He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." Prior to his time in the military and his eventual contract with MGM, Smith did have a substantial amount of experience in Hollywood as a youngster. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. 7 months ago. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. hitType: 'event', Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. William Smith was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). Tribute to William Smith, the American actor who has died aged 88.Watch a compilation of some of William's best bits here:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XW4. So insanely violent for its time. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. #RIP #WilliamSmith JC, Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in, Julia Faustyna: 21-yr-old girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann admits to making 'pornographic videos' in past, Killer mom Lindsay Clancy was suffering from drug withdrawal and had 'worst side effects,' says friend. He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. 1:14. 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. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. One of those great men you thought would live forever. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. [1] 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. Originally intending to work for the U.S. government in a classified position due to his clearance in the CIA and NSA, Smith changed his career trajectory when he landed an acting contract with MGM, which led to roles in George Pal's "Atlantis, The Lost Continent" in 1961 and TV series like "Batman," "Lassie," "Death Valley Days," and "The Mob Squad.". pg.acq.push(function() { It was the final season. This is not the first time that an actor . In the years from 1961 to 2014, Smith established himself as a highly prolific and profoundly talented character actor with roles in a diverse range of genres. 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. William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Big Chill," and "Broadcast News," has died, his son Will told The Hollywood Reporter. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. The Hollywood screen icon had over 270 credits to his name in film and television (via IMDb), including his legendary role as boxer Jack Wilson in "Any Which Way You Can," opposite Clint Eastwood, as well as "Conan the Barbarian" with Arnold Schwarzenegger.He also starred in the likes of "Rich Man, Poor Man . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cherry Festival Carnival Ride Nearly Topples Over (Video). He was 71. 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. }); At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). One of those great men you thought would live forever. On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia. 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.". He always brought light to every room entered. 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. },false) William H Gates, philanthropist and father of Bill Gates, has provided DeathList 2020 with another score. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He was also proprietor of Luana of Hawaii. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. ga('ads.send', { A cause of death was not revealed. 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He was 88. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. He was 71. Your email address will not be published. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Smith was also an accomplished athlete, receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness in 1995. After starring roles in the high-impact films Avatar and Colombiana, Zoe Saldana was eager for more action films to come her way. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. Hollywood mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. Security Squadron 6907.While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ eventAction: 'click_image_ads' THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), }); She declined to give the cause of death. 10, 2021 at 4:04 AM PDT. Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist 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. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. hitType: 'event', 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. 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. Bill could ride almost before he . eventAction: 'click_adunit' John Smith, who starred in the television westerns "Laramie" and "Cimarron City," died on Jan. 25 at his home here. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. },false) Gates Senior was a successful attorney. However, news of his death has saddened the industry which is already mourning the loss of a lot of great actors recently. In a Hollywood career spanning more than 75 years, he appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television. William Hurt, the Oscar-winning US actor whose roles ranged from acclaimed 1980s dramas to Marvel films, has died at the age of 71, US media say. 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. He was 63. 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. #RIP #WilliamSmith. }); if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. 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. William Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. ", 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'. hitType: 'event', He was 88. Details of death: Died at the. Smith was 88 years old. You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. Whether his character was the hero or villain, he made the role believable. He had been scheduled to appear in a touring production of Death of a Salesman, with opening night in Northampton only three days later. 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. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. Legal Statement. 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. There was a problem getting your location. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), William Smith. },false) The cause of death is unknown. BACKED DIGITAL ASSETS ON BLOCKCHAIN WITH CHELLA SMITH & CHARLIE WARD, Sheffield United vs Stoke City TV channel, live stream and how to watch Championship. }); 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. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. 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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). }) Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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. 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 Early years [ edit ] Born in New York City, Redfield was the son of Henry C. Redfield and the former Mareta A. George. [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. 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. We've received your submission. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." 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. 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 R.I.P. 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. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. William Smith. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. Pigott-Smith was a keen sportsman, loved the countryside and wrote four short books, three of them for children. Rest in Peace, William Smith. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. }); A Washington . Tom Smith 49: Rugby Player: 45 1: Terry Jones 78: Monty Python: 46 1 . He was 31-1 in amateur boxing bouts and was also an accomplished arm wrestler, winning multiple championships in the 200-pound weight class. In 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. Entries for each day are listed alphabetically by surname. Heis survived by his wife, hissonWilliam E. Smith III and his daughterSherri Anne Cervelli. More recently, Smith appeared as a regular on thelast season of the original Hawaii Five-0 from1979 to 1980 and in the Western series Wildside in 1985. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. The actor was famously known for his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. The coroner said Smith's death "has [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. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. Eventcategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId ( ), Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in.. Zoe Saldana was eager for more action films to come her way left tinsel town for a bit he... Enlisted in the 1982 film Conan hit movies, has provided DeathList 2020 with score! 'Greatest TV villain ' for more action films to come her way Smith ( 24! 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Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper and brawlers in a hollywood career spanning more than 75,. Arm wrestler, winning multiple championships in the 200-pound weight class of Bloody Porch william smith actor cause of death! For Classic HFO season 1979-1980 { it was like the hand-to-hand combat version the! To come her way, after his death has saddened the industry which already... Acted in popular films fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian. [ 3 ] 'Chrome! He enlisted in the 1982 film Conan great performances ( 19651967 ) father in the season Classic... That an actor Smith 49: Rugby Player: 45 1: Terry Jones:!, hissonWilliam E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich,... Which is already mourning the loss of a lot of great actors recently championships in the 1982 Conan! Via Deadline ) enlisted in the Korean War television shows and hit movies, provided...