William Smith
Born
March 24, 1933
Died
July 5, 2021 (88 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Columbia, Missouri, USA
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".
Irresistible
Hofbrau Bar Fly
2020
Doses of Horror
Neil Agar ("A Dose of Bee Stings" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited)
2018
Rock n' Roll Cops Lite
Rinaldi (archive footage)
2014
The Boneyard Collection
Bill, the First Director (segment "Her Morbid Desires")
2008
Rapturious
Sheriff
2007
Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story
Man with Machine Gun
2007
Voices from the Graves
Lester Jiggs
2006
Inner Rage
Sam
2006
Vice
Spooky Harlow
2005
Hell to Pay
Emil Brax
2005
Killer Story
Monty
2004
Y.M.I.
Cal
2004
The Rock 'n Roll Cops
Rinaldi
2003
A Mission to Kill
2003
Zombiegeddon
Lord Zombie
2003
God Has a Rap Sheet
Lucifer
2003
Deadly Memories
Sheriff Taggart
2002
Justice League
Draaga (voice) · (2 episodes)
2001
The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula
Count Dracula
2001
The Vampire Hunters Club
Johnny
2001
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
Conan's Father (archive footage)
2000
Never Look Back
Lee Clayton
2000
Debbie Does Damnation
1999
Wasteland Justice
Moon
1999
Blood of His Own
1998
Broken Vessels
Bo
1998
Heat of Las Vegas
Mario Verelli
1998
The Shooter
Jerry Krants
1997
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
Wes Tronker (segment "Devil's Tattoo") · (1 episode)
1997
Hollywood Cops
Rinaldi
1997
Doublecross on Costa's Island
L. E.
1997
Uncle Sam
Major
1996
The Colony
Theo Maxwell
1996
Neon Signs
Clyde
1996
Raw Energy
Sam Stompkins
1996
Big Sister 2000
The Man
1995
Manosaurus
Sheriff Todd
1994
Due South
Harold Geiger · (1 episode)
1994
Maverick
Riverboat Poker Player
1994
Taken Alive
L.E.
1994
GetEven
Normad
1993
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Pharoah
1993
Walker, Texas Ranger
Silas Quint · (1 episode)
1993
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Pharoah
1993
Vinnie & Bobby
Warren Bean · (1 episode)
1992
American Me
Deacon
1992
The Last Riders
Hammer
1992
Feast
Det. George Bordelli
1992
Shadow of the Dragon
Eric Brunner
1992
Dark Secrets
Robert
1992
The Roller Blade Seven
Pharoah
1991
Cybernator
Colonel Peck
1991
Spirit of the Eagle
Hatchett
1991
Kiss and Be Killed
Det. Murdoch
1991
Merchant of Evil
Victor Fortunetti
1991
The Final Sanction
Maj. Galashkin
1990
Shades of L.A.
(1 episode)
1990
Empire of Ash III
Lucas
1990
Cartel
Mason
1990
Emperor of the Bronx
Fitz
1990
Instant Karma
Pop
1990
Forgotten Heroes
General Gregori Zelenkov
1990
Slow Burn
Antonio Scarpelli
1989
B.O.R.N.
Dr. Farley
1989
Jungle Assault
General Mitchell
1989
East L.A. Warriors
Martelli
1989
L.A. Vice
Capt. Joe Wilkes
1989
Terror In Beverly Hills
President
1989
Deadly Breed
Captain
1989
Action U.S.A.
