(function() { Market data provided by Factset. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. In excellent shape and healthy living. Tremendous screen presence. },false) In the fist fight scene that ends the film, Rod Taylor hit Smith (who was playing the villain) who retaliated in kind,[6] and a staged-fight scene became a real fight as the cameras continued to roll. His marriage to Michele Smith produced one child before ending in divorce; he later married Joanne Cervelli. So insanely violent for its time. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. In a Hollywood career spanning more than 79 years, he appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions in a wide variety of character roles, accumulating over 980 total credits,[2] with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. PerDeadline, Smith began his path to stardom as an extra in 1942's "The Ghost of Frankenstein," and although Smith didn't receive credit for the small role, he got more opportunities, acting in "The Song of Bernadette" and "Meet Me in St. Louis," shortly after, perIMDb. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. ga('ads.send', { William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. Smith appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber in 1970. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. The Associated Press contributed to this report. He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri. However, news of his death has saddened the industry which is already mourning the loss of a lot of great actors recently. He has 274 credited acting roles on the IMDB database spanning almost 80 years and 30 credits for stunt work during a period of 33 years. Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. 5 William Smith has died Credit: CBS 5 William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can Credit: Alamy William Smith, an action star from classic movies like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died Monday. The fight scenes with Nick and I were good ones. from a 2010 interview for BZ Film, Sad news coming through that the great William Smith has passed away aged 88. An experience, though, that would forever shape Smith's legacy would be when he stepped into the role of a merciless bodybuilder in 1970's "Darker Than Amber," where he went head to head in the ring with Rod Taylor. } In fact, his career spanned over several decades with his first official TV credit in the 1950s, according to IMDb. You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. }); After that, he played a vindictive sergeant in Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977) with an all-star cast headed by Burt Lancaster and Richard Widmark, a drag-racing legend in Fast Company (1979) also co-starring Claudia Jennings and John Saxon, the main character's father in Conan the Barbarian (1982) with Arnold Schwarzenegger, bad guy Matt Diggs in The Frisco Kid (1979) opposite Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford, and Clint Eastwood's bare-knuckle opponent Jack Wilson in 1980's Any Which Way You Can (a sequel to 1978's Every Which Way But Loose in which Smith did not appear), and also had a top villainous role of the Soviet commander in the hit 1984 theatrical film Red Dawn. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Legal Statement. One of the great ones. #RIP #WilliamSmith. William Smith is just that. The Conan the Barbarian actor played the title characters father and played his scenes opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. ga('ads.send', { Later, he joined the cast of "Hawaii Five-O" in its final season as Detective James "Kimo" Carew. One of those great men you thought would live forever. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. The actor took his last breath at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills on Monday, July 5, according to his wife Joanne Cervelli Smith. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the actor died Monday, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. A. Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. He was 88. He played Detective Jim Kimo Carew on the final season of Hawaii Five-O and made appearances on other TV shows including Batman, Dukes of Hazzard, and The A-Team. Smith was best known for his portrayal of Falconetti in the groundbreaking 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. The actor also fought in two of the most memorable brawls in cinematic history, going up against Clint Eastwood in 1980s Any Which Way You Can and Rod Taylor in 1970s Darker Than Amber.. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man," and "Hawaii Five-O." With his chiseled . }) window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { He was 31-1 in amateur boxing bouts and was also an accomplished arm wrestler, winning multiple championships in the 200-pound weight class. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). William Smith, Action Actor and Star of 'Laredo' and 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' Dies at 88 The legendary tough guy appeared in biker movies and blaxpoitation pics and went toe-to-toe with Clint. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. His family later moved to Southern California, and Mr. Smith immediately began to seek work in films, finding jobs as a child performer and later as a studio extra. He was 88. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) William Smith. In a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. or redistributed. Smith also fought legendary actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood in "Any Which Way You Can," which was "the longest two-man fights ever done on film" without the use of stunt doubles. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. The actor also played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final 1979 season of Hawaii Five-O. He was also famous as televisions last tobacco-advertising Marlboro Man. He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star of "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man" died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles. One of those great men you thought would live forever. How did William Smith die? Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. Born in Columbia, Missouri on March 24, 1933, Smith debuted as a child actor in 1942 in films like 'The Ghost of Frankenstein', 'The Song of Bernadette' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis' at the age of 8. A legend. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. ", A fourth commentator added: "REMEMBER HIM WELLalways thought he should be a leading man with his looksbut seemed always the slightly sleazy tough guyRIP William Smith". He also played Anthony Falconetti, the menacing nemesis of the central family in the 1976 ABC miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man," and returned for its sequel. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. McFarland, pg. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. He played Natalie Wood's character's father in Rebel Without a Cause. Bill could ride almost before he could walk, and his love of horses and the western lifestyle would be an important part of what he would bring to the screen in many of the roles he played throughout his career. },false) Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. [1] Other 1970s TV appearances included the Kolchak: The Night Stalker episode "The Energy Eater", as an Indian medicine man who advises Kolchak, and an early Six Million Dollar Man episode "Survival of the Fittest" as Commander Maxwell. While under contract with MGM, Willaim accepted roles in western and biker-themed flicks and TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. All in a days work.". eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR.