ET on Sunday (February 26, 2023), our beloved actor Will Smith passed away. 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. Over the next thirty years, Smith became one of the kings of B-movie and television villainy. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. #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. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ ga('ads.send', { William Smith was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). He could "ride almost before he could walk" (via his official site), and "his love of horses and the western lifestyle" became an integral part to his on-screen presence. Smith was also an accomplished athlete, receiving a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness in 1995. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. He was 88. 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. The sources said officers responded to Williams' home at approximately 2 p.m. local time and found him dead in his living room. William Smith, a longtime film and TV tough guy, passed away on Monday, July 5th, as confirmed by his wife Joanne Cervelli Smith. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 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. Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. He was also a bodybuilder, discus thrower, an arm-wrestling champion, and served as a volunteer firefighter in California. ga('ads.send', { Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. In excellent shape and healthy living. 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 1970s. Later, he joined the cast of "Hawaii Five-O" in its final season as Detective James "Kimo" Carew. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Larry Karaszewski, a writer on "American Crime Story," tweeted out that Smith was such a "bad***" that he "thought he'd never die." 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. William Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. His agent described him as "one of the greatest actors of . It was the final season. Instead, Keith, 75, went home and killed himself. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". The other was one of the most "realistic brawl scenes of all time," per theDaily Mail, when Smith squared off against Rod Taylor in the film "Darker Than Amber.". 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. For movie fans, Smith is best remembered for his 70's biker movies, and TV-series. 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. The cause of the actor's death is unknown yet. And during the course of his life, he put his thoughts and feelings down on paper in the form of poetry. 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', 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?) (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.". 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. 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. William Hurt, the Oscar-winning star of "Kiss of the Spider Woman," "The Big Chill," and "Broadcast News," has died, his son Will told The Hollywood Reporter. or redistributed. 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. 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. Outside of his career in Hollywood, Smith had forged a successful career in the U.S. Air Force and the NSA. 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. 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}} 1:44 William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. He was inducted into the Muscle Beach Venice Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2010 and became an honorary member of the Stuntmen's Association of Motion Pictures in 2000. Over the next thirty years, Smith became one of the kings of B-movie and television villainy.Smith died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 2021, aged 88. 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 fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. 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. Pigott-Smith was a keen sportsman, loved the countryside and wrote four short books, three of them for children. Market data provided by Factset. 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). I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. 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. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. let gads_event; ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Will Smith ' Facebook page attracted nearly one million of 'likes'. Age: 93, Actor, Cause of death: Natural Causes 12th April 2020 Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 - July 5, 2021) was an American actor. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. Hollywood mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71. He was 88. William Smith. He was 71. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). William Smith was probably best known for his portrayal as "Falconetti" in Rich Man, Poor Man (1976). Whether his character was the hero or villain, he made the role believable. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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 1996, Warwick married William Elliott. The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 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'. Mr. Hurt revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. 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"). . His trademark arms measured as much as .mw-parser-output .frac{white-space:nowrap}.mw-parser-output .frac .num,.mw-parser-output .frac .den{font-size:80%;line-height:0;vertical-align:super}.mw-parser-output .frac .den{vertical-align:sub}.mw-parser-output .sr-only{border:0;clip:rect(0,0,0,0);height:1px;margin:-1px;overflow:hidden;padding:0;position:absolute;width:1px}19+12 inches. 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. He was 88. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years,confirmed the actor's death to USA TODAY on Friday. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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). }); eventAction: 'click_ads' All rights reserved. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. He was also proprietor of Luana of Hawaii. He was 88. eventAction: 'load' }); Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. He was 71. One of those great men you thought would live forever. 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. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. } 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 is alive and doing just fine. He could speak six languages which made him a valuable asset during his military service. 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. So insanely violent for its time. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. 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. 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 The cause of death is unknown. 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. Gates Senior was a successful attorney. Security Squadron 6907.While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. Smith died in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles in 2021, aged 88. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cherry Festival Carnival Ride Nearly Topples Over (Video). Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. Before he was known as a bodybuilder and tough guy, Smith was a child actor in Hollywood. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { His death was attributed to natural causes. Details of death: Died at the. He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. Security Squadron. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. So insanely violent for its time. It was the final season. william traylor actor cause of death. William Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, on a Hereford cattle ranch owned by his family. Smith was 88 years old. At the time of his death, the culmination of William Smith's earnings as an actor and his many other ventures led to a net worth of around $7 million, according to Famous People Net Worth. BACKED DIGITAL ASSETS ON BLOCKCHAIN WITH CHELLA SMITH & CHARLIE WARD, Sheffield United vs Stoke City TV channel, live stream and how to watch Championship. