Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. 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. 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. RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. For iPhone click here, for Android click here. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. A legend. USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. "And so the fight was on. 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. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. The cause of death is unknown. 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). ", 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 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. 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 died. She declined to give the cause of death. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. He was 88. RIP, Big Bill. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. 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. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. Your email address will not be published. The Duke and Duchess are not as 'stunned' about the . hitType: 'event', ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). 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." Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. So insanely violent for its time. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Thanks for contacting us. 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. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. Tremendous screen presence. 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). In 1995, Smith received a lifetime achievement award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness. William was born on his mother's 38th birthday. What a badass legend. 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. He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. AIR Awareness Outreach; AIR Business Lunch & Learn; AIR Community of Kindness; AIR Dogs: Paws For Minds AIR Hero AIR & NJAMHAA Conference All rights reserved. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. gads_event = event; No cause of death was immediately made public. 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 on . Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The actress, 36, strutted out in a sheer bra which showcased plenty of cleavage and her toned abs. Smith is survived by his wife, son, William E. Smith III, and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Market data provided by Factset. He was 88 years old. Now that was a good fight, Mr. Smith recalled in a 2010 interview with BZ Film. 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. Smith was infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. Market data provided by Factset. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. }); hitType: 'event', Spoke fluent French, Italian, and Russian. He was a polyglot, a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, according to his website. His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. One fan commented, "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). 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. Here are three cold hard facts about William Smith. The Columbia, Mo., native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner. [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. #RIP #WilliamSmith. } The actor also played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final 1979 season of Hawaii Five-O. 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. 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. 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. }); A bodybuilder himself, The Rockford Files actor appeared in the cult classic Conan the Barbarian. Rest in Prominence & Peace, Big Bill. Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. }); At the ranch, he would develop a love and admiration for horses and the classic Western lifestyle, according to his website. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. May his soul Rest In Peace. William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. She did not specify the cause. ga('ads.send', { The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. ga('ads.send', { Good actor ! or redistributed. Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, R.I.P to the Hollywood Man himself William Smith. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, William Smith, Action Star Known for His Onscreen Brawls, Dies at 88, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/07/11/arts/television/william-smith-dead.html. The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. [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. "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. "It is with great sadness that the Hurt family mourns the passing of William Hurt, beloved father and Oscar winning actor, on March 13, 2022, one week before his 72nd birthday. } Smith was born on March 24, 1933, in Columbia, Missouri, to William Emmett Smith and Emily Richards Smith, and grew up on the cattle ranch owned by his parents. William Smith is just that. 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. Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); 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,[2] with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. 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. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was 88. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? "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. A cause of death was not revealed. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. 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. 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn 'greatest TV villain'. 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. Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. 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?) eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. Get breaking news alerts& today's headlines inyour inbox. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). So insanely violent for its time. [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. }); The actor was famously known for his stint as Falconetti in 1976s 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} 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. The fact that neither Smith nor Eastwood used body doubles for the scene was confirmed by Smith in a 2014 interview. In 1972 and 1975, respectively, he appeared in two popular Blaxploitation films, Hammer and the controversially titled Boss Nigger, both with Fred Williamson. On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. Home. and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. Details of death: Died at the. eventAction: 'view' With his chiseled . He played Detective Jim Kimo Carew on the final season of Hawaii Five-O and made appearances on other TV shows including Batman, Dukes of Hazzard, and The A-Team. pic.twitter.com/UJVpOSTted, Daily Grindhouse (@DailyGrindhouse) July 9, 2021. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo,". window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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]. 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 88. eventAction: 'click_ads' As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. } Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. McFarland, pg. ", "To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. In addition to his Hollywood legacy, the Missouri native was also a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and a published poet. }); Legal Statement. Smith was 88 years old. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. }) 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 on . His last role was in Irresistible, a 2020 film directed by Jon Stewart. 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 Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. We are one of the worlds fastest growing & 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. ga('ads.send', { Wayne LaFarr/YouTube. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. All in a days work.". 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. 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. . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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His career spans 60 years of acting in some of the most popular films and television shows of all time. Jodie teamed the look . },false) 1959 The Gazebo as Actor (uncredited) 1961 Go Naked in the World as Minor Role 1961 The Asphalt Jungle (TV series) as Sergeant Danny Keller 1961 Atlantis, the Lost Continent as Captain of The Guard 1962 Zero One (TV series) as Jimmy Delaney 1964 36 Hours as Guy (uncredited) 1964 Mail Order Bride as Lank 1965 Laredo (TV series) as Joe Riley 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. "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. View. In 1976, Smith was also part of the first miniseries on American television, "Rich Man, Poor Man" on ABC. 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. Scuba Certification; Private Scuba Lessons; Scuba Refresher for Certified Divers; Try Scuba Diving; Enriched Air Diver (Nitrox) William Smith's net worth is estimated at $7 million. Also in 1970, Smith featured in two biker flicks Nam's Angels (originally released under the title "The Losers") co-starring Bernie Hamilton and C.C. 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. 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. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! Smith was a working actor for over 70 . Prince Harry and Meghan are 'ok' about leaving Frogmore Cottage following Buckingham Palace's eviction notice, it has been reported. 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. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' It was the final season. Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. She declined to give the cause of death. },false) Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. William Smith. Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. He played Natalie Wood's character's father in Rebel Without a Cause. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. 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 and Eastwood meet while out jogging one morning, and then he falls off a cliff and is rescued by Eastwood, after which he beats up a lot of guys who insult Eastwoods girlfriend in a bar. In Rich Man, Poor Man, he played the dangerous and eccentric character Anthony Falconetti, which he would later reprise in a follow-up to the series, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II.. My favorite TV screen villain would be Falconetti from the Rich Man Poor Man miniseries and Rich Man Poor Man Book II. I really enjoyed working with Nick Nolte and Peter Strauss. 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. 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. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. GLEE STAR HEATHER MORRIS HONORS NAYA RIVERA WITH TRIBUTE TATTOO: TOMORROW IS NOT PROMISED, American actor William Smith, circa 1975. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a . How did William Smith die? William Smith, an action star from classic movies like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died Monday. But he is so much more than just an actor. "; his character beats and rapes Amanda Blake's character Miss Kitty Russell and shoots her twice in the back. ", 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". For movie fans, Smith is best remembered for his 70's biker movies, and TV-series. He was 88. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Joanne Cervelli Smith, his wife of 31 years, confirmed the actor's death in USA TODAY on Friday. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. 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 villains. }) It was the final season. let gads_event; 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. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. hitType: 'event', The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith. The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. Tremendous screen presence. A legend. All rights reserved. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and . With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . 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). eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5].