Image of William Smith

William Smith

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia William Smith (born March 24, 1933) is an American actor who has appeared in almost 300 feature films and television productions. Smith began his acting career at the age of 8 in 1942. He is perhaps best-known for playing the sinister "Anthony Falconetti" on the TV miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man and its sequel, Rich Man, Poor Man Book II, both in 1976. The physically imposing 6'2" actor is a lifelong bodybuilder and has the distinction of being the final Marlboro Man before the cigarette ads were discontinued on TV. Smith won the 200 pound (91 kg) arm-wrestling championship of the world multiple times and also won the United States Air Force weightlifting championship. Smith is a record holder for reverse-curling his own bodyweight. His trademark arms measured 18 and 1/2 inches. Smith held a 31-1 record as an amateur boxer and studied martial arts with kenpo instructor Ed Parker for several years. Smith also played semi-pro football in Germany and competed in motocross and downhill skiing events. He entered films stunt doubling for former screen Tarzan Lex Barker in a French film. Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse and a Master's degree in Russian Studies from UCLA. He taught Russian at UCLA before abandoning his Ph.D. studies for an MGM contract. He also studied at the Sorbonne in Paris and the University of Munich while learning languages through the military. Smith is fluent in Russian, Serbo-Croatian, French and German. During the Korean War he was a Russian Intercept Interrogator and flew secret ferret missions over Russia. He had both CIA and NSA clearance and intended to enter a classified position with the U.S. government, but his marriage to a French actress meant the loss of security clearance. One of his best known roles is that of Joe Riley, a Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo (1965-1967). Smith character was good-natured; co-star Peter Brown's character was a ladies' man, and Neville Brand portrayed a relentless bumbler. In 1967, Smith guest starred on Wayne Maunder's short-lived ABC military-western Custer. Smith played Jude Bohner in a 1972 two-hour episode of CBS's Gunsmoke as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time". Smith was added to the cast on the final season of Jack Lord's long-running crime drama Hawaii Five-O. He also starred in one episode of Kung Fu, and as the Treybor, a ruthless warlord, in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century episode "Buck's Duel to the Death". Smith has also made guest appearances in numerous TV shows including the 1974 pilot for The Rockford Files, "Backlash of the Hunter", I Dream of Jeannie, and two appearances - as different characters - in episodes of The A-Team (the first season's "Pros and Cons", and season four's "The A-Team Is Coming, The A-Team Is Coming"). On film, Smith played Clint Eastwood's bare-knuckle nemesis Jack Wilson in Any Which Way You Can, as a drag racing legend in 1979's "Fast Company", as the barbarian's father in Conan the Barbarian, bad guy Matt Diggs in The Frisco Kid, as a Russian commander in Red Dawn and a vindictive sergeant in Twilight's Last Gleaming. For fans of John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee novels, Smith did a turn as chief heavy Terry Bartell in Darker Than Amber, opposite Rod Taylor and Theodore Bikel, in 1970. He also played Jed Clayton in Boss Nigger (1975) a blaxploitation film from the 70s which also starred Fred Williamson, and was seen in in Francis Ford Coppola's classic 1983 films The Outsiders and Rumble Fish as a store clerk and a police officer, respectively. But, his starring roles typically had titles such as Grave of the Vampire, Invasion of the Bee Girls, and The Swinging Barmaids. Smith also played in several biker flicks including C.C. and Co., where he starred as the menacing "Moon", opposite football great Joe Namath and Ann Margret. He also starred in Nam's Angels, which is briefly seen on a television in a scene in Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction. Description above from the Wikipedia article William Smith (actor), licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.


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Born:
Mar 24, 1933 In Columbia, Missouri, USA
Movie/TV Credits:
196
First Appeared:
In the movie Within Our Gates 1920-01-12
Latest Project:
Movie Irresistible 2020-07-01
Known For
Poster of Shades of L.A.
