The Conan the Barbarian actor played the title characters father and played his scenes opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. 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. Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. He was 88. 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. McFarland, pg. While Mr. Smith was best known for his roles in action movies like Any Which Way You Can (1980), and television shows including Laredo, Rich Man, Poor Man and Hawaii Five-O, the real action came from his offscreen life. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. All rights reserved. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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 & 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 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. Thanks for contacting us. News editor, Legacy.com. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television shows including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Any Which Way You Can," has died at 88. . Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, to William Emmett Smith and Emily Richards Smith, and grew up on the cattle ranch owned by his parents. }); The actor was famously known for his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Here is all you want to know, and more! Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? 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. However, his most memorable role on TV was when he played Anthony Falconetti in 1976's "Rich Man, Poor Man," where he played a villain. One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. William Smith is just that. She did not reveal the cause of his death. 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. The Duke and Duchess are not as 'stunned' about the . 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's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. In its obituary for William Smith,Deadline revealed that the "Hawaii Five-O" actor first wanted to pursue a career in government, but ended up acting after MGM gave him a contract. 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. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. 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. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets!R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories pic.twitter.com/YjOkgnHUUa. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? "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. William Smith's net worth is estimated at $7 million. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo,". 226, Last edited on 28 February 2023, at 01:32, Learn how and when to remove this template message, Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital, "William Smith, Action Star Known for His Onscreen Brawls, Dies at 88", "William Smith | Brilliant Classroom Characters: The Top 10 Wicked Smart Actors", "William Smith: My fight with Clint Eastwood was longest two-man fight scene on screen", "William Smith, Action Actor and Star of 'Laredo' and 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' Dies at 88", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=William_Smith_(actor)&oldid=1142010105, This page was last edited on 28 February 2023, at 01:32. The movie actor William Hopper died at the age of 55. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Those uncredited roles early in his career served as motivation for him to make it big, but Smith also did not give up on his schooling. A legend. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". 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. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { ga('ads.send', { 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.. or redistributed. R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. Scarlett Johansson 'quickly killed' Black Widow's sexy blo Canadian teacher with size-Z prosthetic breasts placed on paid leave, What's next for Buster Murdaugh after dad's murder conviction, life sentence, Murdaugh son collapsed outside court after sitting stone-faced through dad's 6-week murder trial: source, Tom Sandoval breaks silence on Ariana Madix split amid cheating claims, Kelly Osbourne posts first photo of baby son as he hangs out with uncle Jack, Greys Anatomy alum Isaiah Washington retiring from acting: The haters have won, Chris Rock Jokes About Watching Emancipation to See Will Smith Getting Whipped In Advance of Netflix Special: Report, Kellyanne Conway and George Conway to divorce. 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. 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. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri. Smith was a working actor for over 70 . In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. hitType: 'event', Fans React To Chick-Fil-A Being Voted America's Favorite Restaurant, Spectrum Removes NFL Network From TV Packages For Authorized Incorrectly, Maria Andrejczyk Auctions Tokyo Olympic Medal For Charity, Bill Cosby To Invoke Fifth Amendment In Civil Case, Pat Hitchcock: Alfred Hitchcock's Daughter Dies (3 Things To Know), Alex Cord: Airwolf Star Dies At 88 (3 Things To Know), Markie Post: Night Court Actress Dies At 70 (3 Things To Know), Albert Dyrlund: Danish YouTuber Dies At 22 (Story), Chick Vennera: Veteran Actor Dies At 74 (3 Things To Know), Caitlyn Loane: TikTok Star Dies At 19 (Full Story), Matima Miller: TikTok Star Dies At 19 (Full Story), Stuart Damon: Soap Opera Actor Dies At 84 (3 Things To Know), Clarence Williams III: Actor Dies At 81 (3 Things To Know), Kentaro Miura: 'Berzerk' Manga Creator Dies At 54, Paul Mooney: Actor And Comedian Dies At 79 (3 Things To Know), Charles Grodin: Beloved Actor Dies At 86 (3 Things To Know), Norman Lloyd: Actor Dies At 106 (3 Things To Know), Lloyd Price: Music Pioneer Dead At 88 (3 Things To Know), Sunday Burquest: 'Survivor' Star Dies At 50 (3 Things To Know), Nikki Grahame Of Big Brother UK Dies At 38 (3 Things To Know), Andy Haman: Bodybuilder Dies At 54 (3 Things To Know), Yaphet Kotto: James Bond Villain Actor Dies At 81. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The other was one of the most "realistic brawl scenes of all time," per theDaily Mail, when Smith squared off against Rod Taylor in the film "Darker Than Amber.". First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." Anyone can read what you share. eventAction: 'render' About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. eventAction: 'click_ads' The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. No cause of death was immediately made public. Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. Spoke fluent French, Italian, and Russian. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. He was 88. The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith. }); In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. ga('ads.send', { His trademark arms measured as much as .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}19+12 inches. He had 18-inch biceps and could do 5,100 continuous sit-ups and reverse-curl 163 pounds all of which helped solidify the 6-foot-2-inch man as one of Hollywoods legendary tough guys, along with the list of his 289 credits on Internet Movie Database (IMDb.com). eventAction: 'load' Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television shows including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Any Which. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Now that was a good fight, Mr. Smith recalled in a 2010 interview with BZ Film. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. It was the final season. hitType: 'event', Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Country House and Hospital. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ William Smith (19332021), actor known for Laredo, Rich Man, Poor Man. A fan tweeted: "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. May his soul Rest In Peace. He was 88. }); In excellent shape and healthy living. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Actor William Smith, who played cowboys, brawlers and no-nonsense tough guys in nearly 300 films and television shows, has died at 88 . 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. Actor William Smith known for his many film and television roles since breaking into acting as a child star in the 1940s died on July 5, 2021. Wayne LaFarr/YouTube. He was 88. He also appeared in the 1979 miniseries The Rebels as John Waverly, in an episode of The Dukes of Hazzard as Jason Steele, a bounty hunter hired by Sheriff Rosco P. Coltrane to frame the Duke Boys into jail, and in an episode of Knight Rider as Harold Turner, the manipulative leader of a hellish biker gang whom David Hasselhoff's character Michael Knight has to outsmart. A cause of death was not revealed. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. William Smith. 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). One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. William Smith, an action star from classic movies like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died Monday. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He was 88. According to Famous Net Worth, William Smith was worth $7 million when he died. Your email address will not be published. Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. William was born on his mother's 38th birthday. 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.
