William Smith
Acting • Born 1933-03-24 – Died 2021-07-05
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".
Filmography
246 credits
The Outsiders
Movie • 1983
Store Clerk
Rumble Fish
Movie • 1983
Patterson the Cop
The Ghost of Frankenstein
Movie • 1942
Boy (uncredited)
Neon Signs
Movie • 1996
Clyde
Red Dawn
Movie • 1984
Strelnikov
L.A. Vice
Movie • 1989
Capt. Joe Wilkes
Eagle's Law
Movie • 1988
Hell Comes to Frogtown
Movie • 1988
Captain Devlin / Count Sodom
The Ultimate Warrior
Movie • 1975
Carrot
Boss Nigger
Movie • 1975
Jed Clayton
Invasion of the Bee Girls
Movie • 1973
Neil Agar
Zombiegeddon
Movie • 2003
Lord Zombie
Maverick
Movie • 1994
Riverboat Poker Player
Deadly Memories
Movie • 2002
Sheriff Taggart
Conan the Barbarian
Movie • 1982
Conan's Father
Eye of the Tiger
Movie • 1986
Blade
Uncle Sam
Movie • 1996
Major
The Phantom Empire
Movie • 1987
Dr. Chambers
The Vampire Hunters Club
Movie • 2001
Johnny
Feast
Movie • 1992
Det. George Bordelli
Grave of the Vampire
Movie • 1972
James Eastman
Rapturious
Movie • 2007
Sheriff
The Thing with Two Heads
Movie • 1972
Hysterical Condemned Man
The Swinging Barmaids
Movie • 1975
Harry
Atlantis: The Lost Continent
Movie • 1961
Captain of the Guard
Moon in Scorpio
Movie • 1987
Burt
Voices from the Graves
Movie • 2006
Lester Jiggs
Big Sister 2000
Movie • 1995
The Man
Hollywood Cops
Movie • 1997
Rinaldi
Hollywood Man
Movie • 1976
Rafe Stoker
Angels Die Hard
Movie • 1970
Tim
Fever Pitch
Movie • 1985
Panama Hat
Fast Company
Movie • 1979
Lonnie 'Lucky Man' Johnson
East L.A. Warriors
Movie • 1989
Martelli
The Frisco Kid
Movie • 1979
Matt Diggs
Any Which Way You Can
Movie • 1980
Jack Wilson
Darker Than Amber
Movie • 1970
Terry
Inner Rage
Movie • 2006
Sam
Blackjack
Movie • 1978
Andy Mayfield (as Bill Smith)
Chrome and Hot Leather
Movie • 1971
T.J.
C.C. and Company
Movie • 1970
Moon
The Forgotten City of the Planet of the Apes
Movie • 1980
Tolar
Black Samson
Movie • 1974
Johnny Nappa
Hammer
Movie • 1972
Brenner
The Final Sanction
Movie • 1990
Maj. Galashkin
Run, Angel, Run!
Movie • 1969
Angel
Twilight's Last Gleaming
Movie • 1977
Hoxey
Memorial Valley Massacre
Movie • 1988
Gen. Mintz
Sweet Jesus, Preacherman
Movie • 1973
Martelli
Action U.S.A.
Movie • 1989
Conover
Piranha
Movie • 1972
Caribe
The Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1991
Pharoah
Seven
Movie • 1979
Drew
Scorchy
Movie • 1976
Carl Henrich
GetEven
Movie • 1993
Normad
The Losers
Movie • 1970
Link Thomas
Empire of Ash III
Movie • 1990
Lucas
Conan Unchained: The Making of 'Conan'
Movie • 2000
Conan's Father (archive footage)
Y.M.I.
Movie • 2004
Cal
Backtrack!