Poster of The A-Team
Poster of Chrome and Hot Leather
Poster of Never So Few
Filmography
Movie Irresistible Hofbrau Bar Fly 2020-07-01
Movie Greed Teacher 2019-09-07
Movie Doses of Horror Neil Agar ("A Dose of Bee Stings" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited) 2018-01-05
Movie Hampstead Leon Rowlands 2017-06-23
Movie Paddington Geographer (Present Day) 2014-11-24
Movie Venus & the Sun Simon 2011-03-10
Movie In the Loop New Advisor 2009-01-22
Movie Her Morbid Desires Bill, the Director 2009-02-15
Movie The Boneyard Collection Bill, the First Director (segment "Her Morbid Desires") 2008-01-01
Movie Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story Man with Machine Gun 2007-02-20
Movie The Rise of the Nutters Phil Smith 2007-01-02
Movie Rapturious Sheriff 2007-10-02
Movie Inner Rage Sam 2006-01-01
Movie Voices from the Graves Lester Jiggs 2006-01-01
Movie Hell to Pay Emil Brax 2005-08-12
Movie Vice Spooky Harlow 2005-10-25
Movie Y.M.I. Cal 2004-03-05
Movie Killer Story Monty 2004-03-09
Movie The Rock 'n Roll Cops Rinaldi 2003-08-18
Movie God Has a Rap Sheet Lucifer 2003-05-07
Movie Zombiegeddon Lord Zombie 2003-07-12
Movie Deadly Memories Sheriff Taggart 2002-01-01
Movie The Vampire Hunters Club Johnny 2001-02-01
Movie Never Look Back 2000-03-31
Movie Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan' Conan's Father (archive footage) 2000-05-30
Movie Wasteland Justice Moon 1999-01-01
Movie Heat of Las Vegas Mario Verelli 1998-01-23
Movie Broken Vessels Bo 1998-04-18
Movie Hollywood Cops Rinaldi 1997-01-01
Movie Doublecross on Costa's Island L. E. 1997-01-01
Movie The Shooter Jerry Krants 1997-10-23
Movie The Colony Theo Maxwell 1996-07-04
Movie Neon Signs Clyde 1996-01-01
Movie Uncle Sam Major 1996-11-13
Movie Big Sister 2000 The Man 1995-01-01
Movie Taken Alive L.E. 1994-05-12
Movie Maverick Riverboat Poker Player 1994-05-20
Series Due South Unknown 1994-09-22
Movie Manosaurus Sheriff Todd 1994-11-01
Movie Return of the Roller Blade Seven Pharoah 1993-04-15
Series Walker, Texas Ranger Unknown 1993-04-21
Movie GetEven Normad 1993-09-24
Movie Legend of The Roller Blade Seven Pharoah 1993-06-25
Movie Shadow of the Dragon Eric Brunner 1992-01-01
Movie Feast Det. George Bordelli 1992-01-01
Movie American Me Deacon 1992-03-13
Series Nightmare Cafe Unknown 1992-01-29
Movie The Last Riders Hammer 1992-02-01
Movie Merchant of Evil Victor Fortunetti 1991-01-01
Movie Spirit of the Eagle Hatchett 1991-01-01
Movie The Roller Blade Seven Pharoah 1991-09-06
Movie Cybernator Colonel Peck 1991-07-05
Movie Instant Karma Pop 1990-04-27
Movie Emperor of the Bronx Fitz 1990-06-01
Movie Cartel Mason 1990-06-14
Movie The Final Sanction Maj. Galashkin 1990-11-30
Series Shades of L.A. 1990-10-10
Movie Empire of Ash III Lucas 1990-06-26
Movie Deadly Breed Captain 1989-07-20
Movie Action U.S.A. Conover 1989-07-01
Movie Terror In Beverly Hills President 1989-08-26
Movie Memorial Valley Massacre Gen. Mintz 1989-09-27
