", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. Legal Statement. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. eventAction: 'load' 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. "And so the fight was on. But he is so much more than just an actor. Had one son (William Emmett Smith III) with first wife, Michele Smith, and one daughter (Sherri Anne Cervelli DOB: April 24, 1980) with his second wife, Joanne Cervelli. 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. Personal Quotes (2) Sammy [ Sammy Davis Jr.] was really good friends with Peter Brown. 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 could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, 5 William Smith has died Credit: CBS 5 William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can Credit: Alamy Ms. Smith said in a phone interview on Sunday that besides the tough guy roles that made her husband a star onscreen, he had a compassionate side as well. Spoke fluent French, Italian, and Russian. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. ", A third fan added: "Godspeed, William Smith. The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. Rest in Prominence & Peace, Big Bill. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. She declined to give the cause of death. pic.twitter.com/rFPAKrQm1q, Just found out that one of my favorite, super talented character actors from my childhood passed away on Monday.William Smith was in films like The Outsiders, Rumble Fish, and Any Which Way You Can. In addition to his wife of 31 years, he is survived by a son, William E. Smith III, and a daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. In excellent shape and healthy living. Inside Josh Duggar's lonely 35th birthday in prison solitary confinement, Honey Boo Boo, 17, & boyfriend, 21, found with gun & drugs in car in arrest, Today's Hoda Kotb looks solemn on stroll with daughter amid show absence, Jill Duggar reveals she's 'so proud' of husband's major career change in new pic, 2020 THE SUN, US, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED | TERMS OF USE | PRIVACY | YOUR AD CHOICES | SITEMAP, William fought Clint in Any Which Way You Can, William 'played a lot of motorcycle gang leaders in films', William posed with the rest of the Hawaii Five-O cast for a photo. 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. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. In 1976, Smith was also part of the first miniseries on American television, "Rich Man, Poor Man" on ABC. For iPhone click here, for Android click here. View. Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. One of the great ones. She did not reveal the cause of his death. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. He played Natalie Wood's character's father in Rebel Without a Cause. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. He was 88. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. 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. Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. 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. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and . }); Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. Throughout his life, he was interested in bodybuilding and boxing. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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. She declined to give the cause of death. Rest in Peace, William Smith. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. 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. 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. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. Quoted by CNN, the New York Times, and Macleans. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Legal Statement. He was 88. He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? Smith was 88 years old. He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri. Smith served in the United States Air Force. Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed his passing to the Hollywood Reporter. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Jodie Turner-Smith made a head-turning exit from a fancy hotel on Thursday. Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. 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. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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"). ga('ads.send', { [1] Smith later reported that Taylor was "a very tough guy" who broke three of his ribs while he broke Taylor's nose.[7]. The Columbia, Mo., native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner. Market data provided by Factset. Smith is survived by his wife, son, William E. Smith III, and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. [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. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. In the fist fight scene that ends the film, Rod Taylor hit Smith (who was playing the villain) who retaliated in kind,[6] and a staged-fight scene became a real fight as the cameras continued to roll. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. While under contract with MGM, Willaim accepted roles in western and biker-themed flicks and TV shows, such as Gunsmoke and The Virginian. 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. 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. 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. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Good actor ! But in an earlier starring role, Texas Ranger Joe Riley on the popular TV show Laredo, Smith was a good guy known for his strength. "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. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. He was 88. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. "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'. The Hollywood star William Smith who starred in TV shows including Hawaii Five-O and Rich Man, Poor Man and films including Any Which Way You Can and Conan The Barbarian has died aged 88. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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 infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. Smith began his long Hollywood career as a child actor in the 40s, when his family moved to Southern California from the Dust Bowl. 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. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. She declined to give the cause of death. ", 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.". Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the actor's death to . pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, Daily Grindhouse (@DailyGrindhouse) July 9, 2021. 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.". In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. Smith died on July 5 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. "; his character beats and rapes Amanda Blake's character Miss Kitty Russell and shoots her twice in the back. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. Smith also fought legendary actor and filmmaker Clint Eastwood in "Any Which Way You Can," which was "the longest two-man fights ever done on film" without the use of stunt doubles. Smith starred as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in both seasons of the NBC Western "Laredo" from 1965 to 1967. 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. According to Famous Net Worth, William Smith was worth $7 million when he died. He was 88. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. Smith starred in one episode each of the Adam West Batman TV series (in the episode "Minerva, Mayhem and Millionaires" as Adonis, one of the minions of the title guest villainess portrayed by Zsa Zsa Gabor), I Dream of Jeannie (in the episode "Operation: First Couple on the Moon" as Turk Parker), Kung Fu, and as The Treybor, a ruthless warlord, in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Buck's Duel to the Death". So insanely violent for its time. His last role was in Irresistible, a 2020 film directed by Jon Stewart. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). },false) 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. Born in Columbia, Missouri on March 24, 1933, Smith debuted as a child actor in 1942 in films like 'The Ghost of Frankenstein', 'The Song of Bernadette' and 'Meet Me in St. Louis' at the age of 8. He speaks five languages, was an award-winning bodybuilder . 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 . Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist In 1985, Smith landed the starring role of Brodie Hollister in the short-lived Disney Western series Wildside, created by writer-producer Tom Greene, and another role as the bookmaker Dutchman's strongarm enforcer known simply as "Panama Hat", in director Richard Brooks's final movie, Fever Pitch (1985) opposite Ryan O'Neal. However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. The TV actor William Smith died at the age of 88. The movie actor William Hopper died at the age of 55. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. How did Joy Vogelsang die? Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. 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. His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. Wayne LaFarr/YouTube. pg.acq.push(function() { Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. 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. hitType: 'event', Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) Anyone can read what you share. 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. 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. Named 2017's Obituary Writer of the Year by the Society of Professional Obituary Writers. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. }); Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. He did many of his own stunts. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. So insanely violent for its time. William Smith. He was also famous as televisions last tobacco-advertising Marlboro Man. ", 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". A fan tweeted: "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. 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 } ga('ads.send', { After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. 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. The Conan the Barbarian actor played the title characters father and played his scenes opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. "Fight choreography and staging went out the window when Rod decided to really hit me," Smith recalled in an interview with the outlet in 2010. }); pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, R.I.P to the Hollywood Man himself William Smith. Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. McFarland, pg. He was 88. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo,". He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s, amassing nearly 300 credits. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. 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.