William Smith

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Known Credits

240

Gender

Male

Birthday

1933-03-24

Day of death

2021-07-05 (88 years old)

Place of Birth

Columbia, Missouri, USA

William Smith

Biography

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". He held a BA from Syracuse and an MA in Russian Studies from UCLA. Born in Columbia, Missouri, Smith began his acting career at the age of eight in 1942; he entered films as a child actor in such films as The Ghost of Frankenstein, The Song of Bernadette and Meet Me in St. Louis. He was a regular on the 1961 ABC television series The Asphalt Jungle, portraying police Sergeant Danny Keller. One of his earliest leading roles was as Joe Riley, a Texas Ranger on the NBC western series Laredo. In 1967, Smith guest starred as Jude Bonner on James Arness's long-lived western Gunsmoke. Smith was cast as John Richard Parker, brother of Cynthia Ann Parker, both taken hostage in Texas by the Comanche, in the 1969 episode "The Understanding" of the syndicated television series Death Valley Days, which was hosted by Robert Taylor. In the story line, Parker contracts the plague, is left for dead by his fellow Comanche warriors, and is rescued by his future Mexican wife, Yolanda (Emily Banks). He played outlaw turned temporary sheriff Hendry Brown in the 1969 episode "The Restless Man". In that story line, Brown takes the job of sheriff to tame a lawless town, begins to court a young woman (again played by Emily Banks), but soon returns to his deadly outlaw ways in search of bigger thrills. On Gunsmoke, Smith appeared in a 1972 episode, "Hostage!"; his character beats and rapes Amanda Blake's character Miss Kitty Russell and shoots her twice in the back. Smith has been described as the "greatest bad-guy character actor of our time".

Known For

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

    The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

  • Columbo

    Columbo

  • Ironside

    Ironside

  • Ironside

    Ironside

  • Perry Mason

    Perry Mason

  • Murder, She Wrote

    Murder, She Wrote

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The Virginian

    The Virginian

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • The A-Team

    The A-Team

  • Batman

    Batman

  • Police Woman

    Police Woman

  • Knight Rider

    Knight Rider

  • Hawaii Five-O

    Hawaii Five-O

  • Lassie

    Lassie

  • T. J. Hooker

    T. J. Hooker

  • Wagon Train

    Wagon Train

  • I Dream of Jeannie

    I Dream of Jeannie

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • Simon & Simon

    Simon & Simon

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Mission: Impossible

    Mission: Impossible

  • Airwolf

    Airwolf

  • Airwolf

    Airwolf

  • Trapper John, M.D.

    Trapper John, M.D.

  • The Twilight Zone

    The Twilight Zone

  • Daniel Boone

    Daniel Boone

  • Daniel Boone

    Daniel Boone

  • Daniel Boone

    Daniel Boone

  • Daniel Boone

    Daniel Boone

  • The Six Million Dollar Man

    The Six Million Dollar Man

  • Matt Houston

    Matt Houston

  • Highway to Heaven

    Highway to Heaven

  • The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

    The Alfred Hitchcock Hour

  • Due South

    Due South

  • Combat!

    Combat!

  • Combat!

    Combat!

  • Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

    Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction

  • Walker, Texas Ranger

    Walker, Texas Ranger

  • Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

    Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Hunter

    Hunter

  • Felony Squad

    Felony Squad

  • The Fall Guy

    The Fall Guy

  • Fantasy Island

    Fantasy Island

  • Scarecrow and Mrs. King

    Scarecrow and Mrs. King

  • Julia

    Julia

  • Kraft Suspense Theatre

    Kraft Suspense Theatre

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Gunsmoke

    Gunsmoke

  • Hardcastle and McCormick

    Hardcastle and McCormick

  • The Streets of San Francisco

    The Streets of San Francisco

  • Vega$

    Vega$

  • Benson

    Benson

  • Justice League

    Justice League

  • Laredo

    Laredo

  • Kolchak: The Night Stalker

    Kolchak: The Night Stalker

  • Alias Smith and Jones

    Alias Smith and Jones

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett

    The Guns of Will Sonnett

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett

    The Guns of Will Sonnett

  • The Guns of Will Sonnett

    The Guns of Will Sonnett

  • The Mod Squad

    The Mod Squad

  • The Mod Squad

    The Mod Squad

  • Police Story

    Police Story

  • Conan the Barbarian

    Conan the Barbarian

  • Here Come the Brides

    Here Come the Brides

  • Stoney Burke

    Stoney Burke

  • CHiPs

    CHiPs

  • Search

    Search

  • The Yellow Rose

    The Yellow Rose

  • American Me

    American Me

  • Going My Way

    Going My Way

  • A Mission to Kill

    A Mission to Kill

  • Mr. Lucky

    Mr. Lucky

  • The Last Riders

    The Last Riders

  • The Outsiders

    The Outsiders

  • Maverick

    Maverick

  • A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

    A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

  • B. J. and the Bear

    B. J. and the Bear

  • City of Angels

    City of Angels

  • Hard Time Romance

    Hard Time Romance

  • Planet of the Apes

    Planet of the Apes

  • Bronk

    Bronk

  • The Boneyard Collection

    The Boneyard Collection

  • The Final Sanction

    The Final Sanction

  • Red Dawn

    Red Dawn

  • Movin' On

    Movin' On

  • Killer Story

    Killer Story

  • Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II

    Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II

  • Rich Man, Poor Man

    Rich Man, Poor Man

  • The Frisco Kid

    The Frisco Kid

  • The Second Hundred Years

    The Second Hundred Years

  • Rock n' Roll Cops Lite

    Rock n' Roll Cops Lite

  • East L.A. Warriors

    East L.A. Warriors

  • Darker Than Amber

    Darker Than Amber

  • Custer

    Custer

  • Seven

    Seven

  • Hell on the Battleground

    Hell on the Battleground

  • Hell Comes to Frogtown

    Hell Comes to Frogtown

  • Shades of L.A.

    Shades of L.A.

  • Deadly Breed

    Deadly Breed

  • Wasteland Justice

    Wasteland Justice

  • Masquerade

    Masquerade

  • Code Red

    Code Red

  • Death Valley Days

    Death Valley Days

  • Death Valley Days

    Death Valley Days

  • The Mean Season

    The Mean Season

  • Hollywood Man

    Hollywood Man

  • Hollywood Cops

    Hollywood Cops

  • Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story

    Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story

  • Broken Vessels

    Broken Vessels

  • Logan's Run

    Logan's Run

  • Debbie Does Damnation

    Debbie Does Damnation

  • Kiss and Be Killed

    Kiss and Be Killed

  • The Deadly Trackers

    The Deadly Trackers

  • Voices from the Graves

    Voices from the Graves

  • The Phantom Empire

    The Phantom Empire

  • Hell to Pay

    Hell to Pay

  • Bulletproof

    Bulletproof

  • Shadow of the Dragon

    Shadow of the Dragon

  • Dr. Minx

    Dr. Minx

  • The Asphalt Jungle

    The Asphalt Jungle

  • The Oregon Trail

    The Oregon Trail

  • The Shooter

    The Shooter

  • Forgotten Heroes

    Forgotten Heroes

  • Cybernator

    Cybernator

  • Sweet Jesus, Preacherman

    Sweet Jesus, Preacherman

  • Emperor of the Bronx

    Emperor of the Bronx

  • Fast Company

    Fast Company

  • Atlantis: The Lost Continent

    Atlantis: The Lost Continent

  • Moon in Scorpio

    Moon in Scorpio

  • L.A. Vice

    L.A. Vice

  • Y.M.I.

    Y.M.I.

  • Memorial Valley Massacre

    Memorial Valley Massacre

  • Fever Pitch

    Fever Pitch

  • Grave of the Vampire

    Grave of the Vampire

  • Supercarrier

    Supercarrier

  • Runaway, Runaway

    Runaway, Runaway

  • Any Which Way You Can

    Any Which Way You Can

  • Maniac Cop

    Maniac Cop

  • Run, Angel, Run!

    Run, Angel, Run!

  • Manosaurus

    Manosaurus

  • The Boy with Green Hair

    The Boy with Green Hair

  • Raw Energy

    Raw Energy

  • Dark Secrets

    Dark Secrets

  • Policewomen

    Policewomen

  • Angels Die Hard

    Angels Die Hard

  • The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes

    The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes

  • Meet Me in St. Louis

    Meet Me in St. Louis

  • Backtrack!