Movie B.O.R.N. Dr. Farley 1989-10-26
Movie Jungle Assault General Mitchell 1989-10-18
Movie L.A. Vice Capt. Joe Wilkes 1989-10-01
Series Supercarrier Unknown 1988-03-06
Movie Hell Comes to Frogtown Captain Devlin / Count Sodom 1988-01-29
Movie Bulletproof Russian Major 1988-04-20
Movie Platoon Leader Major Flynn 1988-10-01
Movie Maniac Cop Captain Ripley 1988-05-13
Movie Evil Altar Reed Weller 1988-11-01
Movie Commando Squad Morgan Denny 1987-06-01
Movie Hell on the Battleground Colonel Meredith 1987-04-01
Movie Moon in Scorpio Burt 1987-10-14
Movie The Phantom Empire Dr. Chambers 1987-10-01
Movie Eye of the Tiger Blade 1986-07-07
Movie The Mean Season Albert O'Shaughnessy 1985-02-15
Series Wildside 1985-03-21
Series The Twilight Zone Unknown 1985-09-27
Movie Fever Pitch Panama Hat 1985-11-22
Series Airwolf Unknown 1984-01-22
Movie Red Dawn Strelnikov 1984-08-10
Movie The Jerk, Too Suicide 1984-01-06
Series Hunter Unknown 1984-09-18
Series Murder, She Wrote Unknown 1984-09-30
Series Highway to Heaven Unknown 1984-09-19
Movie The Outsiders Store Clerk 1983-03-25
Series The A-Team Jase Tataro 1983-01-23
Series The Yellow Rose Unknown 1983-10-02
Series Hardcastle and McCormick Unknown 1983-09-18
Series Scarecrow and Mrs. King Unknown 1983-10-03
Series Masquerade Unknown 1983-12-15
Movie Rumble Fish Patterson the Cop 1983-10-09
Series T. J. Hooker Unknown 1982-03-13
Movie Conan the Barbarian Conan's Father 1982-04-02
Series Matt Houston Unknown 1982-09-26
Series Knight Rider Unknown 1982-09-26
Series The Fall Guy Unknown 1981-11-04
Series Simon & Simon Unknown 1981-11-24
Movie The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes Tolar 1980-11-18
Movie Any Which Way You Can Jack Wilson 1980-12-17
Movie Fast Company Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson 1979-03-18
Series B. J. and the Bear Unknown 1979-02-10
Movie The Rebels John Waverly 1979-05-14
Movie Seven Drew 1979-09-07
Series Benson Unknown 1979-09-13
Movie The Frisco Kid Matt Diggs 1979-07-06
Series Trapper John, M.D. Unknown 1979-09-23
Series Vega$ Unknown 1978-09-20
Movie Blood & Guts Dan O'Neil 1978-09-15
Movie Blackjack Andy Mayfield (as Bill Smith) 1978-11-01
Movie Twilight's Last Gleaming Hoxey 1977-02-09
Series CHiPs Unknown 1977-09-15
Series The Oregon Trail Unknown 1977-09-21
Series Logan's Run Unknown 1977-09-16
Series Rich Man, Poor Man Falconetti 1976-02-01
Series City of Angels Unknown 1976-02-03
Movie Hollywood Man Rafe Stoker 1976-10-01
Series Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II Falconetti 1976-09-21
Movie Scorchy Carl Henrich 1976-10-08
Series S.W.A.T. Unknown 1975-02-24
Movie Win, Place or Steal Tom 1975-02-01
Series Bronk Unknown 1975-04-17
Movie The Swinging Barmaids Harry 1975-07-15
Movie Dr. Minx Gus Dolan 1975-11-01
Movie The Ultimate Warrior Carrot 1975-10-02
Movie Boss Nigger Jed Clayton 1975-08-17
Series Movin' On Unknown 1974-05-08
Movie Policewomen Karate Instructor 1974-02-09
Movie Black Samson Johnny Nappa 1974-08-14
