William Smith

William Smith

Deceased · Born: Mar 24, 1933 · Died: Jul 5, 2021

Personal Details

BornMar 24, 1933 Columbia, Missouri, USA
Spouse
  • Joanne Cervelli

    ( Dec 31, 1969 to Jul 5, 2021 )
  • Michele

    ( Dec 31, 1969 to Dec 31, 1969 )
Parents
  • William Emmett Smith Sr.
  • Emily J. Richards
Relatives
  • Joy Windsor (Sibling)

Biography

William Smith, a renowned actor, is most famously recognized for his iconic portrayal of "Falconetti" in the 1976 television miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. Prior to his breakout role, Smith began his acting career as a child actor, appearing in notable films such as Going My Way (1944) and The Song of Bernadette (1943).

As a young adult, Smith's life took a dramatic turn when he enlisted in the military during the Korean War. His impressive fluency in foreign languages led him to be recruited by the N.S.A. Security Squadron 6907.

After completing his military service, Smith pursued higher education, working towards his doctorate. It was during this time that he landed a contract with MGM, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious career in the entertainment industry.

For the next three decades, Smith solidified his status as a master of B-movie and television villainy, cementing his reputation as one of the most prolific and beloved character actors of his time.

Sadly, William Smith passed away in 2021 at the age of 88 in Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, leaving behind a legacy that continues to inspire and entertain audiences to this day.

Career

2020
Irresistible
Irresistible as Hofbrau Bar Fly
2018
Doses of Horror
Doses of Horror as Neil Agar ("A Dose of Bee Stings" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited)
2014
Rock n' Roll Cops Lite
Rock n' Roll Cops Lite as Rinaldi (archive footage)
2008
The Boneyard Collection
The Boneyard Collection as Bill, the First Director (segment "Her Morbid Desires")
2007
Rapturious
Rapturious as Sheriff
Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story
Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story as Man with Machine Gun
2006
2005
Vice
Vice as Spooky Harlow
Hell to Pay
Hell to Pay as Emil Brax
2004
Zombiegeddon
Zombiegeddon as Lord Zombie
2002
Body Shop
Body Shop as Sheriff Taggart
2000
Never Look Back
Never Look Back as Lee Clayton
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' as Conan's Father (archive footage)
1998
Deadly Currency
Deadly Currency as Mario Verelli
The Shooter
The Shooter as Jerry Krants
1996
Uncle Sam
Uncle Sam as Major
Raw Energy
Raw Energy as Sam Stompkins
The Colony
The Colony as Theo Maxwell
1995
1994
Maverick
Maverick as Riverboat Poker Player
1992
American Me
American Me as Deacon
Shadow of the Dragon
Shadow of the Dragon as Eric Brunner
Feast
Feast as Det. George Bordelli
1991
Kiss and Be Killed
Kiss and Be Killed as Det. Murdoch
Merchant of Evil
Merchant of Evil as Victor Fortunetti
Cybernator
Cybernator as Colonel Peck
1990
The Final Sanction
The Final Sanction as Maj. Galashkin
Cartel
Cartel as Mason
1989
Action U.S.A.
Action U.S.A. as Conover
Deadly Breed
Deadly Breed as Captain
L.A. Vice
L.A. Vice as Capt. Joe Wilkes
Jungle Assault
Jungle Assault as General Mitchell
Slow Burn
Slow Burn as Antonio Scarpelli
B.O.R.N.
B.O.R.N. as Dr. Farley
1988
Red Nights
Red Nights as Phillip
Platoon Leader
Platoon Leader as Major Flynn
Evil Altar
Evil Altar as Reed Weller
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Hell Comes to Frogtown as Captain Devlin / Count Sodom
Bulletproof
Bulletproof as Russian Major
Maniac Cop
Maniac Cop as Captain Ripley
1987
Hell on the Battleground
Hell on the Battleground as Colonel Meredith
Commando Squad
Commando Squad as Morgan Denny
The Phantom Empire
The Phantom Empire as Dr. Chambers
1986
1985
Fever Pitch
Fever Pitch as Panama Hat
The Mean Season
The Mean Season as Albert O'Shaughnessy
1984
The Jerk, Too
The Jerk, Too as Suicide
Red Dawn
Red Dawn as Strelnikov
1983
Rumble Fish
Rumble Fish as Patterson the Cop
The Outsiders
The Outsiders as Store Clerk
1982
Conan the Barbarian
Conan the Barbarian as Conan's Father
Disneyland
Disneyland as Monk Hardwick
1980
1979
Seven
Seven as Drew
The Frisco Kid
The Frisco Kid as Matt Diggs
Fast Company
Fast Company as Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson
The Rebels
The Rebels as John Waverly
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O as Det. James 'Kimo' Carew
1978
Blood & Guts
Blood & Guts as Dan O'Neil
Blackjack
Blackjack as Andy Mayfield (as Bill Smith)
1976
Scorchy
Scorchy as Carl Henrich
Hollywood Man
Hollywood Man as Rafe Stoker
Crackle of Death
Crackle of Death as Shaman Jim Elkhorn
Boss Nigger
Boss Nigger as Jed Clayton
Dr. Minx
Dr. Minx as Gus Dolan
Death Among Friends
Death Among Friends as Sheldon Casey
1974
Black Samson
Black Samson as Johnny Nappa
The Sex Symbol
The Sex Symbol as Butch Wischnewski
Policewomen
Policewomen as Karate Instructor
Camper John
Camper John as Camper John Allen
A Taste of Hell
A Taste of Hell as Jack Lowell
1972
The Manhunter
The Manhunter as Clel Bocock
Piranha
Piranha as Caribe
Hammer
Hammer as Brenner
Grave of the Vampire
Grave of the Vampire as James Eastman
The Thing with Two Heads
The Thing with Two Heads as Hysterical Condemned Man
1971
The Losers
The Losers as Link Thomas
Crowhaven Farm
Crowhaven Farm as Patrolman Hayes
1969
Backtrack!
Backtrack! as Texas Ranger Joe Riley (archive footage)
The Over-the-Hill Gang
The Over-the-Hill Gang as Amos (as Bill Smith)
1968
Three Guns for Texas
Three Guns for Texas as Texas Ranger Joe Riley
1966
Laredo
Laredo as Joe Riley
1964
36 Hours
36 Hours as Guy (uncredited)
1961
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
Atlantis: The Lost Continent as Captain of the Guard
1960
The Gazebo
The Gazebo as Actor Who Trips Over Camera (uncredited)
1959
Girls Town
Girls Town as Man (uncredited)
Never So Few
Never So Few as MP Officer #1
1948
The Boy with Green Hair
The Boy with Green Hair as Boy (uncredited)
1947
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now as Young Boy (uncredited)
1946
Gilda
Gilda as Man (uncredited)
1945
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn as Boy (uncredited)
1944
Meet Me in St. Louis
Meet Me in St. Louis as Little Boy (uncredited)
Going My Way
Going My Way as Choir Member (uncredited)
1942
The Ghost of Frankenstein
The Ghost of Frankenstein as Boy (uncredited)
1976