Movie • 1969
Texas Ranger Joe Riley (archive footage)
Terror In Beverly Hills
Movie • 1989
President
The Deadly Trackers
Movie • 1973
Schoolboy
Cybernator
Movie • 1991
Colonel Peck
The Sex Symbol
Movie • 1974
Butch Wischnewski
Legend of The Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1993
Pharoah
Mail Order Bride
Movie • 1964
Lank
Girls Town
Movie • 1959
Man (uncredited)
Dr. Minx
Movie • 1975
Gus Dolan
Jungle Assault
Movie • 1989
General Mitchell
Spirit of the Eagle
Movie • 1991
Hatchett
God Has a Rap Sheet
Movie • 2003
Lucifer
The Last American Hero
Movie • 1973
Kyle Kingman
Commando Squad
Movie • 1987
Morgan Denny
Blood & Guts
Movie • 1978
Dan O'Neil
Evil Altar
Movie • 1988
Reed Weller
Rock n' Roll Cops Lite
Movie • 2014
Rinaldi (archive footage)
Bulletproof
Movie • 1988
Russian Major
Instant Karma
Movie • 1990
Pop
Return of the Roller Blade Seven
Movie • 1993
Pharoah
Policewomen
Movie • 1974
Karate Instructor
Three Guns for Texas
Movie • 1968
Texas Ranger Joe Riley
Win, Place or Steal
Movie • 1975
Tom
The Colony
Movie • 1996
Theo Maxwell
Maniac Cop
Movie • 1988
Captain Ripley
The Shooter
Movie • 1997
Jerry Krants
Hell to Pay
Movie • 2005
Emil Brax
Never So Few
Movie • 1959
MP Officer #1
Hell on the Battleground
Movie • 1987
Colonel Meredith
Forgotten Heroes
Movie • 1990
General Gregori Zelenkov
Runaway, Runaway
Movie • 1971
Frank
American Me
Movie • 1992
Deacon
Gilda
Movie • 1946
Man (uncredited)
Taken Alive
Movie • 1994
L.E.
36 Hours
Movie • 1964
Guy (uncredited)
The Last Riders
Movie • 1992
Hammer
Meet Me in St. Louis
Movie • 1944
Little Boy (uncredited)
Going My Way
Movie • 1944
Choir Member (uncredited)
The Rock 'n Roll Cops
Movie • 2003
Rinaldi
Deadly Breed
Movie • 1989
Captain
The Man Hunter
Movie • 1972
Clel Bocock
Broken Vessels
Movie • 1998
Bo
Kiss and Be Killed
Movie • 1991
Det. Murdoch
Cartel
Movie • 1990
Mason
Merchant of Evil
Movie • 1991
Victor Fortunetti
Fall Guy: The John Stewart Story
Movie • 2007
Man with Machine Gun
B.O.R.N.
Movie • 1989
Dr. Farley
The Mating Game
Movie • 1959
Barney
Platoon Leader
Movie • 1988
Major Flynn
I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now
Movie • 1947
Young Boy (uncredited)
Killer Story
Movie • 2004
Monty
The Erotic Rites of Countess Dracula
Movie • 2001
Count Dracula
Red Nights
Movie • 1988
Phillip
Debbie Does Damnation
Movie • 1999
Shadow of the Dragon
Movie • 1992
Eric Brunner
Emperor of the Bronx
Movie • 1990
Fitz
Blood of His Own
Movie • 1998
The Mean Season
Movie • 1985
Albert O'Shaughnessy
The Badd One
Movie • 1987
Badd
Wasteland Justice
Movie • 1999
Moon
Vice
Movie • 2000
Spooky Harlow
Never Look Back
Movie • 2000
Lee Clayton
Heat of Las Vegas
Movie • 1998
Mario Verelli
Doses of Horror
Movie • 2018
Neil Agar ("A Dose of Bee Stings" segment) (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Jerk, Too
Movie • 1984
Suicide
Raw Energy
Movie • 1996
Sam Stompkins
Tales of the Apple Dumpling Gang
Movie • 1982
Monk Hardwick
A Tree Grows in Brooklyn
Movie • 1945
Boy (uncredited)
Manosaurus
Movie • 1994
Sheriff Todd
The Boneyard Collection
Movie • 2008
Bill, the First Director (segment "Her Morbid Desires")
Dark Secrets
Movie • 1992
Robert
Crackle of Death
Movie • 1976
Shaman Jim Elkhorn
Doublecross on Costa's Island
Movie • 1997
L. E.
Irresistible
Movie • 2020
Hofbrau Bar Fly
Prologue to Wounded Knee
Movie • 1973
Camper John Allen
Slow Burn
Movie • 1989
Antonio Scarpelli
The Boy with Green Hair
Movie • 1948
Boy (uncredited)
The Over the Hill Gang
Movie • 1969
Amos (as Bill Smith)
A Mission to Kill
Movie • 2003
Crowhaven Farm
Movie • 1970
Patrolman Hayes
The Rockford Files: Backlash of the Hunter
Movie • 1974
Jerry Grimes
Hard Time Romance
Movie • 1991
The Gazebo
Movie • 1960
Actor Who Trips Over Camera (uncredited)
Death Among Friends
Movie • 1975
Sheldon Casey
A Taste of Hell
Movie • 1973
Jack Lowell
Ask Any Girl
Movie • 1959
Young Man (uncredited)
Planet of the Apes
TV • 1974
Tolar
Murder, She Wrote
TV • 1984
Clyde Thorson
Movin' On
TV • 1974
Hardcastle and McCormick
TV • 1983
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Stan
B. J. and the Bear
TV • 1979
Trapper John, M.D.