Conover
1989
Memorial Valley Massacre
Gen. Mintz
1988
Evil Altar
Reed Weller
1988
Platoon Leader
Major Flynn
1988
Maniac Cop
Captain Ripley
1988
Red Nights
Phillip
1988
Bulletproof
Russian Major
1988
Supercarrier
(1 episode)
1988
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Captain Devlin / Count Sodom
1988
Eagle's Law
1988
Moon in Scorpio
Burt
1987
The Phantom Empire
Dr. Chambers
1987
Commando Squad
Morgan Denny
1987
Hell on the Battleground
Colonel Meredith
1987
The Badd One
Badd
1987
Eye of the Tiger
Blade
1986
Fever Pitch
Panama Hat
1985
The Twilight Zone
(segment "Shadow Play") · (1 episode)
1985
Wildside
(6 episodes)
1985
The Mean Season
Albert O'Shaughnessy
1985
Murder, She Wrote
Clyde Thorson · (1 episode)
1984
Highway to Heaven
(1 episode)
1984
Hunter
Sgt. Neville Sigerson · (1 episode)
1984
Hunter
Sgt. Sal Drasso · (1 episode)
1984
Red Dawn
Strelnikov
1984
Airwolf
Steele · (1 episode)
1984
Airwolf
Patterson · (1 episode)
1984
The Jerk, Too
Suicide
1984
Masquerade
(1 episode)
1983
Rumble Fish
Patterson the Cop
1983
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
(1 episode)
1983
The Yellow Rose
(1 episode)
1983
Hardcastle and McCormick
(1 episode)
1983
The Outsiders
Store Clerk
1983
The A-Team
Jase Tataro · (1 episode)
1983
The A-Team
Dimitri Shasta Kovich · (1 episode)
1983
Knight Rider
Harold T. Turner · (1 episode)
1982
Matt Houston
(1 episode)
1982
Conan the Barbarian
Conan's Father
1982
T. J. Hooker
R.K. 'Blood' Henderson · (1 episode)
1982
Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang
Monk Hardwick
1982
Simon & Simon
(1 episode)
1981
Simon & Simon
Cady · (1 episode)
1981
The Fall Guy
(2 episodes)
1981
Code Red
(2 episodes)
1981
Any Which Way You Can
Jack Wilson
1980
The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes
Tolar
1980
Trapper John, M.D.
Tugwell · (1 episode)
1979
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
The Trebor · (1 episode)
1979
Benson
(1 episode)
1979
Seven
Drew
1979
The Frisco Kid
Matt Diggs
1979
The Rebels
John Waverly
1979
Fast Company
Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson
1979
B. J. and the Bear
(2 episodes)
1979
Blackjack
Andy Mayfield (as Bill Smith)
1978
Vega$
(1 episode)
1978
Blood & Guts
Dan O'Neil
1978
Fantasy Island
Wyatt Earp · (1 episode)
1978
The Oregon Trail
(1 episode)
1977
Logan's Run
(1 episode)
1977
CHiPs
Stan · (3 episodes)
1977
Twilight's Last Gleaming
Hoxey
1977
Scorchy
Carl Henrich
1976
Hollywood Man
Rafe Stoker
1976
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
Falconetti · (22 episodes)
1976
Crackle of Death
Shaman Jim Elkhorn
1976
City of Angels
(1 episode)
1976
Rich Man, Poor Man
Falconetti · (12 episodes)
1976
Dr. Minx
Gus Dolan
1975
The Ultimate Warrior
Carrot
1975
Boss Nigger
Jed Clayton
1975
The Swinging Barmaids
Harry
1975
Bronk
(1 episode)
1975
Win, Place or Steal
Tom
1975
The Sex Symbol
Butch Wischnewski
1974
Planet of the Apes
(1 episode)
1974
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
Jim Elkhorn · (1 episode)
1974
Police Woman
(1 episode)
1974
Movin' On
(1 episode)
1974
Black Samson
Johnny Nappa
1974
The Rockford Files
Jerry Grimes
1974
Policewomen
Karate Instructor
1974
The Six Million Dollar Man
Cmdr. Maxwell · (1 episode)
1974
The Deadly Trackers
Schoolboy
1973
The Last American Hero
Kyle Kingman
1973
Invasion of the Bee Girls
Neil Agar
1973
Sweet Jesus, Preacherman
Martelli
1973
Prologue to Wounded Knee
Camper John Allen
1973
Police Story
(1 episode)
1973
Piranha
Caribe
1972
Kung Fu
Capt. Luther Staggers · (1 episode)
1972
The Streets of San Francisco
Mickey Sims · (1 episode)
1972
Search
(1 episode)
1972
Grave of the Vampire
James Eastman
1972
The Thing with Two Heads
Hysterical Condemned Man
1972
Hammer
Brenner
1972
The Man Hunter
Clel Bocock
1972
Chrome and Hot Leather
T.J.
