biography

William Smith Born in Columbia, Missouri, on March 24, 1933, William Smith had an amazing career as an actor that spanned seven decades. Born during the depths of the Depression, Smith's family relocated to southern California, where Smith started out as a child actor in the 1940s; his first role came in a bit part in Universal's The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942; with Lon Chaney Jr., Bela Lugosi, Evelyn Ankers, and Lionel Atwill), and he also worked at the RKO and Columbia lots as well. After a stint in the military followed by college and graduate school, William Smith returned to acting. By the late 1950s, he was taking small roles in such films as High School Confidential! (1958; with Mamie Van Doren).

William Smith on the cover of Strength and Health, 1961William SmithWilliam SmithWilliam Smith

In addition to acting, Smith is also an avid bodybuilder as is witnessed by these photos from a 1961 issue of Strength and Health. Smith also appeared in other muscle magazines in the 1960s and was photographed by such famous photographers as Russ Warner


William Smith After a few years of toiling in Hollywood, including a role in his first TV series, ABC's crime drama The Asphalt Jungle (1961; with Jack Warden), and a recurring role on the BBC TV drama Zero One (1962-1965), Smith's big break came when he was cast as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in the TV western series Laredo along with Peter Brown, Philip Carey, and Neville Brand. Biker films, however, proved to be the vehicle that made Smith a star, starting with the film Run, Angel, Run (1969; with Valerie Starrett). Smith followed up this successful formula in The Losers (1970; with Adam Roarke), C.C. and Company (1970; with Joe Namath and Ann-Margret), Angels Die Hard (1970; with Tom Baker and Beach Dickerson), Chrome and Hot Leather (1971; with Peter Brown and Marvin Gaye), and the tongue-in-cheek Hollywood Man (1976; with Don Stroud).

the films of jack palance

Laredo (1965-1967 NBC TV series)

William Smith

From Smith's 1965-1967 TV series Laredo

Three Guns for Texas (1968)

William SmithWilliam Smith, Martin Milner, Peter Brown, and Neville Brand

LEFT: From Three Guns for Texas, a theatrical release that was the result of editing three Laredo first-season episodes together: Yahoo, The Jinx, and No Bugles, One Drum. RIGHT: With Martin Milner, Peter Brown, and Neville Brand

Run, Angel, Run (1969)

William SmithWilliam SmithWilliam Smith

In Run, Angel, Run, Smith is a biker who quits his gang and sells an expose about them to a national magazine

C.C. and Company (1970)

William SmithWilliam Smith

As the bad biker Moon in C.C. and Company

Chrome and Hot Leather (1971)

William Smith

From the American International release Chrome and Hot Leather

Hammer (1972)

William SmithFred Williamson and William Smith

LEFT: Smith as Brenner in the blacksploitation actioner Hammer. RIGHT: With star Fred Williamson

Black Samson (1974)

William Smith

Smith as Johnny Nappa in the Warner Bros. blacksploitation actioner Black Samson

Scorchy (1976)

William Smith

As drug smuggler Carl Henrich in Scorchy

Fast Company (1979)

William Smith and Claudia JenningsWilliam Smith

From the Canadian-shot racing drama Fast Company. LEFT: With Claudia Jennings. RIGHT: Smith as 'Lucky Man' Johnson

Seven (1979)

Barbara Leigh, William Smith, and Susan Kiger

Original release poster with "Vampirella" Barbara Leigh and Susan Kiger in the actioner Seven

Any Which Way You Can (1980)

Clint Eastwood and William Smith

Bare-knuckle fighting with Clint Eastwood in the Warner Bros. comedy Any Which Way You Can, the sequel to Every Which Way But Loose (1978)

later years

From the 1960s to the 2000s, Smith enjoyed a highly active career in films and television. He acted in more than 200 episodes of television shows, making guest appearances on Batman (Smith appears as the villain Adonis in the final episode of the show), The Virginian, Daniel Boone, The Mod Squad, Mission: Impossible, Hunter, and Nash Bridges, just to name a few. Sadly, William Smith passed away on July 5, 2021, at the age of 88, He is survived by his wife, Joanne, and his son and daughter.

