William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. eventAction: 'load' ga('ads.send', { window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. 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. Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. Legal Statement. 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. 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. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. In a Hollywood career spanning more than 75 years, he appeared in almost three hundred feature films and television. 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. One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. hitType: 'event', hitType: 'event', Born in Chicago, Ill., he is survived by daughter Mililani; sons William II and Keoni; and brother Jim. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Country House and Hospital. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. Over the next thirty years, Smith became one of the kings of B-movie and television villainy. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. Pigott-Smith was a keen sportsman, loved the countryside and wrote four short books, three of them for children. hitType: 'event', He was 71. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Instead, Keith, 75, went home and killed himself. Required fields are marked *. Smith appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber in 1970. According to a report by Deadline, the late actor's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed he had passed away July 5th at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. In addition to his acting career, Smith enlisted in the Air Force during the Korean War in 1951 and was recruited by the National Security Agency due to his fluency in multiple languages. },false) Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. 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. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. In 1972 he married the actor Pamela Miles. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. }); ga('ads.send', { Bodybuilder and American Gladiator Billy Smith Dies At Age 56 American Gladiator legend and bodybuilder Billy Smith, AKA Thunder has passed away days before his 57th birthday Written by Derek Hall Last Updated on August 25, 2021 Photo via Instagram @americangladiatorstv ", 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 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. 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. (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.". } A legend. The roles he is most known for are Anthony Falconetti in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man,and he appeared in the original Hawaii Five-O television series from 1979-1980 as Detective James Kimo Carew. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. His agent described him as "one of the greatest actors of . We've received your submission. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Smith was 88 years old. He was 88. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television . Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! A Washington . 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. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. 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. Entries for each day are listed alphabetically by surname. His wife,. . Thanks for contacting us. This story has been shared 101,080 times. [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. Before he was known as a bodybuilder and tough guy, Smith was a child actor in Hollywood. 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. 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. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. 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. }); 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. 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." More recently, Smith appeared as a regular on thelast season of the original Hawaii Five-0 from1979 to 1980 and in the Western series Wildside in 1985. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. The cause of death is unknown. 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.. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. "And so the fight was on. Whether his character was the hero or villain, he made the role believable. 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. William Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. William Hurt, the Oscar-winning US actor whose roles ranged from acclaimed 1980s dramas to Marvel films, has died at the age of 71, US media say. ga('ads.send', { Back in his heyday, the bodybuilder was a champion discus thrower at UCLA, an arm-wrestling and boxing champion and a martial arts black belt. 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. Smith died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 2021, aged 88. All rights reserved. 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 was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the. Police said. 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. [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. 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. 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. CHICK VENNERA, 'GOLDEN GIRLS' AND 'ANIMANIACS' ACTOR, DEAD AT 74, Born in Columbia, Missouri, Smith would begin acting at age 8, playing small uncredited roles in 1940s films, including "The Ghost of Frankenstein" and "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. The fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. 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 He was 88. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was 88. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. THE COLD WIRE IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF COLD WIRE MEDIA. Your email address will not be published. pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, Daily Grindhouse (@DailyGrindhouse) July 9, 2021. Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. 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. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. In 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. Security Squadron 6907.While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. 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. Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. Actor: Any Which Way You Can. 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. William C. Bill Watson, 59, of Princeville, Kauai, a retired movie actor, died Nov. 5 at home. His last role was in the 2020 film "Irresistible," written and directed by Jon Stewart. 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}} Security Squadron. William Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. 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. Not only was Smith an action star, but he was known as atough guy and appeared in two of the biggest brawls in movie history. 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. 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'. He is alive and doing just fine. William Smith, the actor, known for his roles on "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Hawaii Five-O," has died at 88. Confirmed the doubles.. Legal Statement years, he appeared in almost three feature! Here are three COLD hard facts about William Smith, who played bikers brawlers., function ( ) { Smith was 88 years old July 5, 2021 character was the or! Film `` Irresistible, '' written and directed by Jon Stewart Kathryn Kranhold to find more! ''. [ 5 ] ( `` # google_image_div '' ).addEventListener ( 'click ', (! Groundbreaking 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man Eastwood in Any Which way You Can television.... 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