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. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? 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. 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 a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. Legal Statement. In 1976, Smith was also part of the first miniseries on American television, "Rich Man, Poor Man" on ABC. Rest in Prominence & Peace, Big Bill. One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. }); Smith served in the United States Air Force. eventAction: 'view' 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. Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. 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 . [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. Smith was infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. The Conan the Barbarian actor played the title characters father and played his scenes opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. Throughout his life, he was interested in bodybuilding and boxing. 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. On the big screen, Smith had a memorable brawl with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can (1980) and played Conans father in Conan the Barbarian (1982) after being considered for the lead role. His wife,. 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. Your email address will not be published. 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. 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. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. Thanks for contacting us. Falconetti and William Smith. 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). "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. His career spans 60 years of acting in some of the most popular films and television shows of all time. }); Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. She declined to give the cause of death. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. How did William Smith die? eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. With his chiseled . eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for July 9, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck', Kelsey Grammer wont apologize for the 'difference' that Jesus has made in his life, Person roaming in 'Scream' Ghostface costume prompts multiple police calls, Kelsea Ballerini kisses Chase Stokes after criticizing ex amid nasty divorce. "And so the fight was on. About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. According to Famous Net Worth, William Smith was worth $7 million when he died. Spoke fluent French, Italian, and Russian. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. ga('ads.send', { 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. She declined to give the cause of death. 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.. Cue his Darker than Amber fight with Rod Taylor in memoriam. }) Jodie Turner-Smith made a head-turning exit from a fancy hotel on Thursday. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) 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. 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. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? [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. William Smith. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. A cause of death was not revealed. }); In Rich Man, Poor Man, he played the dangerous and eccentric character Anthony Falconetti, which he would later reprise in a follow-up to the series, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II.. She declined to give the cause of death. 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. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the actor's death to . #RIP #WilliamSmith JC, 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, Horror at Larchwood Care! 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. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporter. She did not specify the cause. However, news of his death has saddened the industry which is already mourning the loss of a lot of great actors recently. 1959 The Gazebo as Actor (uncredited) 1961 Go Naked in the World as Minor Role 1961 The Asphalt Jungle (TV series) as Sergeant Danny Keller 1961 Atlantis, the Lost Continent as Captain of The Guard 1962 Zero One (TV series) as Jimmy Delaney 1964 36 Hours as Guy (uncredited) 1964 Mail Order Bride as Lank 1965 Laredo (TV series) as Joe Riley William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man.. William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. He speaks five languages, was an award-winning bodybuilder . let gads_event; } He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. ga('ads.send', { On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. 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. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Rest in Peace, William Smith. 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. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). All rights reserved. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. }) ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. 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. } He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! 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 . Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference It was the final season. Good actor ! You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. In excellent shape and healthy living. Anyone can read what you share. Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. He was also famous as televisions last tobacco-advertising Marlboro Man. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. },false) ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. 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. 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. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. 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. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. RIP, Big Bill. 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. Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). 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." hitType: 'event', 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. She declined to give the cause of death. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. or redistributed. "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. A legend. The scene was long but choreographed well. It was the final season. He was 88. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Personal Quotes (2) Sammy [ Sammy Davis Jr.] was really good friends with Peter Brown. For iPhone click here, for Android click here. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. 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. In excellent shape and healthy living. Back in his heyday, the bodybuilder was a champion discus thrower at UCLA, an arm-wrestling and boxing champion and a martial arts black belt. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS. William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. Both walked away with broken bones. 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. What a badass legend. The actor was famously known for his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. 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. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . Legal Statement. 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. So insanely violent for its time. 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). So insanely violent for its time. Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. He was 88. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. R.I.P. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. 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). After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! }); Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. eventAction: 'click_adunit' ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. hitType: 'event', He died. He was 88. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. eventAction: 'click_ads' Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? ", 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'. 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]. ga('ads.send', { Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. pg.acq.push(function() { 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?) ga('ads.send', { & 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. hitType: 'event', Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. Jodie teamed the look . The. Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. #RIP #WilliamSmith. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. But he is so much more than just an actor. 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. 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'.