filmography

FILM
Island of Witches (2014) with Ray Eddy
Her Morbid Desires (2008) with Tippi Hedren, Robert Loggia, and Kevin McCarthy
Rapturious (2007)
Inner Rage (2006) with Joe Estevez
Voices from the Graves (2006) with Joe Estevez and Joe Farina
Hell to Pay (2005) with Lee Majors, Peter Brown, Denny Miller, and Stella Stevens
No Fear (2005) with David Carradine and Joe Estevez
Killer Story (2004) with Joe Estevez
Deadly Memories (2002) with Robert Z'Dar
Jumper (2002) with Joe Estevez
Y.M.I. (2002) with Peter Brown and Jeff Conaway
The Erotic Rites Of Countess Dracula (2001)
The Vampire Hunters Club (2001) with John Agar, Mink Stole, and Mary Woronov
Dangerous Highway (2000) with Robert Z'Dar
Never Look Back (2000)
Plastic Boy and the Jokers (2000)
Vice (2000) with Bo Hopkins
Blood of His Own (1998)
Dogs of Damnation (1998)
Doublecross On Costa's Island (1998) with Franco Columbu and Frank Stallone
No Rest for the Wicked (1998) with Jan-Michael Vincent and Joe Estevez
Warriors of the Apocolypse (1998)
Broken Vessels (1998)
Double Cross (1997)
Ground Zero (1997)
Hollywood Cops (1997) with Robert Z'Dar
Interview with a Zombie (1997)
Deadly Shooter (1997) with Andrew Stevens
Uncle Sam (1997) with P.J. Soles, Issac Hayes, and Bo Hopkins
Deadly Currency (1996) with Robert Z'Dar
Neon Signs (1996) with Carol Lynley
Big Sister 2000 (1995)
Judee Strange (1995)
Raw Energy (1995)
Taken Alive (1995) with Franco Columbu and Frank Stallone
Manosaurus (1994) with Michael Wayne James
Maverick (1994) with Mel Gibson, Jodie Foster, James Garner, James Coburn, Geoffrey Lewis, Robert Fuller, and Doug McClure
Hard Time Romance (1993) with Mariska Hargitay
Return of the Roller Blade Seven (1993) with Karen Black, Frank Stallone, and Joe Estevez
Road to Revenge (1993)
American Me (1992)
Dark Secrets (1992)
The Feast (1992)
Legend of Skull Canyon (1992)
The Legend of the Rollerblade 7 (1992) with Karen Black, Don Stroud, and Frank Stallone
Maniac Warriors (1992)
Shadow of the Dragon (1992) with Robert Z'Dar
The Third Rail (1992)
Cybernator (1991)
The Final Sanction (1991)
Kiss and Be Killed (1991) with Jimmy Baio
Last of the Warriors (1991)
The Last Riders (1991) with Erik Estrada
Merchant of Evil (1991)
The Roller Blade Seven (1991) with Karen Black, Don Stroud, and Frank Stallone
Terror in Beverly Hills (1991) with Cameron Mitchell and Frank Stallone
Cartel (1990) with Miles O'Keeffe and Don Stroud
Chance (1990)
Forgotten Heroes (1990)
Highway Warrior (1990)
Instant Karma (1990) with Orson Bean and David Cassidy
Action U.S.A. (1989) with Cameron Mitchell and Ross Hagen
Deadly Breed (1989)
East L.A. Warriors (1989)
Evil Altar (1989)
Jungle Assault (1989)
L.A. Vice (1989)
The Last Battle (1989)
Spirit of the Eagle (1989)
B.O.R.N. (1988) with P.J. Soles, Amanda Blake, and Russ Tamblyn
Bulletproof (1988) with Thalmus Rasulala and Gary Busey
Emperor of the Bronx (1988)
The Kill Machine (1988)
Memorial Valley Massacre (1988) with Cameron Mitchell
Platoon Leader (1988)
Maniac Cop (1988) with Richard Roundtree, Robert Z'Dar, and Sheree North
The Badd One (1987)
Commando Squad (1987) with Sid Haig, Mel Welles, Russ Tamblyn, and Ross Hagen
Hell Comes to Frogtown (1987) with Rory Calhoun and Roddy Piper
Hell on the Battleground (1987)
Moon in Scorpio (1987) with John Phillip Law and Britt Eklund
Eye of the Tiger (1986)
Empire of Ash II (1985)
Empire of Ash III (1985)
Fever Pitch (1985) with Ryan O'Neal, John Saxon, and Chad Everett
Red Dawn (1984)
Rumble Fish (1983) with Matt Dillon, Mickey Rourke, Diane Lane, Dennis Hopper, Diana Scarwid, Nicolas Cage, Chris Penn, and Laurence Fishburne
The Outsiders (1983) with Matt Dillon, C. Thomas Howell, Ralph Macchio, Patrick Swayze, Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Diane Lane, and Leif Garrett
Conan the Barbarian (1982) with Arnold Schwarzenegger and Franco Columbu
