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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man," and "Hawaii Five-O." } Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. In 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. },false) According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith died Monday in Woodland Hills, calif. . document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cherry Festival Carnival Ride Nearly Topples Over (Video). 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. }); 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. Welsh-born Simons played the character. He was 88. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can"and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television . In its obituary for William Smith,Deadline revealed that the "Hawaii Five-O" actor first wanted to pursue a career in government, but ended up acting after MGM gave him a contract. Smith left Hollywood for a while when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War, during which he served as a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). 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. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. Mr. Hurt revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. Television and action star William Smith has died at 88, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on July 9. William Smith is one of the most prolific and popular cult actors of our time and is considered one of the screen's all-time great actors. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. 1:14. 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. 7 months ago. He was 88. However, they divorced in May 1967. 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. 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'. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Fans React To Chick-Fil-A Being Voted America's Favorite Restaurant, Spectrum Removes NFL Network From TV Packages For Authorized Incorrectly, Maria Andrejczyk Auctions Tokyo Olympic Medal For Charity, Bill Cosby To Invoke Fifth Amendment In Civil Case, Pat Hitchcock: Alfred Hitchcock's Daughter Dies (3 Things To Know), Alex Cord: Airwolf Star Dies At 88 (3 Things To Know), Markie Post: Night Court Actress Dies At 70 (3 Things To Know), Albert Dyrlund: Danish YouTuber Dies At 22 (Story), Chick Vennera: Veteran Actor Dies At 74 (3 Things To Know), Caitlyn Loane: TikTok Star Dies At 19 (Full Story), Matima Miller: TikTok Star Dies At 19 (Full Story), Stuart Damon: Soap Opera Actor Dies At 84 (3 Things To Know), Clarence Williams III: Actor Dies At 81 (3 Things To Know), Kentaro Miura: 'Berzerk' Manga Creator Dies At 54, Paul Mooney: Actor And Comedian Dies At 79 (3 Things To Know), Charles Grodin: Beloved Actor Dies At 86 (3 Things To Know), Norman Lloyd: Actor Dies At 106 (3 Things To Know), Lloyd Price: Music Pioneer Dead At 88 (3 Things To Know), Sunday Burquest: 'Survivor' Star Dies At 50 (3 Things To Know), Nikki Grahame Of Big Brother UK Dies At 38 (3 Things To Know), Andy Haman: Bodybuilder Dies At 54 (3 Things To Know), Yaphet Kotto: James Bond Villain Actor Dies At 81. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). William Smith is just that. "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'. Reports: Chick Vennera, 'Golden Girls' and 'Thank God It's Friday' actor, dies at 74. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. }); Ten years later, he made movie history again when he squared off against Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles, Smith said about the notorious scene. Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. Pigott-Smith was a keen sportsman, loved the countryside and wrote four short books, three of them for children. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Horror legend dead at 93: Ricou Browning was Creature From Black Lagoon, Vanessa Bryant awarded $29M in suit over Kobe helicopter crash photos, Sizemores family deciding end-of-life matters after brain aneurysm, Hayden Panettieres brothers cause of death revealed. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." 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). He was 88. THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. 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. 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. 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. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. 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. Over the next thirty years, Smith became one of the kings of B-movie and television villainy. William E. Simon's Death - Cause and Date Born (Birthday) November 27, 1927 Death Date June 3, 2000 Age of Death 72 years Cause of Death Pulmonary Fibrosis Profession Politician The . [1] Smith later reported that Taylor was "a very tough guy" who broke three of his ribs while he broke Taylor's nose.[7]. He was 71. The cause of death is unknown. 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, with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. Tremendous screen presence. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Rest in peace to a great actor. Heflew on secretmissions over the Soviet Unionand Eastern Bloc countries, according to a statement shared by his wife. 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'. Legal Statement. Police said. William C. Bill Watson, 59, of Princeville, Kauai, a retired movie actor, died Nov. 5 at home. 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). ", 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.". eventAction: 'click_ads' ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. 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. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. 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. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television shows including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Any Which Way You Can," has died at 88. And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. 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. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. Details of death: Died at the. His wife . He was 88. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, He was 88. 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. 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. So insanely violent for its time. All rights reserved. Emmy-nominated actor Michael K. Williams, best known for his role on the Baltimore-based HBO series "The Wire," has died, a New York police spokesperson confirmed Monday. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? ga('ads.send', { "And so the fight was on. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. 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]. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. He was 71. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. William Smith was one of the best, underrated actors in the business. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. 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. 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). Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist For movie fans, Smith is best remembered for his 70's biker movies, and TV-series. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' William Smith, the film and television actor known for roles in Any Which Way You Can, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Red Dawn, has passed away. William Smith. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Although often typecast as an anti-social personality, he sporadically got other kinds of roles as a law enforcement officer or an anti-heroic protagonist. The . }); 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. eventAction: 'render' por . However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. #RIP #WilliamSmith JC, Baby Mia Jade Riley: Parents Lani and Tom Riley speak out after dog attack killed their 5-week-old infant, Kyle Sambrook: Hiker falls 100ft to death while carrying his dog in one hand through 'appalling' weather, Bruce Willis's mom Marlene 'not sure if her son still recognizes her' as 'aggressiveness' creeps in, Julia Faustyna: 21-yr-old girl who claims to be Madeleine McCann admits to making 'pornographic videos' in past, Killer mom Lindsay Clancy was suffering from drug withdrawal and had 'worst side effects,' says friend. 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. May not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed version of the world multiple times and won... 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