Throughout his life, he was interested in bodybuilding and boxing. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Legal Statement. He was 88. 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 villains. Market data provided by Factset. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. . 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. In excellent shape and healthy living. Cue his Darker than Amber fight with Rod Taylor in memoriam. William Smith (19332021), actor known for Laredo, Rich Man, Poor Man. Falconetti and William Smith. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. William was born on his mother's 38th birthday. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. "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. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. In 2009, Mr. Smith published a book of poetry, The Poetic Works of William Smith.. Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. 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. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. Mr. Smith, who was born on March 24, 1933, grew up on a cattle ranch in Missouri owned by his parents, William Emmett Smith and Emily Richards Smith. Here is all you want to know, and more! Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). She declined to give the cause of death. 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]. On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. He was 88. So insanely violent for its time. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. Although it was reported that Smith retired from film in 2014 with his last screen appearance, he did make a cameo appearance in the Steve Carell comedy, Irresistible (2020). 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. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. }); William Smith, an action star from classic movies like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died Monday. ga('ads.send', { window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { gads_event = event; Rest in Prominence & Peace, Big Bill. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. eventAction: 'view' ga('ads.send', { Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. 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. McFarland, pg. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. How did William Smith die? Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). Loved his performances as Joe Riley in the TV series #Laredo ('65-'67), & in particular in the season 2 episode, 'The Bitter Yen of General Ti,' with Irene Tsu." 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). 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. His career spans 60 years of acting in some of the most popular films and television shows of all time. 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.". 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. Smith was a working actor for over 70 . 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. How did Joy Vogelsang die? RIP, Big Bill. Before he was known as a bodybuilder and tough guy, Smith was a child actor in Hollywood. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. In 1964, he appeared in the episode "The Rope of Lies" as Bill, a ranch hand from the Shiloh Ranch in the syndicated television series The Virginian. He did many of his own stunts. #RIP #WilliamSmith. He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. 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. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. William Smith is just that. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. He was 88. 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.". After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. 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. For movie fans, Smith is best remembered for his 70's biker movies, and TV-series. 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. Inside Josh Duggar's lonely 35th birthday in prison solitary confinement, Honey Boo Boo, 17, & boyfriend, 21, found with gun & drugs in car in arrest, Today's Hoda Kotb looks solemn on stroll with daughter amid show absence, Jill Duggar reveals she's 'so proud' of husband's major career change in new pic, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can, William 'played a lot of motorcycle gang leaders in films', William posed with the rest of the Hawaii Five-O cast for a photo. Your email address will not be published. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. 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. She did not specify the cause. According to Famous Net Worth, William Smith was worth $7 million when he died. 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. 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. William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. RIP, Big Bill. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. hitType: 'event', To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. 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. ", "To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. (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.". Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. } William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In addition to his wife of 31 years, he is survived by a son, William E. Smith III, and a daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. 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. }); 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. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. 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. hitType: 'event', He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). The Duke and Duchess are not as 'stunned' about the . Tremendous screen presence. All rights reserved. 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. In excellent shape and healthy living. 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. But he is so much more than just an actor. One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." Had one son (William Emmett Smith III) with first wife, Michele Smith, and one daughter (Sherri Anne Cervelli DOB: April 24, 1980) with his second wife, Joanne Cervelli. Market data provided by Factset. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. May his soul Rest In Peace. The fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. Smith was 88 years old. Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. Home. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. 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. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Smith served in the United States Air Force. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. Wayne Shorter (19332023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Irma Serrano (19332023), Mexicos La Tigresa singer and Ricou Browning (19302023), Creature from the Black Lagoons Jerry Richardson (19362023), Carolina Panthers founder, Wayne Shorter (19332023), jazz saxophonist who co-founded Weather Report, Irma Serrano (19332023), Mexicos La Tigresa singer and actress, Ricou Browning (19302023), Creature from the Black Lagoons Gill-man, Burny Mattinson (19352023), Disney animator for decades. }); ga('ads.send', { 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. He and Eastwood meet while out jogging one morning, and then he falls off a cliff and is rescued by Eastwood, after which he beats up a lot of guys who insult Eastwoods girlfriend in a bar. William Smith. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). }); William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. 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.. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Here is all you want to know, and more! His marriage to Michele Smith produced one child before ending in divorce; he later married Joanne Cervelli. ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith. At the ranch, he would develop a love and admiration for horses and the classic Western lifestyle, according to his website. ga('ads.send', { Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. She declined to give the cause of death. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ hitType: 'event', pg.acq.push(function() { William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. The TV actor William Smith died at the age of 88. His wife,. [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. Details of death: Died at the. ", 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'. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of ga('ads.send', { Loved his performances as Joe Riley in the TV series #Laredo ('65-'67), & in particular in the season 2 episode, 'The Bitter Yen of General Ti,' with Irene Tsu. The actor William Smith in 1978. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. He was 88. William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man.. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. Jodie Turner-Smith made a head-turning exit from a fancy hotel on Thursday. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. 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. Good actor ! We've received your submission. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. eventAction: 'load' }); }); [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. 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. 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 While under contract with MGM, Willaim accepted roles in western and biker-themed flicks and TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. One fan wrote, "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'. Legal Statement. Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. He was 88. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Prince Harry and Meghan are 'ok' about leaving Frogmore Cottage following Buckingham Palace's eviction notice, it has been reported. A legend. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri. 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 iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. He starred in 1972's Grave of the Vampire as James Eastman (co-starring with Michael Pataki and Lyn Peters), and 1973's Invasion of the Bee Girls (co-starring Victoria Vetri, Anitra Ford and Katie Saylor, written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Denis Sanders), and 1975's The Swinging Barmaids (starring Ms. Saylor, Bruce Watson and Laura Hippe, and directed by Gus Trikonis).