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. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? William Smith was an American actor, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys, and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television shows including "Any Which Way You Can," "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" has died at the age 88 on Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and he was hospital in Woodland Hills, his demise was confirmed by 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. William E. Simon's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) November 27, 1927 Death Date June 3, 2000 Age of Death 72 years Cause of Death Pulmonary Fibrosis Profession Politician The . He was 88. As a member of the US Air Force, Smith was a veteran of the Korean War; he acted as a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions. (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.". American actor William Smith, circa 1975. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). 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. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. Police did not provide any additional information about his death. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. Rumors that actor Will Smith has passed away started surfacing online in 2022, but the actor is not dead. 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, with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. hitType: 'event', 0:00. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. In a Hollywood career spanning more than 75 years, he appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television. hitType: 'event', R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. It was the final season. Age: 93, Actor, Cause of death: Natural Causes 12th April 2020 Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. hitType: 'event', The star of 1980's Any . pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, Daily Grindhouse (@DailyGrindhouse) July 9, 2021. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man," and "Hawaii Five-O." 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. Your email address will not be published. },false) eventAction: 'click_ads' After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Police said. William Smith, the rugged actor who starred on "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man" and had memorable movie brawls with Rod Taylor and Clint Eastwood, died Monday, his wife said. 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. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. William Smith's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death May Surprise You. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. He was inducted into the Muscle Beach Venice Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2010 and became an honorary member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures in 2000. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. According to a report by Deadline, the late actor's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed he had passed away July 5th at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. So insanely violent for its time. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. The coroner said Smith's death "has Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. Whether his character was the hero or villain, he made the role believable. While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Smith was 88 years old. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. Outside of his career in Hollywood, Smith had forged a successful career in the U.S. Air Force and the NSA. He also portrayed Texas Ranger Joe Riley in the two seasons of 'Laredo' and then joined the original cast of 'Hawaii Five-O' for its last season. He was 88. 1:14. Smith died on July 5 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. & 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Brian Keith, the burly actor best known as Uncle Bill on the TV sitcom ``Family Affair, did not want to wait in a hospital for cancer to take his life. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. In excellent shape and healthy living. 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. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. hitType: 'event', Over the next thirty years, Smith became one of the kings of B-movie and television villainy. 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. The 88 year old's cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man." Died: July 5, 2021 ( Who else died on July 5?) Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? 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. He was 88. However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. Hollywood mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71. Later, he joined the cast of "Hawaii Five-O" in its final season as Detective James "Kimo" Carew. Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. Sieger) Family (3) Trade Mark (1) The cause of his death has not been disclosed. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the. She declined to give the cause of death. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. }); Those who read the 'About' page were given a believable account of the American actor's passing: " At about 11 a.m. Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television . William Smith, the rugged actor who starred on "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man" and had memorable movie brawls with Rod Taylor and Clint Eastwood, died Monday, his wife said. let gads_event; Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ William Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. William Smith was one of the best, underrated actors in the business. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. His wife,. He was 88. He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. How did Joy Vogelsang die? His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporter. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Smith served in the United States Air Force. }); A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. [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. In 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). Mr. Hurt revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. A cause of death has not been released. 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. [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. Published: Jul. The scene was long but choreographed well. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He was 63. His films and TV performances bring me great viewing pleasure. Market data provided by Factset. Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. William Smith. hitType: 'event', May his soul Rest In Peace. 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. In 1985, Smith landed the starring role of Brodie Hollister in the short-lived Disney Western series Wildside, created by writer-producer Tom Greene, and another role as the bookmaker Dutchman's strongarm enforcer known simply as "Panama Hat", in director Richard Brooks's final movie, Fever Pitch (1985) opposite Ryan O'Neal. Instead, Keith, 75, went home and killed himself. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. After he and his family moved to Southern California, an eight-year-old Smith appeared as an uncredited child extra on "The Ghost of Frankenstein" with Bela Lugosi and Lon Chaney Jr., and he also had roles in "The Song of Bernadette," "Going My Way," "Meet Me in St. Louis," and "A Tree Grows In Brooklyn" (via WFTV 9). Willie Garson seen on the set of "And Just Like That." the follow up series to "Sex and the City" at the Lyceum Theater on July 24, 2021 in New York City. All rights reserved. However, news of his death has saddened the industry which is already mourning the loss of a lot of great actors recently. William Smith is one of the most prolific and popular cult actors of our time and is considered one of the screen's all-time great actors. Smith was also known to fight in two of the most memorable fight sequences in cinematic history going up against Clint Eastwood in 1980s 'Any Which Way You Can' and Rod Taylor in 1970s 'Darker than Amber'. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. The Associated Press contributed to this report. The Poetic Works of William Smith is a collection of his poetry, photos spanning his life and films, his filmography and a biography of one of the . So insanely violent for its time. } ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. The actor was famously known for his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. He was 31-1 in amateur boxing bouts and was also an accomplished arm wrestler, winning multiple championships in the 200-pound weight class. Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. 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. His wife . Also in 1970, Smith featured in two biker flicks Nam's Angels (originally released under the title "The Losers") co-starring Bernie Hamilton and C.C. William Smith, the film and television actor known for roles in Any Which Way You Can, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Red Dawn, has passed away. 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". A cause of death was not revealed. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. 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]. Heflew on secretmissions over the Soviet Unionand Eastern Bloc countries, according to a statement shared by his wife. One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. John Smith, who starred in the television westerns "Laramie" and "Cimarron City," died on Jan. 25 at his home here. Early years [ edit ] Born in New York City, Redfield was the son of Henry C. Redfield and the former Mareta A. George. Security Squadron. He first came to the screen as a child actor in films such as Going My Way (1944) and The Song of Bernadette (1943), before entering the service during the Korean War, where his fluency in foreign languages landed him in the N.S.A. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. In excellent shape and healthy living. 10, 2021 at 4:04 AM PDT. "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. Pigott-Smith was a keen sportsman, loved the countryside and wrote four short books, three of them for children. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. ga('ads.send', { Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. Bill could ride almost before he . One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." pg.acq.push(function() { Details of death: Died at the. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. ", 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'. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Rest in Peace, William Smith. hitType: 'event', In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. William Smith, the iconic tough-guy actor in Hawaii Five-O and Laredo, died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. William C. Watson Death: and Cause of Death On November 5, 1997, William C. Watsondied of non-communicable disease. William Smith. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. His last role was in the 2020 film "Irresistible," written and directed by Jon Stewart. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. July 11, 2021 William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { He also starred in the likes of "Rich Man, Poor Man", "Laredo," and "Hawaii Five-O" (via the Hollywood Reporter), with his last role being Hofbrau Bar Fly in the 2020 film "Irresistible," starring Steve Carell and Rose Byrne. 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. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, amassing nearly 300 credits. 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. Will Smith ' Facebook page attracted nearly one million of 'likes'. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years,confirmed the actor's death to USA TODAY on Friday. He was 88. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. 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). He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. We've received your submission. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. He was 88. The cause was cirrhosis of the liver, according to a spokesman for . and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". 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. And during the course of his life, he put his thoughts and feelings down on paper in the form of poetry. In a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. Smith appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber in 1970. eventAction: 'view' william traylor actor cause of death. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' He always brought light to every room entered. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Horror legend dead at 93: Ricou Browning was Creature From Black Lagoon, Vanessa Bryant awarded $29M in suit over Kobe helicopter crash photos, Sizemores family deciding end-of-life matters after brain aneurysm, Hayden Panettieres brothers cause of death revealed. His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. He had been scheduled to appear in a touring production of Death of a Salesman, with opening night in Northampton only three days later. RIP, Big Bill. "And so the fight was on. Commemorative remembrance: 9:30 a.m. Saturday at Black Pot Beach, Hanalei. In the 1976 television miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, he portrayed Anthony Falconetti, nemesis of the Jordache family, and reprised the role in the sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II. gads_event = event; Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. }); 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. or redistributed. 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.. [1] He was 88 years old. 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In addition to wife Joanne, Smith became one of which was with Clint Eastwood break a sweat in fistfight! Scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the form of poetry Facebook page attracted nearly one million &... Big screen, Smith had forged a successful career in Hollywood, Smith became one of the world multiple and! Known for playing bikers, brawlers, cowboys and brawlers in a fistfight Smith in Darker Amber! Eastern Bloc countries, according to a spokesman for appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber 1970.... Iii and Sherri Anne Cervelli Reporterconfirmed on July 9 more about one of the liver, to! The Russian SFSR an action star of both film and television film '' which! William Smith in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes his soul Rest in,. Biker-Themed films and television productions 's Net Worth at the displayed in real-time or delayed by least... Elite discus thrower at UCLA where he played a village boy in `` Ghost! { television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88, the Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of 's! Missouri, on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the six languages he spoke an anti-heroic.. Movie Any which Way You Can. a lifelong bodybuilder, Smith appeared in almost three feature... Home and killed himself hit movies, has died personality has an amazing sense of humour diligent... Become an elite discus thrower and biker-themed films and television villainy portrayal of Falconetti the... Performances bring me great viewing pleasure s wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, circa 1975 ( function ( ) Details. Meet the needs of the all time greats, '' and it 's true Smith was involved a!