    Backtrack!

  • Rapturious

    Rapturious

  • Empire of Ash III

    Empire of Ash III

  • Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang

    Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang

  • The Man Hunter

    The Man Hunter

  • The Colony

    The Colony

  • The Rebels

    The Rebels

  • The Wonderful World of Disney

    The Wonderful World of Disney

  • B.O.R.N.

    B.O.R.N.

  • Slow Burn

    Slow Burn

  • Rumble Fish

    Rumble Fish

  • The Swinging Barmaids

    The Swinging Barmaids

  • Taken Alive

    Taken Alive

  • GetEven

    GetEven

  • Prologue to Wounded Knee

    Prologue to Wounded Knee

  • Three Guns for Texas

    Three Guns for Texas

  • Eye of the Tiger

    Eye of the Tiger

  • The Ultimate Warrior

    The Ultimate Warrior

  • The Losers

    The Losers

  • Zero One

    Zero One

  • 36 Hours

    36 Hours

  • Action U.S.A.

    Action U.S.A.

  • The Mating Game

    The Mating Game

  • Wildside

    Wildside

  • Commando Squad

    Commando Squad

  • Spirit of the Eagle

    Spirit of the Eagle

  • Never So Few

    Never So Few

  • Hammer

    Hammer

  • The Rock 'n Roll Cops

    The Rock 'n Roll Cops

  • Gilda

    Gilda

  • Blood of His Own

    Blood of His Own

  • The Over the Hill Gang

    The Over the Hill Gang

  • Cartel

    Cartel

  • Irresistible

    Irresistible

  • Big Sister 2000

    Big Sister 2000

  • Terror In Beverly Hills

    Terror In Beverly Hills

  • Neon Signs

    Neon Signs

  • Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'

    Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'

  • The Last American Hero

    The Last American Hero

  • Jungle Assault

    Jungle Assault

  • Invasion of the Bee Girls

    Invasion of the Bee Girls

  • Instant Karma

    Instant Karma

  • Red Nights

    Red Nights

  • Twilight's Last Gleaming

    Twilight's Last Gleaming

  • Never Look Back

    Never Look Back

  • The Ed Wynn Show

    The Ed Wynn Show

  • Black Samson

    Black Samson

  • Platoon Leader

    Platoon Leader

  • Vinnie & Bobby

    Vinnie & Bobby

  • Zombiegeddon

    Zombiegeddon

  • The Vampire Hunters Club

    The Vampire Hunters Club

  • Merchant of Evil

    Merchant of Evil

  • Evil Altar

    Evil Altar

  • Crowhaven Farm

    Crowhaven Farm

  • The Thing with Two Heads

    The Thing with Two Heads

  • Chrome and Hot Leather

    Chrome and Hot Leather

  • The Ghost of Frankenstein

    The Ghost of Frankenstein

  • Vice

    Vice

  • Legend of The Roller Blade Seven

    Legend of The Roller Blade Seven

  • C.C. and Company

    C.C. and Company

  • Doses of Horror

    Doses of Horror

  • Uncle Sam

    Uncle Sam

  • Boss Nigger

    Boss Nigger

  • Piranha

    Piranha

  • Kung Fu

    Kung Fu

  • The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula

    The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula

  • Return of the Roller Blade Seven

    Return of the Roller Blade Seven

  • The Jerk, Too

    The Jerk, Too

  • Mail Order Bride

    Mail Order Bride

  • God Has a Rap Sheet

    God Has a Rap Sheet

  • Inner Rage

    Inner Rage

  • The Sex Symbol

    The Sex Symbol

  • Crackle of Death

    Crackle of Death

  • The Badd One

    The Badd One

  • Scorchy

    Scorchy

  • Girls Town

    Girls Town

  • I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

    I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now

  • Doublecross on Costa's Island

    Doublecross on Costa's Island

  • Blood & Guts

    Blood & Guts

  • Blackjack

    Blackjack

  • The Roller Blade Seven

    The Roller Blade Seven

  • Win, Place or Steal

    Win, Place or Steal

  • The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter

    The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter

  • Heat of Las Vegas

    Heat of Las Vegas

  • Feast

    Feast

  • Deadly Memories

    Deadly Memories

  • Eagle's Law

    Eagle's Law