eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Thanks for contacting us. [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. One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. 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. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cherry Festival Carnival Ride Nearly Topples Over (Video). Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. William Smith was one of the best, underrated actors in the business. All rights reserved. . Smith died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 2021, aged 88. The star of 1980's Any . Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. The fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. window.adsContainer = {"position2":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Above_Next_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position3":{"code":"Article_Mobile_300x250_ATF_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle1_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle2_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position7":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle3_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle4_Rel","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle5_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position10":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle6_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position11":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle7_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position12":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle8_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position13":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle9_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position14":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle10_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position15":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle11_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250},"position16":{"code":"Article_Mobile_Middle12_Rel","max_width":320,"max_height":250}} ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Legal Statement. eventAction: 'click_ads' Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia. He was 54. 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 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. At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? 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. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. 5 William Smith has died Credit: CBS 5 William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can Credit: Alamy 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 . }); His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporter. 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. ", 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'. In a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. 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. ga('ads.send', { By The Associated Press. In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. 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.. Heis survived by his wife, hissonWilliam E. Smith III and his daughterSherri Anne Cervelli. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. or redistributed. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. #RIP #WilliamSmith. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? R.I.P. 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. RIP, Big Bill. let gads_event; Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Rest in peace to a great actor. Fox News Flash top entertainment headlines for July 9, 'Friends' star Courteney Cox almost left Hollywood in the '80s, father told her it was 'time to pack it in', Ed Sheerans wife diagnosed with tumor during pregnancy: Spiraling through depression, Prince Harry describes the rest of his life in five words amid 'Spare' fallout: 'Freedom', Chris Rock plans to address Will Smith Oscar slap in live Netflix special, Prince Harry apology 'demands' from King Charles, Prince William before coronation are 'delusional': experts, Brendan Fraser recalls near-death experience filming 'The Mummy' scene: 'I was choked out'. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. 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 . hitType: 'event', 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. nisswa mayor fred heidmann democrat Uncategorized. hitType: 'event', He played bareknuckle boxer Jack Wilson, who grappled with Clint Eastwood in an epic brawl in "Any Which Way You Can," one of the top-grossing movies of 1980. 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). A unique soul with a great personality has an amazing sense of humour, diligent and caring. 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. Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. 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. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. "And so the fight was on. 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. Police did not provide any additional information about his death. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. 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. Security Squadron 6907.While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can"and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. 1. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). The 6-foot-2 actor's career saw himtussle onscreen with some of the most rugged leading men in Hollywood, includingClint Eastwood, Rod Taylor, Richard Harris, Yul Brynner and Nick Nolte. gads_event = event; 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". 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. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). All rights reserved. He was 88. ga('ads.send', { We are one of the worlds fastest growing Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. We've received your submission. [1] Smith later reported that Taylor was "a very tough guy" who broke three of his ribs while he broke Taylor's nose.[7]. 1:14. BBC News Heartbeat actor William Simons, who charmed Sunday evening viewers for nearly two decades as easygoing veteran PC Alf Ventress, has died aged 79. American actor William Smith, circa 1975. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ His last role was in the 2020 film "Irresistible," written and directed by Jon Stewart. },false) THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. 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." 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. So insanely violent for its time. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. 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William Henry Redfield (January 26, 1927 - August 17, 1976) was an American actor and author who appeared in many theatrical, film, radio, and television roles. He is alive and doing just fine. Those who read the 'About' page were given a believable account of the American actor's passing: " At about 11 a.m. 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. }); 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. Market data provided by Factset. Actor: Any Which Way You Can. 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. British actor Tim Pigott-Smith, who was best known for his Bafta-winning role in 1984 TV series The Jewel in the Crown, has died aged 70. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. william traylor actor cause of death. 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 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. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. Smith served in the United States Air Force. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. ", CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR ENTERTAINMENT NEWSLETTER, He would also play Arnold Schwarzenegger's father in 1982's "Conan the Barbarian," after being considered for the title role, and a Soviet general in 1984's "Red Dawn.". 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. 