1971
Columbo
Nichols · (1 episode)
1971
Runaway, Runaway
Frank
1971
Alias Smith and Jones
(1 episode)
1971
Crowhaven Farm
Patrolman Hayes
1970
C.C. and Company
Moon
1970
Darker Than Amber
Terry
1970
Angels Die Hard
Tim
1970
The Losers
Link Thomas
1970
The Over the Hill Gang
Amos (as Bill Smith)
1969
Backtrack!
Texas Ranger Joe Riley (archive footage)
1969
Run, Angel, Run!
Angel
1969
Three Guns for Texas
Texas Ranger Joe Riley
1968
Here Come the Brides
Kitana · (1 episode)
1968
The Mod Squad
(2 episodes)
1968
The Mod Squad
Jack Harper · (1 episode)
1968
Hawaii Five-O
Det. James 'Kimo' Carew · (20 episodes)
1968
Julia
(1 episode)
1968
The Guns of Will Sonnett
(2 episodes)
1967
The Guns of Will Sonnett
Deputy Leroy · (1 episode)
1967
Custer
(1 episode)
1967
Ironside
(1 episode)
1967
Ironside
Larry · (1 episode)
1967
Mission: Impossible
Vincent Sandler · (1 episode)
1966
Mission: Impossible
John Brent · (1 episode)
1966
Mission: Impossible
Dekker · (1 episode)
1966
Felony Squad
(1 episode)
1966
Batman
Adonis · (1 episode)
1966
I Dream of Jeannie
Turk · (1 episode)
1965
Laredo
Joe Riley · (57 episodes)
1965
36 Hours
Guy (uncredited)
1964
Daniel Boone
Catoga · (2 episodes)
1964
Daniel Boone
Campuits · (1 episode)
1964
Daniel Boone
Amos (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1964
Daniel Boone
Amos Martin · (2 episodes)
1964
Mail Order Bride
Lank
1964
Kraft Suspense Theatre
Deputy Raynor · (1 episode)
1963
Zero One
Jimmy Delaney · (39 episodes)
1962
Combat!
Richter · (1 episode)
1962
Combat!
German Sergeant · (1 episode)
1962
Stoney Burke
Lieutenant Joe Cardiff · (1 episode)
1962
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Self · (1 episode)
1962
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
Tommy Lad · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Andy Adams · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Bill · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Paul Rogers · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Joe Riley · (1 episode)
1962
The Virginian
Spector · (1 episode)
1962
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
Captain of the Guard
1961
The Asphalt Jungle
Sgt. Danny Keller · (14 episodes)
1961
Never So Few
MP Officer #1
1959
Mr. Lucky
(1 episode)
1959
Girls Town
Man (uncredited)
1959
The Mating Game
Barney
1959
The Ed Wynn Show
Dink · (1 episode)
1958
Perry Mason
Andy Witcoe · (1 episode)
1957
Wagon Train
Thomas Lance · (1 episode)
1957
Gunsmoke
Jude Bonner · (1 episode)
1955
Gunsmoke
Latch · (1 episode)
1955
The Wonderful World of Disney
Monk Hardwick · (1 episode)
1954
Lassie
(1 episode)
1954
Death Valley Days
Marshall Hendry Brown · (1 episode)
1952
Death Valley Days
Dan Turner · (1 episode)
1952
The Boy with Green Hair
Boy (uncredited)
1948
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Young Boy (uncredited)
1947
Gilda
Man (uncredited)
1946
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Boy (uncredited)
1945
Meet Me in St. Louis
Little Boy (uncredited)
1944
Going My Way
Choir Member (uncredited)
1944
The Ghost of Frankenstein
Boy (uncredited)
1942