He would later become an elite discus thrower at UCLA, a martial arts black belt and a champion arm-wrestler. },false) He was 88. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). }); pic.twitter.com/tMc8fKJBa5, Phoef Sutton (@phoefsutton) July 10, 2021. She also penned onFacebook, "My heart hurts so badly.". USE OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OUR TERMS OF USE AND PRIVACY POLICY. Smith was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { ga('ads.send', { Smith, whose acting career peaked in the late 1950s, died at his home here on Jan. 25 of what was probably a combination of cirrhosis and heart problems . So insanely violent for its time. 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 88. He was 88. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { }); Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? Mr. Smiths wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Funds Country House and Hospital. 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'. William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. Check out what's clicking today in entertainment. hitType: 'event', Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. }); eventAction: 'load' He was 88. All in a days work.". 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies at 88. . William Smith, an action star from classic movies like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died Monday. He was 88. 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Here is all you want to know, and more! You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . Mr. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020. Here is all you want to know, and more! The Associated Press contributed to this report. A lifelong bodybuilder, Smith was a record holder for reverse-curling his own body weight. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. 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. R.I.P. A cause of death was not revealed. William Smith from 'Any Which Way You Can' and 'Red Dawn' dead at 88 #RIP #WilliamSmith. At the ranch, he would develop a love and admiration for horses and the classic Western lifestyle, according to his website. [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. 2023 COLD WIRE MEDIA. She declined to give the cause of death. }); 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. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. Hawaii Five-O star William Smith dies at 88: Actor starred with [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. The Sun is your go to destination for the best celebrity news, football news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video. and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. ga('ads.send', { hitType: 'event', Hes definitely tough as nails but he had the heart of a poet, she said. On the big screen, Smith became the star of several cult movies from the early seventies. Good actor ! He was a polyglot, a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, according to his website. 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. First, as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in two seasons of "Laredo." william traylor actor cause of death - attitudesinreverse.org Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. 'Laredo,' 'Any Which Way You Can' actor William Smith dead at 88 He played a general in the 1984 cult classicRed Dawn, speaking fluent Russian which was only one of the six languages he spoke. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), ga('ads.send', { This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. She declined to give the cause of death. The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. 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. In 2009, he published The Poetic Works of William Smith. "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'. Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. Anyone can read what you share. William Smith death: 'Hawaii Five-O' star dead at 88, fans mourn Actor William Smith | The Official Website | The Poetic Works of The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. 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. gads_event = event; Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. His wife,. william bramley actor cause of death - nautilusva.com 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. . Smith started in the 1940s as a child actor. william traylor actor cause of death - stmatthewsbc.org William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter that the actor died Monday, at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, Calif. A. In 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. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? 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). Wayne LaFarr/YouTube. In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? The iconic actor also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, 'Rich Man, Poor Man'. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Saving Private Ryan actor Tom Sizemore dead at 61 after brain aneurysm, Coley Laffoon honors late ex-wife Anne Heche in birthday post to son, Forensic expert doubts homicide claims from Aaron Carters mother, Jazz legend dead: Grammy-winning visionary composer was 89. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. "And so the fight was on. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. In 2009, Mr. Smith published a book of poetry, The Poetic Works of William Smith.. }) William Smith's Net Worth At The Time Of His Death May Surprise You American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. Rod is a skilled fighter and at the same time a real scrapper." 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a . William Smith's Death - Cause and Date - The Celebrity Deaths Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. A legend. A bodybuilder himself, The Rockford Files actor appeared in the cult classic Conan the Barbarian. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ John Smith, Star of 'Laramie,' 'Cimarron City,' Dies at 63 In excellent shape and healthy living. Actor, 65, was on way to meet wife Kathryn Kranhold. The actor William Smith in 1978. Television and action star William Smith has died at 88, The Hollywood Reporter confirmed on July 9. 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 last role was in Irresistible, a 2020 film directed by Jon Stewart. William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. All rights reserved. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. 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. 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. He was 88. Legal Statement. 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 1990s.[2]. Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. 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.. hitType: 'event', His character was a boxer named Jack Smith. 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. In fact, his career spanned over several decades with his first official TV credit in the 1950s, according to IMDb. Later, he joined the cast of "Hawaii Five-O" in its final season as Detective James "Kimo" Carew. "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. For the latest news on this story keep checking back at Sun Online. } A legend. So insanely violent for its time. RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. Smith was infamously known for fighting with Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can, a 1980 movie. Those uncredited roles early in his career served as motivation for him to make it big, but Smith also did not give up on his schooling. }); On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! 'Laredo' actor William Smith dies at 88; played cowboys, brawlers 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. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). 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. Smith also was a part of the first miniseries broadcast on American television, Rich Man, Poor Man.. Thanks for contacting us. What a badass legend. Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 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. 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. pic.twitter.com/ISCqVYDgzC, William Smith, god-tier among the grindhouse greats, has left us. In 1976, Smith was also part of the first miniseries on American television, "Rich Man, Poor Man" on ABC. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Both walked away with broken bones. No cause of death was immediately made public. 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. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. 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?) 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. The actor also played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final 1979 season of Hawaii Five-O. 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. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS. 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 Columbia, Mo., native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. let gads_event; William Smith - Biography - IMDb She did not reveal the cause of his death. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".[5]. News editor, Legacy.com. Now that was a good fight, Mr. Smith recalled in a 2010 interview with BZ Film. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! In addition to his Hollywood legacy, the Missouri native was also a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and a published poet. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. 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. 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". Jodie Turner-Smith made a head-turning exit from a fancy hotel on Thursday. The Hollywood screen icon had over 270 credits to his name in film and television (via IMDb ), including his legendary role as boxer Jack Wilson in "Any Which Way You Can," opposite Clint Eastwood, as well as "Conan the Barbarian" with Arnold Schwarzenegger.