TV • 1979
Tugwell
T. J. Hooker
TV • 1982
R.K. 'Blood' Henderson
Due South
TV • 1994
Harold Geiger
Kraft Suspense Theatre
TV • 1963
Deputy Raynor
Mr. Lucky
TV • 1959
Benson
TV • 1979
Batman
TV • 1966
Adonis
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
The Twilight Zone
TV • 1985
(segment "Shadow Play")
Airwolf
TV • 1984
Steele
Hawaii Five-O
TV • 1968
Det. James 'Kimo' Carew
Knight Rider
TV • 1982
Harold T. Turner
Highway to Heaven
TV • 1984
Alias Smith and Jones
TV • 1971
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV • 1993
Silas Quint
Scarecrow and Mrs. King
TV • 1983
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Perry Mason
TV • 1957
Andy Witcoe
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Jude Bonner
Combat!
TV • 1962
Richter
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Vincent Sandler
Lassie
TV • 1954
Hunter
TV • 1984
Sgt. Neville Sigerson
Ironside
TV • 1967
The Fall Guy
TV • 1981
Kolchak: The Night Stalker
TV • 1974
Jim Elkhorn
Laredo
TV • 1965
Joe Riley
Felony Squad
TV • 1966
Vega$
TV • 1978
The Yellow Rose
TV • 1983
Police Woman
TV • 1974
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Catoga
Julia
TV • 1968
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Andy Adams
Search
TV • 1972
City of Angels
TV • 1976
Matt Houston
TV • 1982
J.D. Harris
Here Come the Brides
TV • 1968
Kitana
Supercarrier
TV • 1988
The Guns of Will Sonnett
TV • 1967
Wildside
TV • 1985
Custer
TV • 1967
The Oregon Trail
TV • 1977
Shades of L.A.
TV • 1990
The Asphalt Jungle
TV • 1961
Sgt. Danny Keller
Bronk
TV • 1975
Logan's Run
TV • 1977
Patron / Modok
Justice League
TV • 2001
Draaga (voice)
Masquerade
TV • 1983
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Jase Tataro
Columbo
TV • 1971
Nichols
Hunter
TV • 1984
Sgt. Sal Drasso
The Ed Wynn Show
TV • 1958
Dink
Combat!
TV • 1962
German Sergeant
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Bill
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Joe Riley
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Paul Rogers
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
Latch
Code Red
TV • 1981
Zero One
TV • 1962
Jimmy Delaney
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Campuits
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Amos (uncredited)
Daniel Boone
TV • 1964
Amos Martin
Rich Man, Poor Man - Book II
TV • 1976
Falconetti
The Mod Squad
TV • 1968
Jack Harper
Rich Man, Poor Man
TV • 1976
Falconetti
Airwolf
TV • 1984
Patterson
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
John Brent
The A-Team
TV • 1983
Dimitri Shasta Kovich
Wagon Train
TV • 1957
Thomas Lance
Vinnie & Bobby
TV • 1992
Warren Bean
Kung Fu
TV • 1972
Capt. Luther Staggers
Death Valley Days
TV • 1952
Marshall Hendry Brown
Ironside
TV • 1967
Larry
Beyond Belief: Fact or Fiction
TV • 1997
Wes Tronker (segment "Devil's Tattoo")
The Six Million Dollar Man
TV • 1974
Cmdr. Maxwell
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Spector
Mission: Impossible
TV • 1966
Dekker
Death Valley Days
TV • 1952
Dan Turner
I Dream of Jeannie
TV • 1965
Turk
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
Cady
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
TV • 1979
The Trebor
The Alfred Hitchcock Hour
TV • 1962
Tommy Lad
Fantasy Island
TV • 1978
Wyatt Earp
Stoney Burke
TV • 1962
Lieutenant Joe Cardiff
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Monk Hardwick
The Streets of San Francisco
TV • 1972
Mickey Sims
The Guns of Will Sonnett
TV • 1967
Deputy Leroy
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TV • 1962
Self
The Guns of Will Sonnett
TV • 1967
Luther
The Second Hundred Years
TV • 1967
Joe
The Master
TV • 1984
Alan Kane
Nash Bridges
TV • 1996
Boris Zarkov
Police Story
TV • 1973
(uncredited)
The Rebels
TV • 1979
John Waverly