Smith enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1951, won a boxing championship and served in the Korean War. Here is all you want to know, and more! No cause of death was immediately made public. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. 0. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ He was 88. William 'Billy' Smith aka Thunder Death - Obituary, Funeral, Cause Of Death It is with great sadness we report the loss of #AmericanGladiators legend and deaddeath.com William 'Billy' Smith aka Thunder Death - Obituary : American Gladiators bodybuilding superstar has died - DeadDeath Smith had a long career in Hollywood. 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. memorial page for William Smith (24 Mar 1933-5 Jul 2021), Find a Grave Memorial ID 229324717; Cremated, Ashes given to family. Keep up with the latest trending news in sports with our daily newsletter. How did Joy Vogelsang die? Thanks for contacting us. 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. Advertisement With his chiseled, mustachioed face and bulging biceps, Smith was a constant, rugged presence on screen in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s . Besides all of these skills and interests, Smith was a poet. In addition to his Hollywood legacy, the Missouri native was also a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and a published poet. 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.". He also played Conan the Barbarians (played by Arnold Schwarzenegger) father in the 1982 film Conan. Smith had three broken ribs, and Taylor had a broken nose. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { William's final appearance in his film career was in the comedyIrresistible, which starred Steve Carell. and Company', 'Chrome and Hot Leather,' 'Gentle Savage' and 'Eye of the Tiger'. Calif. A cause of death was . ", Another fan wrote: "Farewell to the last great Bad Ass of TV & movies, William Smith. Later, he joined the cast of "Hawaii Five-O" in its final season as Detective James "Kimo" Carew. The 6-foot-2 Smith, who was a champion discus thrower at UCLA, an arm-wrestling champion and a black belt in the martial arts, had 18-inch biceps and could do 5,100 continuous sit-ups and reverse curl 163 pounds. Young actors often would talk to him between workout sets, and he would share advice, sometimes inviting them to his home to discuss upcoming auditions. It has to be one of the longest two-man fights ever done on film without doubles.. Bodybuilder says you can be 'big and strong' with vegan diet Later in his career, he was the "go-to-guy" for biker films, like "The Losers" and "Chrome and Hot Leather," in the 1970s. RIP, Big Bill, A sad day for Classic HFO fans. Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. She did not want to reveal the cause of death. He also portrayed Texas Ranger Joe Riley in the two seasons of 'Laredo' and then joined the original cast of 'Hawaii Five-O' for its last season. Smith was known for his roles in western and biker-themed films and TV shows. 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. William Smith (actor) - Wikipedia William Smith was an American film and television actor who appeared in more than 300 feature films and television productions, best known for playing Anthony Falconetti on the TV mini series "Rich Man, Poor Man". Robin Williams' Cause of Death: How Did the Comedic Legend Die? William Smith Dead: Action Actor of 'Laredo,' 'Rich Man, Poor Man' Was 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. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. Ex-Saints player Will Smith shot dead at crash scene | CNN His wife Joanne Cervelli Smith, who confirmed the news to THR, didn't reveal the cause for his death. 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, with his best known role being the menacing Anthony Falconetti in the 1970s television mini-series Rich Man, Poor Man. At the time, Smith was just 8 years old (via Deadline). Keep on reading to find out more about one of Smith's most memorable moments on set. William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. Jay C. Smith, who spent six years on death row before his conviction of the grisly 1979 murder of a suburban Philadelphia schoolteacher and her two children was . 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. No one, no one in this world can you trust not men, not women, not beasts this you can trust, he says pointing to the movies iconic steel sword. Search athletes by their name, level of play, cause of death, year, state and more. Hes definitely tough as nails but he had the heart of a poet, she said. He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. 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'. Smith is survived by Joanne, his wife of 31 years, and his son, William E. Smith III and daughter, Sherri Anne Cervell. [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. On NBCsLaredo, Smith starred as gunfighter turned Texas Ranger Joe Riley during that Westerns two seasons (1965-67), and he joined CBS originalHawaii Five-Ofor its final year (1979-80) to portray Det. 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. Along with his wife of 31 years, Smith is survived by his two children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Create a personalized profile and stay informed with tailored email notifications. In addition to his wife, Mr. Smith is survived by his son, William E. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli. After they healed, they worked again in the WesternThe Deadly Trackers(1973). Copyright 2023 /The Celebrity Deaths.com/All Rights Reserved. 