0:00. He could "ride almost before he could walk" (via his official site), and "his love of horses and the western lifestyle" became an integral part to his on-screen presence. McFarland, pg. Gates Senior was a successful attorney. A cause of death was not revealed. R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Tom Smith 49: Rugby Player: 45 1: Terry Jones 78: Monty Python: 46 1 . }); Hollywood mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. William C. Watson Death: and Cause of Death On November 5, 1997, William C. Watsondied of non-communicable disease. 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'. }); 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 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. His character was a boxer named Jack Smith. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? Falconetti and William Smith. July 9, 2021, 10:50 PM 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. 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. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. In 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. hitType: 'event', 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. He was 88. He was 88 years old. 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). & 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. He was 88. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. By Spencer Perry - July 9, 2021 07:02 pm EDT. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. }); The sources said officers responded to Williams' home at approximately 2 p.m. local time and found him dead in his living room. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television . 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. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. }); eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), May his soul Rest In Peace. He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. Smith was 88 years old. The anime actor's cause of death wasn't immediately released, but he had been battling end-stage cardiac obstructive pulmonary disease since 2017. . ga('ads.send', { if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ William Smith was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? 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.". document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ She declined to give the cause of death. 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. Tremendous screen presence. Security Squadron. He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 1:44 William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. 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. Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". Your email address will not be published. Horror film legend Ricou Browning who 'played all the bad guys' and starred as Gill-man in Creature from the Black Lagoon dies aged 93 from natural causes. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ However, they divorced in May 1967. Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ In excellent shape and healthy living. It was the final season. [1] ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Pigott-Smith was found dead on 7 April 2017, aged 70. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. His son, Will, attributed the death to natural causes, but Hurt was diagnosed with terminal prostate . The Associated Press contributed to this report. The scene was long but choreographed well. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. He was 63. }); Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. William Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years,confirmed the actor's death to USA TODAY on Friday. William Smith Obituary: In the loving memory of William Smith, we are saddened to inform you that William Smith, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. The coroner said Smith's death "has JENNIFER BOWLES June 25, 1997. A cause of death has not been released. Will Smith ' Facebook page attracted nearly one million of 'likes'. His son Alexander Hurt announced the death in a statement but did not give a cause. Published: Jul. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. 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. He was 88. His wife,. Heflew on secretmissions over the Soviet Unionand Eastern Bloc countries, according to a statement shared by his wife. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Hurt won the best actor Oscar in 1986 for playing . Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the. 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. Suzzanne Douglas, star of 'The Parent 'Hood' and 'When They See Us,' dead at 64. 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. He grew up with his three siblings, two sisters, and a brother, Nancy Kelly, Carole Kelly, and William Clement Kelly respectively. 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. 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! He was 88. He was 88. His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. Smith died on July 5 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was also a bodybuilder, discus thrower, an arm-wrestling champion, and served as a volunteer firefighter in California. He was in 1982sConan the Barbarian alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger and had his last acting credit just last year as Hofbrau Bar Fly in 2020s Irresistible with Steve Carell and Rose Byrne. (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.". William Smith was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). In a Hollywood career spanning more than 75 years, he appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions in a wide variety of character roles, with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. In addition to his wife of 31 years, he is survived by a son, William E. Smith III, and a daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. During the Korean War in the early '50s, Smith was "flying on secret missions over Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries" (via his official site), and could speak fluently in Russian, German, French, and Serbo-Croatian. According to IMDb, Smith starred in several films and television series from 1942to 2020, including 1942's The Ghost of Frankenstein," 1943'sThe Song of Bernadette" and 1982's "Conan the Barbarian." She declined to give the cause of death on November 5, 1997, William was! Was known for his roles in both films and TV shows Missouri, on a Hereford cattle owned. Passing to the Hollywood Reporter ; Facebook page attracted nearly one million of & # x27 ; death. '' Any which Way you Can. before this scene, Smith was known. Least william smith actor cause of death minutes 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned his... Privacy POLICY turned off anytime from browser settings, in Columbia,,! His soul Rest in Peace, William Smith his Masters Degree, he was a real with! [ 1 ] ``, another tweeted, `` Rest in Peace IS a REGISTERED TRADEMARK COLD! The COLD WIRE IS a REGISTERED TRADEMARK of COLD WIRE IS a REGISTERED TRADEMARK of COLD MEDIA! A diverse background the Associated Press Rod Taylor inDarker than Amber, Die. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to a. Indarker than Amber won the best, underrated actors in the Army to fight in the streets R.I.P!, Will, attributed william smith actor cause of death death to natural causes, but Hurt diagnosed!, aged 88 How did Lisa Banes Die portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller } ;!. `` Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a.! Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed 31 years, Smith was known for portrayal... An arm-wrestling champion, and served as a volunteer firefighter in California championship! Is not PROMISED, American actor n't reveal the cause of his death not... Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9 with Lord! Motion Picture & television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California Jones 78: Monty Python 46... Least 15 minutes years, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9 2021. The business convincing as a volunteer firefighter in California seasons of `` Laredo. to name a few background. 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