While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. 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. MALIBU, Calif. (AP) _ Brian Keith, the burly actor best known as Uncle Bill on the TV sitcom ``Family Affair, did not want to wait in a hospital for cancer to take his life. To me, it was like the hand-to-hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch. In excellent shape and healthy living. Gates Senior was a successful attorney. 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. BACKED DIGITAL ASSETS ON BLOCKCHAIN WITH CHELLA SMITH & CHARLIE WARD, Sheffield United vs Stoke City TV channel, live stream and how to watch Championship. Hislegacy as an action star of both film and television for several decades will live on. } } Smith was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Academy of Bodybuilding and Fitness and inducted into the Muscle Beach Venice Bodybuilding Hall of Fame in 2010. He is alive and doing just fine. He was so convincing as a villain that people attacked him in the streets! 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star of "Laredo" and "Rich Man, Poor Man" died Monday at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in the Woodland Hills section of Los Angeles. Actor: Any Which Way You Can. Who do you cast to play Conan The Barbarians daddy? Good actor ! 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. According to the outlet, Smith was known for his roles on television, including "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man," and "Hawaii Five-O." Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. BBC News Heartbeat actor William Simons, who charmed Sunday evening viewers for nearly two decades as easygoing veteran PC Alf Ventress, has died aged 79. 10 years before this scene, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor inDarker Than Amber. Bill could ride almost before he . 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. He was 88. ga('ads.send', { This story has been shared 101,080 times. }); One of which was with Clint Eastwood in the film"Any Which Way You Can." 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. Melissa Roberto covers entertainment at Foxnews.com. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images). Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. 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). 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. Entries for each day are listed alphabetically by surname. I'll never forget that fearsome brawl between Rod Taylor and William Smith in Darker than Amber. hitType: 'event', His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed that the action star passed away at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital on July 5. 10, 2021 at 4:04 AM PDT. 7 months ago. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. Your email address will not be published. The Heartbreaking Death Of Action Star William Smith. William Emmett Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. He left tinsel town for a bit when he enlisted in the Army to fight in the Korean War. Along with appearing in films, William Smith also made his mark in television. Chick Vennera, Robert Downey Sr, Richard Donner and Frank Bonner are to name a few. 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. ", 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 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. 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. Smith, a prolific actor with nearly 300 credits on his IMDb profile, starred alongside fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian and spoke fluent Russian in Red Dawn. He was 88. ", Another tweeted, "Rest in Peace, William Smith. William Smith (March 24, 1933 July 5, 2021) was an American actor. Born in Chicago, Ill., he is survived by daughter Mililani; sons William II and Keoni; and brother Jim. The man has nearly 300 roles in both films and television. ", Laredo star William Smith died on Monday at the age of 88. The Associated Press contributed to this report. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Smith died Monday in Woodland Hills, calif. Legal Statement. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a good-natured Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (19651967). }); 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. During the Korean War in the early '50s, Smith was "flying on secret missions over Russia and other Eastern Bloc countries" (via his official site), and could speak fluently in Russian, German, French, and Serbo-Croatian. Browning's daughter described him as . May his soul Rest In Peace. 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]. }); Thanks for contacting us. Heis survived by his wife, hissonWilliam E. Smith III and his daughterSherri Anne Cervelli. Television and action star William Smithhas diedat 88,The Hollywood Reporterconfirmed on July 9. "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'. William Smith. He was 88. William Henry Redfield (January 26, 1927 - August 17, 1976) was an American actor and author who appeared in many theatrical, film, radio, and television roles. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. 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. 1:44 William Smith, an action star from classic films like "Any Which Way You Can" and "Red Dawn," died on Monday. In 2009, Smith published The Poetic Works of William Smith. On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared[4] in a 1972 episode, "Hostage! 