Your email address will not be published. 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. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. Both walked away with broken bones. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo,". She declined to give the cause of death. The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. 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. 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. 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. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. He played Natalie Wood's character's father in Rebel Without a Cause. 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. William Smith Dead: Brawled With Clint Eastwood, Played Kimo - Deadline For iPhone click here, for Android click here. Before he was known as a bodybuilder and tough guy, Smith was a child actor in Hollywood. 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. Biography - A Short Wiki '50s television icon who was immortalized for his role as Paul Drake on over 250 episodes of the series, Perry Mason. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. In excellent shape and healthy living. May his soul Rest In Peace. My favorite TV screen villain would be Falconetti from the Rich Man Poor Man miniseries and Rich Man Poor Man Book II. I really enjoyed working with Nick Nolte and Peter Strauss. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. He was also famous as televisions last tobacco-advertising Marlboro Man. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. ga('ads.send', { His marriage to Michele Smith produced one child before ending in divorce; he later married Joanne Cervelli. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} Actor William Smith | The Official Website | The Poetic Works of 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. He was 88. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. She did not specify the cause. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). 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 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. In addition to his wife of 31 years, he is survived by a son, William E. Smith III, and a daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. He was 88. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". With his chiseled . Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. The actress, 36, strutted out in a sheer bra which showcased plenty of cleavage and her toned abs. 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." Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? In addition to his Hollywood legacy, the Missouri native was also a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and a published poet. ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. Television and action star William Smith has died at 88, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on July 9. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man," and "Hawaii Five-O." Smith was 88 years old. The fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. 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. The cause of death is unknown. eventAction: 'view' And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. Jodie Turner-Smith made a head-turning exit from a fancy hotel on Thursday. 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. 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. He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. Smith joined the cast of the final season of Hawaii Five-O as Detective James "Kimo" Carew, a new officer in the Five-O unit. 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. 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.". 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 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. "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. Returning to California, Smith continued working steadily throughout the 60s and 70s, becoming an obvious choice when casting cult hit biker films such as Run, Angel, Run!, The Losers, Angels Die Hard, C.C. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. Marvel Actor William Hurt Dead at 71: Cause of Death Revealed - Us Weekly 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. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies; played cowboys, brawlers - AP NEWS }); Here is all you want to know, and more! He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! #RIP #WilliamSmith. William Smith dead aged 88 - actor who played Clint Eastwood's nemesis William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man.. One of those great men you thought would live forever. 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. Legal Statement. 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 (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. All rights reserved. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. 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. William Smith Dead: Action Actor of 'Laredo,' 'Rich Man, Poor Man' Was },false) Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. It was the final season. In excellent shape and healthy living. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. 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. William Hopper's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths ga('ads.send', { He was 88. While under contract with MGM, Willaim accepted roles in western and biker-themed flicks and TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. Prince Harry and Meghan are 'ok' about leaving Frogmore Cottage following Buckingham Palace's eviction notice, it has been reported. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies at 88; played cowboys, brawlers 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. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. How did William Smith die? Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. For movie fans, Smith is best remembered for his 70's biker movies, and TV-series. 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. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. 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. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. 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?) About Us; Staff; Camps; Scuba. He died. He was 88. No cause of death was immediately made public. 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.. Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. Actor William Smith, who played cowboys, brawlers and no-nonsense tough guys in nearly 300 films and television shows, has died at 88 . A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. Cue his Darker than Amber fight with Rod Taylor in memoriam. william traylor actor cause of death - stmatthewsbc.org [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. What a badass legend. 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 . ", A third fan added: "Godspeed, William Smith. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { He was 88. William Smith Dead: Action Actor of 'Laredo,' 'Rich Man, Poor Man' Was 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, and sometimes those scenes got heated. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. She declined to give the cause of death. Wayne LaFarr/YouTube. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). William Smith. Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. }); The Columbia, Mo., native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ William Smith's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death May Surprise You }); Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? 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. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. How did Joy Vogelsang die? Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. In a career span of more than 75 years, Smith appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television productions. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. He was 88. 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. Actor William Smith, who brawled with Clint Eastwood and Rod Taylor on Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a . }); MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 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.. Now that was a good fight, Mr. Smith recalled in a 2010 interview with BZ Film. He did many of his own stunts. 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. 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. William Smith, Action Star Known for His Onscreen Brawls, Dies at 88 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. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." 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. eventAction: 'click_ads' He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. Here is all you want to know, and more! The TV actor William Smith died at the age of 88. or redistributed. 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. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. 'Laredo,' 'Any Which Way You Can' actor William Smith dead at 88 William Smith - Biography - IMDb How Much Was William Smith Worth At The Time Of His Death? - NickiSwift.com hitType: 'event', pg.acq.push(function() { RIP, Big Bill. "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. William Smith obituary: "Laredo" star dies at 88 - Legacy.com His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. McFarland, pg. },false) It was the final season. William Smith (actor) - Wikipedia Falconetti and William Smith. 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'. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. All in a days work.". 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. Tremendous screen presence. #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!