}); Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. }); 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. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. She declined to give the cause of death. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. He speaks five languages, was an award-winning bodybuilder . eventAction: 'view' Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. Jodie teamed the look . 5 William Smith has died Credit: CBS 5 William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can Credit: Alamy In 1970, he portrayed a sadistic bodybuilder inDarker Than Amber, and performed what is considered to be one of the most realistic on-screen fights, with Taylor famously breaking three of his ribs and getting his nose busted. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. hitType: 'event', While under contract with MGM, Willaim accepted roles in western and biker-themed flicks and TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. Smith served in the United States Air Force. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Smith also made guest appearances opposite James Garner in the 1974 two-hour pilot for The Rockford Files (titled "Backlash of the Hunter" and also featuring Lindsay Wagner and Bill Mumy), and George Peppard in The A-Team (in two appearances as different characters, in the first season's "Pros and Cons" and the fourth season's "The A-Team Is Coming, The A-Team Is Coming"). With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a . May his soul Rest In Peace. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! #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! Your email address will not be published. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. His career spans 60 years of acting in some of the most popular films and television shows of all time. Those uncredited roles early in his career served as motivation for him to make it big, but Smith also did not give up on his schooling. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. He played Natalie Wood's character's father in Rebel Without a Cause. How did William Smith die? William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. 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, . So insanely violent for its time. Thanks for contacting us. A bodybuilder himself, The Rockford Files actor appeared in the cult classic Conan the Barbarian. 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. and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. American actor William Smith, circa 1975. In 1983, Smith appeared in two films from Francis Ford Coppola, in The Outsiders as a store clerk and in Rumble Fish as a police officer. Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. The movie actor William Hopper died at the age of 55. In 2009, Mr. Smith published a book of poetry, The Poetic Works of William Smith.. One of those great men you thought would live forever. 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. Smith was 88 years old. 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. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. ", 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'. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. hitType: 'event', ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); R.I.P. And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. He did many of his own stunts. Actor William Smith, who played cowboys, brawlers and no-nonsense tough guys in nearly 300 films and television shows, has died at 88 . document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. 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. 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.". The actor William Smith in 1978. ga('ads.send', { So insanely violent for its time. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. pg.acq.push(function() { eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. That's how you become a cult actor. He was 88. Smith died on July 5 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. ga('ads.send', { Before he was known as a bodybuilder and tough guy, Smith was a child actor in Hollywood. A cause of death was not revealed. 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." 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. McFarland, pg. Smith was 88 years old. She did not reveal the cause of his death. He was 88 years old. 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. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. eventAction: 'load' His films and TV performances bring me great viewing pleasure. His other movie appearances include Darker Than Amber (1970), The Frisco Kid (1979), The Outsiders (1983), and Red Dawn (1984) in a career with more than 300 acting credits. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { "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. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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.". } One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. 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. He was 88. In addition to his wife of 31 years, he is survived by a son, William E. Smith III, and a daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. His wife,. The man has nearly 300 roles in both 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. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ eventAction: 'click_adunit' William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. It was the final season. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. 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. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, R.I.P to the Hollywood Man himself William Smith. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. Falconetti and William Smith. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. or redistributed. 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. He was 88. The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. The scene was long but choreographed well. Market data provided by Factset. Legal Statement. 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 . The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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'. In 1976, Smith was also part of the first miniseries on American television, "Rich Man, Poor Man" on ABC. [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. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. 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. 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. 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. "It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after brain aneurysm, Coley Laffoon honors late ex-wife Anne Heche in birthday post to son, Forensic expert doubts homicide claims from Aaron Carters mother, Jazz legend dead: Grammy-winning visionary composer was 89. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." 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 on . Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. 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. RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. 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. An experience, though, that would forever shape Smith's legacy would be when he stepped into the role of a merciless bodybuilder in 1970's "Darker Than Amber," where he went head to head in the ring with Rod Taylor. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. pg.acq.push(function() { Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. 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. His last role was in Irresistible, a 2020 film directed by Jon Stewart. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . Required fields are marked *. ", A fourth commentator added: "REMEMBER HIM WELLalways thought he should be a leading man with his looksbut seemed always the slightly sleazy tough guyRIP William Smith". Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. His marriage to Michele Smith produced one child before ending in divorce; he later married Joanne Cervelli. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { William was born on his mother's 38th birthday. 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 On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. With his chiseled . The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Legal Statement. In the 1980s, the 6-foot-2 actor earned roles in Francis Ford Coppolas The Outsiders, (1983) and in Conan the Barbarian (1982), for which he was cast as the father of Conan, who was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. 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. hitType: 'event', Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. "It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles," Smith said about the fight scene with Clint Eastwood in 'Any Which Way You Can'. 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] Smith later reported that Taylor was "a very tough guy" who broke three of his ribs while he broke Taylor's nose.[7]. 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. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. 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. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. 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 on . 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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. His character was a boxer named Jack Smith. He was 88. ", A third fan added: "Godspeed, William Smith. 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. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? Your email address will not be published. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." The actor also played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final 1979 season of Hawaii Five-O. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. In fact, his career spanned over several decades with his first official TV credit in the 1950s, according to IMDb. He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. She declined to give the cause of death. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. & 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(), William Smith. 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