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 cause of death is unknown. 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. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? 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. } Named 2017's Obituary Writer of the Year by the Society of Professional Obituary Writers. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Nicolas Cage's mom, 85, battled schizophrenia, How did Lisa Banes die? His films and TV performances bring me great viewing pleasure. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. In 2009, Mr. Smith published a book of poetry, The Poetic Works of William Smith.. Smith was 88 years old. 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. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Jodie teamed the look . McFarland, pg. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. He was 88. 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. [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. hitType: 'event', A legend. His character was a boxer named Jack Smith. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Tales from the Cult Film Trenches: Interviews with 36 Actors from Horror, Science Fiction and Exploitation Cinema. She did not reveal the cause of his death. ', 'The Losers', 'Angels Die Hard', 'C.C. Download our fantastic, new and improved free App for the best ever Sun Online experience. R.I.P William Smith & thanks for the memories. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The place to find Mr. Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Ms. Smith said. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. A fan tweeted: "I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. 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. "It was to my immense delight that I immediately recognized the actor playing Jack Wilson," Ebert wrote. Who do you cast to make Clint Eastwood break a sweat in a fistfight? Beginning at eight years old, he earned small, uncredited roles in the movies The Ghost of Frankenstein and A Tree Grows in Brooklyn. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. In addition to wife Joanne, Smith leaves behind a daughter, Sherri, and a son,William III. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. Here is all you want to know, and more! Although it was reported that Smith retired from film in 2014 with his last screen appearance, he did make a cameo appearance in the Steve Carell comedy, Irresistible (2020). In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. 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'. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS. 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. Good actor ! [1], Smith died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Los Angeles, on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88. ", 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". Despite not receiving the best reviews, film critic Roger Ebert enjoyed the pair acting together. So insanely violent for its time. ", Another tweeted, "A sad day for Classic HFO fans. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. },false) "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. With his chiseled . Tremendous screen presence. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. We are one of the worlds fastest growing ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in . The Tragic Death Of Action Star William Smith. 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. He was 88. Smith was a fascinating guy who had many interests that extended beyond acting. 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 . RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Fox News Flash top entertainment and celebrity headlines are here. Mr. Smith's wife, Joanne. Throughout his career, Smith was known for persevering in a cutthroat industry. It was the final season. } RIP, Big Bill. The Conan the Barbarian actor played the title characters father and played his scenes opposite Arnold Schwarzenegger. It was the final season. What a badass legend. At UCLA where he earned his Masters Degree, he was an elite discus thrower. 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. 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. And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. She declined to give the cause of death. ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. }); ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. Mountain Climber Movie Actor Movie Actress Music Producer Non-fiction Author Novelist 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. eventAction: 'load' hitType: 'event', Cue his Darker than Amber fight with Rod Taylor in memoriam. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. A fluent Russian speaker, during the Korean War Smith was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over the Russian SFSR. ga('ads.send', { He started his career way back in the 40's and is still going strong. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' R.I.P. That one was so realistic that both Smith and Taylor suffered injuries during the filming of it. 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. 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. RIP, Big Bill. On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. Whos the baddest of the movie badmen? In excellent shape and healthy living. The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. Legal Statement. let gads_event; He was 31-1 in amateur boxing bouts and was also an accomplished arm wrestler, winning multiple championships in the 200-pound weight class. 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. So insanely violent for its time. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. Im watching him now In a bunch of old 70s biker movies .. another surprise. The scene was long but choreographed well. [citation needed] Smith held a 311 record as an amateur boxer. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), You can reach her at Melissa.Roberto@fox.com. Clint Eastwood fans will of course remember his outstanding performance as Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can (1980). RIP#WilliamSmith#RIPWilliamSmith pic.twitter.com/KbTl0tuVe3. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. May his soul Rest In Peace. ", Smith would take part in another classic screen brawl, this one with Rod Taylor, as a bodybuilder in the 1970 film "Darker Than Amber. He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. However, his first role was an uncredited one where he played a village boy in "The Ghost of Frankenstein" in 1942. William 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. Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. Actor William Smith, who was famous for starring in television shows like 'Hawaii Five-O' and 'Laredo', has died. How did William Smith die? She declined to give the cause of death. }); [8], For other people named William Smith, see, Louis Paul (2007). 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]. His wife,. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film Darker Than Amber when the two began fighting each other for real. 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.