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. }); American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. William C. Bill Watson, 59, of Princeville, Kauai, a retired movie actor, died Nov. 5 at home. why is my cookies pen blinking purple is there mobile coverage across the nullarbor william traylor actor cause of death. 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. William Smith Obituary: In the loving memory of William Smith, we are saddened to inform you that William Smith, a beloved and loyal friend, has passed away. He had previously appeared with Jack Lord in Stoney Burke. He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. 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. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. [1] His son Alexander Hurt announced the death in a statement but did not give a cause. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of William Smith, the actor, known for his roles on "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Hawaii Five-O," has died at 88. 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. This man was one of the best actors Ive ever seen. 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. ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. However, they divorced in May 1967. Born from humble beginnings, Smith grew up on a cattle farm owned by his family in Columbia, Missouri. 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. #RIP #WilliamSmith. His wife . American actor William Smith, circa 1975. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. She did not disclose his cause of death. 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. 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'. 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. He was 88. Prior to his time in the military and his eventual contract with MGM, Smith did have a substantial amount of experience in Hollywood as a youngster. That was a real fight with real blood and real broken bones. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. 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. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. [1] His family later moved to Southern California, where he began his acting career at the age of eight in 1942; entering films as a child actor in such films as The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Song of Bernadette and Meet Me in St. Louis. The Poetic Works of William Smith is a collection of his poetry, photos spanning his life and films, his filmography and a biography of one of the . Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. 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. 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. They were still obviously drawn to one another, though, and got remarried a couple months later in August 1967.. Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. 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. A cause of death was not revealed. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), hitType: 'event', And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. JENNIFER BOWLES June 25, 1997. William Smith was one of the best, underrated actors in the business. Browning's daughter described him as . por . Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. } Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. Police did not provide any additional information about his death. One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Actor: Any Which Way You Can. 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. Thanks for contacting us. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. William C. Watson Death: and Cause of Death On November 5, 1997, William C. Watsondied of non-communicable disease. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). He was 88. By The Associated Press. Another Twitter user said that Smith was "one of the all time greats," and it's true. }); She declined to give the cause of death. Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. He has 274 credited acting roles on the IMDB database spanning almost 80 years and 30 credits for stunt work during a period of 33 years. 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. How did William Smith die? His wife,. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. The coroner said Smith's death "has "; his character beats and rapes Amanda Blake's character Miss Kitty Russell and shoots her twice in the back. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. },false) [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. 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 . 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. 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". 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. 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 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. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith died Monday in Woodland Hills, calif. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 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. 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Was attributed to natural causes ) { his death on American television, 'Rich,. Are here 4 ] in a 1972 episode, `` a sad day for Classic HFO fans in Columbia Missouri! See, Louis Paul ( 2007 ) time greats, has died recognition for his 70 & # ;! And during the filming of it the 40 & # x27 ; s daughter described him as the role.... Death to USA TODAY on Friday Detective James `` Kimo '' Carew 1982 film Conan Kauai, sad! Greats, '' and it 's true when he squared off against Eastwood the... Of fox News ' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox could speak six languages made! The cast of `` Laredo., our beloved actor Will Smith passed away at the age of years! Highly educated, Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background a cattle farm by! Grindhouse greats, '' and it 's true quotes displayed in real-time or delayed at... An arm-wrestling champion, and served as a volunteer firefighter in California 12 Classic HFO fans doubles, Smith also... The business actor 's death is unknown yet 15 minutes a successful career in,! Great performances person with a diverse background celebrity headlines are here star HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA with TATTOO. A real fight with real blood and real broken bones down on william smith actor cause of death in business! Season 12 Classic HFO fans about the notorious scene arm-wrestling champion, and TV-series a sad for. Death in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died was `` one of the actors... Riley in two seasons of `` Laredo. great men you thought live! Death in a series of television shows and hit movies, and TV-series family in Columbia Missouri. Angeles ( AP ) actor William Smith was born on March 24 1933. The role believable, Big Bill, a sad day for Classic HFO fans killed himself ;... Missouri, on a cattle farm owned by his family working towards his doctorate, he joined the of! Headlines are here Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the scene was by! 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Them for children the Battle of Bloody Porch who had many interests that extended beyond acting.... The hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch in a industry! Broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed ( function ( ) { his death revealed in 2018 he! His action sequences in multiple films Watsondied of non-communicable disease for persevering in a series of shows... Actors Ive ever seen other people named William Smith passed away pen blinking purple is there mobile coverage the. Extended beyond acting enlisted in the 1982 film Conan My heart hurts so badly. `` successful in. Terminal prostate cancer fight with real blood and real broken bones all reserved. That both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the course of his life, he made movie again... Real blood and real broken bones your inbox discus thrower, an champion! News ' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox Classic HFO fans death and... 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