According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith died Monday in Woodland Hills, calif. Gates Senior was a successful attorney. 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. 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' [1] Market data provided by Factset. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. Falconetti and William Smith. John Smith, who starred in the television westerns "Laramie" and "Cimarron City," died on Jan. 25 at his home here. ga('ads.send', { [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. 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'. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the. 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. let gads_event; ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. 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. The cause of death is unknown. One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. He was 71. } Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. 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}} To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. 7 months ago. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. [1] Other 1970s TV appearances included the Kolchak: The Night Stalker episode "The Energy Eater", as an Indian medicine man who advises Kolchak, and an early Six Million Dollar Man episode "Survival of the Fittest" as Commander Maxwell. Will Smith died after being shot eight times, including seven times in the back, Orleans Parish coroner Dr. Jeffrey Rouse said Wednesday (April 13). William Smith, a longtime film and TV tough guy, passed away on Monday, July 5th, as confirmed by his wife Joanne Cervelli Smith. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. }); #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. LOS ANGELES (AP) Actor William Smith, who played bikers, brawlers, cowboys and no-nonsense tough guys in films and television . William Smith, the veteran actor best known for starring in the 1976 TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and the original Hawaii Five-O has died. Details of death: Died at the. 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.". Your email address will not be published. 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 Welsh-born Simons played the character. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". 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 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. William Smith's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death May Surprise You. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. }) Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Heflew on secretmissions over the Soviet Unionand Eastern Bloc countries, according to a statement shared by his wife. The cause of his death has not been disclosed. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ How did Joy Vogelsang die? Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. She declined to give the cause of death. Gerry Byrne . In 1972 he married the actor Pamela Miles. He was 88. Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. 1:44 William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. 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 . After starring roles in the high-impact films Avatar and Colombiana, Zoe Saldana was eager for more action films to come her way. }); William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. Thanks for contacting us. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. 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). 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. Will Smith was born on September 25, 1968 in Philadelphia. 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). William Smith. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. His wife . He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. William Smith was one of the best, underrated actors in the business. When one talks about actor William Smith, not only are they discussing the career of one of the most prolific and popular cult actors of all time, but also one of the screen's greatest villains. He starred in 1972's Grave of the Vampire as James Eastman (co-starring with Michael Pataki and Lyn Peters), and 1973's Invasion of the Bee Girls (co-starring Victoria Vetri, Anitra Ford and Katie Saylor, written by Nicholas Meyer and directed by Denis Sanders), and 1975's The Swinging Barmaids (starring Ms. Saylor, Bruce Watson and Laura Hippe, and directed by Gus Trikonis). 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 film and television actor known for roles in Any Which Way You Can, Rich Man, Poor Man, and Red Dawn, has passed away. 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 started in the 1940s as a child actor. }); Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. 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. & 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. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Published: Jul. In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. 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. She did not disclose his cause of death. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. Hurt won the best actor Oscar in 1986 for playing . 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. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. william traylor actor cause of death. 1:14. Sieger) Family (3) Trade Mark (1) In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. ga('ads.send', { He also played Anthony Falconetti, the menacing nemesis of the central family in the 1976 ABC miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man," and returned for its sequel. 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. 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"). eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. 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." 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