The Cop Killers (1981)
Any Which Way You Can (1980) with Clint Eastwood and Dan Vadis
Wo to Wo Fat (1980)
Lion in the Streets (1979)
Seven (1979) with Susan Kiger
The Frisco Kid (1979) with Gene Wilder and Harrison Ford
Fast Company (1979) with John Saxon
Blackjack (1978)
Blood & Guts (1978) with Brian Patrick Clarke
Twilight's Last Gleaming (1977) with Burt Lancaster, Richard Widmark, Charles Durning, and Paul Winfield
Hollywood Man (1976) with Don Stroud and Mary Woronov
Scorchy (1976) with Connie Stevens, Cesare Danova, and Joyce Jameson
Dr. Minx (1975) with Edy Williams and Alvy Moore
The Swinging Barmaids (1975) with Dyanne Thorne
The Ultimate Warrior (1975) with Yul Brynner and Max von Sydow
Boss (1975) with Fred Williamson
Another Day at the Races (1974) with MacLean Stevenson, Russ Tamblyn, and Alex Karras
Black Samson (1974) with Rockne Tarkington and Carol Speed
Policewomen (1974)
The Sex Symbol (1974) with Connie Stevens and Shelley Winters
The Deadly Trackers (1973) with Rod Taylor and Richard Harris
Gentle Savage (1973) with Joe Flynn and Barbara Luna
The Last American Hero (1973) with Jeff Bridges, Valerie Perrine, Geraldine Fitzgerald, Ned Beatty, and Gary Busey
Sweet Jesus Preacher Man (1973) with Roger E. Mosley and Marla Gibbs
A Taste of Hell (1973) with Vic Diaz
Invasion of the Bee Girls (1973) with Anitra Ford and Beverly Powers
Grave of the Vampire (1972) with Michael Pataki and Lieux Dressler
Hammer (1972) with Fred Williamson, Vonetta McGee, and Bernie Hamilton
Piranha, Piranha! (1972) with Peter Brown and Ahna Capri
The Thing with Two Heads (1972) with Ray Milland and Rosey Grier
Chrome and Hot Leather (1971) with Peter Brown and Marvin Gaye
Runaway, Runaway (1971) with Beach Dickerson
Summertree (1971) with Michael Douglas, Jack Warden, Brenda Vaccaro, and Barbara Bel Geddes
Angels Die Hard (1970) with Dan Haggerty
C.C. & Company (1970) with Joe Namath, Ann-Margret, and Sid Haig
The Losers (1970) with Bernie Hamilton and Adam Roarke
Darker Than Amber (1970) with Rod Taylor and Jane Russell
Backtrack! (1969) with Neville Brand, Peter Brown, Gary Clarke, Rhonda Fleming, Doug McClure, Fernando Lamas, Ida Lupino, and Philip Carey
The Over-the-Hill Gang (1969) with Pat O'Brien, Walter Brennan, Chill Wills, Edgar Buchanan, Gypsy Rose Lee, Andy Devine, Jack Elam, Edward Andrews, Ricky Nelson, and Myron Healey
Run, Angel, Run (1969) with Valerie Starrett and Margaret Markov
The Banditos (1968)
Three Guns for Texas (1968) with Neville Brand, Peter Brown, Martin Milner, and Philip Carey. This film is actually three episodes of Laredo edited together and released theatrically
Mail Order Bride (1964) with Buddy Ebsen and Marie Windsor
Atlantis, the Lost Continent (1961) with Edward Platt
The Lawbreakers (1960) with Vera Miles
Girls Town (1959) with Mamie Van Doren and Gloria Talbott
The Mating Game (1959) with Debbie Reynolds
High School Confidential! (1958) with Mamie Van Doren, Russ Tamblyn, Jan Sterling, and Lyle Talbot

TELEVISION SERIES
Hawaii Five-O, 1968-1980 CBS TV series. Smith portrayed James "Kimo" Carew during the final (1979-80) season
Rich Man, Poor Man, 1976 miniseries
Laredo, 1965-1967 TV series. Smith portrayed Joe Riley
The Asphalt Jungle, 1961-1962 TV series. Smith portrayed Sergeant Danny Keller

william smith links

The Official William Smith Website
Visit William Smith's own site, filled with photos, biographical information, and a storefront. A must for any fan!

william smith trailers now showing

Watch the trailer for William Smith's 1969 biker film Run, Angel, Run!

william smith film now showing

Watch William Smith's 1972 horror film Grave of the Vampire
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This page premiered September 24, 2001.
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