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. 2023 NYP Holdings, Inc. All Rights Reserved, Jerry Springer revealed his single happiest moment in final interview before death, Stew Leonard, founder of famous grocery chain, dies at 93 after brief illness, Jerry Springer had a fitting, epic cameo in The Simpsons episode, Jerry Springer mourned by celebs and fans: A cultural icon dead at 79. Action junkies and film enthusiasts shared their love for William on the web. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Born in Columbia, Missouri, Smith began his acting career at the age of eight in 1942; he entered films as a child . . On the silver screen, Smith also acted in popular films. 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. (1969) andThe Losers(1970); inAngels Die Hard(1970), from Roger Cormans New World Pictures; inC.C. He also was unforgettable in the blaxploitation filmsHammer(1972),Black Samson(1974) andBoss Nigger(1975). Scarlett Johansson 'quickly killed' Black Widow's sexy blo Dad of crying infant that triggered Texas massacre 'never thought' gunman would shoot, NFL linebacker's 2-year-old daughter drowns in pool, ABC airs NYC footage with Twin Towers during Knicks-Heat game, Gayle King says she doesnt have a desire to retire: I want more work, WNBA star Brittney Griner is heading to the Met Gala, Mariah Carey celebrates Moroccan and Monroes 12th birthday: My babies, Elon Musk Tells Bill Maher Woke Mind Virus Is Dangerous On Real Time, Kendall Jenner rocks sheer top, fur mini skirt for date night with Bad Bunny. Details of death: Died at . Forall the toughness he demonstrated onscreen, Smith showed off a softer side in his 2009 book,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'. Help us maintain a respectful and inclusive community. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith died Monday in Woodland Hills, calif. William Smith. },false) In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. }); The star's ex-wife, Sheree Fletcher , shared the news via Instagram on Monday, November 7. She declined to give the cause of death. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), William Smith was an actor known for roles in movies and TV shows including "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man.". ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. Two years later, he worked on the BBC seriesZero One(its title was the call-sign of the International Air Security Agency) with Nigel Patrick. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), We wont send you spam. In addition to his wife of 31 years, survivors include his children, William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. Back in 1942, William started his professional career as an eight-year-old child actor in The Ghost of Frankenstein, according to Deadline. Nic . A bodybuilder himself, The Rockford Files actor appeared in the cult classic Conan the Barbarian. He was 88. Sign up to comment on articles, engage with fellow sports fans, and contribute to high-quality discussions. The actor William Smith in 1978. William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. Perhaps most well known for his portrayal of Anthony Falconetti in the miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man, he was also notable for his role as James Kimo Carew in Hawaii Five-O, as well as for his work in The Virginian; The Asphalt Jungle; Laredo; and Zero One. 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"). 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 Jr., grandfather of Iowa linebacker Jack Campbell, dies ICONIC actor William Smith, who tussled with Clint Eastwood in the movies, has died at the age of 88. William Smith, the burly character actor known for playing tough guys and fighting Clint Eastwood in the 1980 film Any Which Way You Can, has died at the age of 88. William Smith Actor Bodybuilder Dead. Burial Cremated. . The Hollywood Reporter noted that Taylor broke three of Smith's ribs, while Smith broke Taylor's nosefilming of the scene. You wouldnt change things even if you could American actor William Smith passed away at the age of 88 years old on July 9, 2021. ga('ads.send', { Originally intending to work for the U.S. government in a classified position due to his clearance in the CIA and NSA, Smith changed his career trajectory when he landed an acting contract with MGM, which led to roles in George Pal's "Atlantis, The Lost Continent" in 1961 and TV series like "Batman," "Lassie," "Death Valley Days," and "The Mob Squad.". Deadline noted that Smithpursued higher educationin Syracuse, Munich, and Paris before he graduated Cum Laude from UCLA, earning a master's degree. He also starred in the likes of "Rich Man, Poor Man", "Laredo," and "Hawaii Five-O" (via the Hollywood Reporter), with his last role being Hofbrau Bar Fly in the 2020 film "Irresistible," starring Steve Carell and Rose Byrne. July 11, 2021. the cause of death is unknown at this time. and Company(1970), starring Joe Namath and Ann-Margret; inChrome and Hot Leather(1971), opposite Marvin Gaye; and inGentle Savage(1973) andEye of the Tiger(1986). 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. Action star William Smith, known for his roles in "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Laredo," died Monday, according to the New York Post. She did not want to reveal the cause of death. The blues singer Mamie Smith died at the age of 63. } Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. 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. hitType: 'event', 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." The 6-foot-2 Smith, who was a champion discus thrower at UCLA, an .