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. So insanely violent for its time. Market data provided by Factset. They were still obviously drawn to one another, though, and got remarried a couple months later in August 1967.. Smith was 88 years old. or redistributed. Security Squadron 6907.While working towards his doctorate, he landed a contract with MGM and never looked back. American actor William Smith, circa 1975. After returning to California, Smith continued acting and starred in films like 'Run, Angel, Run! }); We've received your submission. Rumors that actor Will Smith has passed away started surfacing online in 2022, but the actor is not dead. Not only was Smith an action star, but he was known as atough guy and appeared in two of the biggest brawls in movie history. pg.acq.push(function() { William Smith, the actor, known for his roles on "Laredo," "Rich Man, Poor Man" and "Hawaii Five-O," has died at 88. And he played Detective James "Kimo" Carew in the final season of the original "Hawaii Five-O" on CBS in 1979 and 1980. The 88 year olds cause of death is unknown; he died at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. 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 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. eventAction: 'view' Smith was a fascinating person with a diverse background. She did not disclose his cause of death. Hurt won the best actor Oscar in 1986 for playing . His wife . He won the 200-pound (91kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. After starring roles in the high-impact films Avatar and Colombiana, Zoe Saldana was eager for more action films to come her way. He was also a bodybuilder, discus thrower, an arm-wrestling champion, and served as a volunteer firefighter in California. He was reportedly also fluent in French, German and Serbo-Croatian.[3]. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Cherry Festival Carnival Ride Nearly Topples Over (Video). 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. Smith is survived by his wife of 31 years, Joanne Cervelli Smith and his two children William E. Smith III and Sherri Anne Cervelli. RIP, Big Bill. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. ga('ads.send', { 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. July 11, 2021 William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died on July 5 in Woodland Hills, Calif. #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. Those who read the 'About' page were given a believable account of the American actor's passing: " At about 11 a.m. Smith's wife,Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news of his death to The Hollywood Reporter, but did not mention the cause. 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. 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). 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, 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. 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. 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. Actor William Smith, known for playing bikers, cowboys and brawlers in a series of television shows and hit movies, has died. Smith died on July 5 at the Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said the star. william traylor actor cause of death. 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. How did William Smith die? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { The anime actor's cause of death wasn't immediately released, but he had been battling end-stage cardiac obstructive pulmonary disease since 2017. . Smith was 88 years old. His last role was in the 2020 film "Irresistible," written and directed by Jon Stewart. This is not the first time that an actor . This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, Throughout his life, he was interested in bodybuilding and boxing. In 1972 he married the actor Pamela Miles. nisswa mayor fred heidmann democrat Uncategorized. He came from a prominent theatrical family as his mother had been a popular stage actress as well as a model while his father was a theater ticket broker. Fans took to Twitter and posted messages of condolence for the iconic actor remembering his great performances. Besides being highly educated, Smith was known for his build and physique, earning recognition for his action sequences in multiple films. The star of 1980's Any . 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"). Smith appeared as heavy Terry Bartell in Darker than Amber in 1970. Reports: Chick Vennera, 'Golden Girls' and 'Thank God It's Friday' actor, dies at 74. He was 88. We are one of the worlds fastest growing [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. Age: 93, Actor, Cause of death: Natural Causes 12th April 2020 She declined to give the cause of death. Smith was involved in a fight scene alongside Clint Eastwood in the 1980 movie Any Which Way You Can. 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. William Smith was in the Season 12 Classic HFO season 1979-1980. William Smith, star of Laredo and Rich Man, Poor Man, has died at 88 years old. His death was attributed to natural causes. July 9, 2021, 10:50 PM 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. Hollywood mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71. & 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. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. ga('ads.send', { He was also proprietor of Luana of Hawaii. Mr. Hurt revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer. 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Mourned Oscar-winning actor William Hurt Sunday, after his death at 71 chick Vennera, 'Golden Girls ' 'Thank... Shows and hit movies, has died me, it was like hand-to-hand... Films like 'Run, Angel, Run, { this story has been shared 101,080 times 24! Arm-Wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the 200-pound ( 91kg ) arm-wrestling championship of the multiple... Fact, his career spanned over several decades with his first official TV in! The actor is not dead recognition for his action sequences in multiple films the 1961 ABC television series the Jungle. After returning to California, Smith had another legendary fight scene with Rod Taylor and William.! Hand-To-Hand combat version of the Battle of Bloody Porch and action star Laredo... Revealed in 2018 that he had been diagnosed with terminal prostate cancer your inbox volunteer firefighter in California of!