Bill Smitrovich was born on May 16, 1947, in Connecticut. He started his acting career late, having earned a Masters degree from Smith College and working as an acting teacher at the University of Massachusetts.
Smitrovich gained his big break in an understudy role in the world premiere of Arthur Miller's "The American Clock" at the Spoleto Festival, which later went to Broadway. He was a founding member of the No Theatre Company, which was in association with the Wooster Group, and made his New York debut in the company's production of "The Elephant Man" in 1978.
In the early 1980s, Smitrovich began taking on film and TV roles, often playing good cops and villainous characters. He made his film debut in a small role in "A Little Sex" (1982) and went on to play a prime part in the TV-movie pilot of "Miami Vice" (1984).
Smitrovich's breakthrough role came as Drew Thatcher, a former construction worker-turned-restaurateur and the father of three, on the critically acclaimed dramatic series "Life Goes On" (1989). He co-starred with Patti LuPone and played parents to a son born with Down Syndrome, portrayed by Chris Burke.
Since "Life Goes On," Smitrovich has been involved in raising public consciousness and sensitivity about Down Syndrome. He has hosted the annual "Life Goes On Celebrity Golf Classic" for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles.
Smitrovich has continued to work in film and television, co-starring on "A Nero Wolfe Mystery" (2001) with Timothy Hutton and Maury Chaykin, and playing a recurring chief prosecutor role on "The Practice" (1997). He has also appeared in a number of films, including "Key Exchange" (1985),"Renegades" (1989),"The Trigger Effect" (1996),"Independence Day" (1996),"Ghosts of Mississippi" (1996),"Air Force One" (1997),and "Thirteen Days" (2000).
In recent years, Smitrovich has appeared in a number of television shows, including "Nash Bridges," "NYPD Blue," "24," "Numb3rs," "Law and Order," "Criminal Minds," "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Boston Legal," "Castle," "Californication," "Two and a Half Men," and "Grey's Anatomy." He has also had regular and recurring roles on "The Practice" (1997),"Without a Trace" (2002),"The Event" (2010),"The Last Ship" (2014),"Dynasty" (2017),and "Grey's Anatomy."
Smitrovich has been married to Shaw Purnell and has two children. He has played a number of high-ranking officials, both good and corrupt, over the years.