Series Planet of the Apes Unknown 1974-09-13
Movie The Sex Symbol Butch Wischnewski 1974-09-17
Series Police Woman Unknown 1974-09-13
Series Kolchak: The Night Stalker Unknown 1974-09-13
Movie Prologue to Wounded Knee Camper John Allen 1973-04-27
Series Police Story Unknown 1973-03-20
Movie Sweet Jesus, Preacherman Martelli 1973-05-25
Movie Invasion of the Bee Girls Neil Agar 1973-06-01
Movie The Last American Hero Kyle Kingman 1973-07-27
Movie The Deadly Trackers Schoolboy 1973-12-21
Movie The Thing with Two Heads Hysterical Condemned Man 1972-07-19
Movie Hammer Brenner 1972-07-04
Movie Grave of the Vampire James Eastman 1972-08-23
Series Search Unknown 1972-09-13
Movie Piranha, Piranha Caribe 1972-11-08
Series Kung Fu Unknown 1972-10-14
Series The Streets of San Francisco Unknown 1972-09-23
Series Alias Smith and Jones Unknown 1971-01-05
Movie Runaway, Runaway Frank 1971-05-17
Movie Chrome and Hot Leather T.J. 1971-09-29
Movie Summertree Draft Lawyer 1971-06-06
Series Columbo Nichols 1971-09-15
Movie The Losers Link Thomas 1970-06-08
Movie Darker Than Amber Terry 1970-08-14
Movie Angels Die Hard Tim 1970-07-08
Movie Crowhaven Farm Patrolman Hayes 1970-11-24
Movie C.C. and Company Moon 1970-10-14
Movie Run, Angel, Run! Angel 1969-04-18
Movie Backtrack! Texas Ranger Joe Riley (archive footage) 1969-05-26
Movie The Over the Hill Gang Amos (as Bill Smith) 1969-07-06
Series Julia Unknown 1968-09-17
Series Hawaii Five-O Det. James 'Kimo' Carew 1968-09-20
Movie Three Guns for Texas Texas Ranger Joe Riley 1968-10-31
Series The Mod Squad Unknown 1968-09-24
Series Here Come the Brides Unknown 1968-09-25
Series Ironside Unknown 1967-03-28
Series Custer Unknown 1967-09-06
Series The Guns of Will Sonnett Unknown 1967-09-08
Series Mannix Unknown 1967-09-16
Series Batman Unknown 1966-01-12
Series Mission: Impossible Unknown 1966-09-17
Series Felony Squad Unknown 1966-09-12
Series Laredo Joe Riley 1965-09-16
Movie Mail Order Bride Lank 1964-03-10
Series Daniel Boone Unknown 1964-09-24
Series Kraft Suspense Theatre Unknown 1963-10-10
Series Stoney Burke Unknown 1962-10-01
Series The Virginian Unknown 1962-09-19
Series Combat! Unknown 1962-10-02
Series Zero One Jimmy Delaney 1962-10-03
Series The Asphalt Jungle 1961-04-02
Movie Atlantis: The Lost Continent Captain of the Guard 1961-05-03
Movie The Mating Game Barney 1959-04-29
Movie Girls Town Man (uncredited) 1959-10-05
Movie Never So Few MP Officer #1 1959-12-07
Series Mr. Lucky Unknown 1959-10-24
Series Perry Mason Unknown 1957-09-21
Series Gunsmoke Unknown 1955-09-10
Series Lassie Unknown 1954-09-12
Movie The Boy with Green Hair Boy (uncredited) 1948-11-26
Movie Gilda Man (uncredited) 1946-04-25
Movie A Tree Grows in Brooklyn Boy (uncredited) 1945-02-28
Movie Going My Way Choir Member (uncredited) 1944-05-15
Movie Meet Me in St. Louis Little Boy (uncredited) 1944-11-28
Movie The Ghost of Frankenstein Boy (uncredited) 1942-03-13
Movie Within Our Gates Philip Gentry - A Detective 1920-01-12