#William smith actor family movie#

'He was a go-to-guy when casting for biker films, starring in director Jack Starrett’s Run, Angel, Run! (1969) and The Losers (1970) in Angels Die Hard (1970), from Roger Corman’s New World Pictures in C.C. 'Smith starred with fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger in Conan the Barbarian (1982) and spoke fluent Russian as a general in Red Dawn (1984) - both those films were directed by John Milius - and, as a gang leader named Carrot, battled Yul Brynner with a ball and chain in The Ultimate Warrior (1975). As prolific as he was strong, he had a whopping 289 credits on IMDb, seemingly in everything from the ’60s onward. Smith III, and his daughter, Sherri Anne Cervelli.Recapping his impressive career, the Hollywood Reported detailed in a tribute: 'The 6-foot-2 Smith, who was a champion discus thrower at UCLA, an arm-wrestling champion and a black belt in the martial arts, had 18-inch biceps and could do 5,100 continuous sit-ups and reverse curl 163 pounds. In addition to his wife, Smith is survived by his son, William E. Young actors often would talk to him between workout sets, and he would share advice, sometimes inviting them to his home to discuss upcoming auditions. The place to find Smith, even as an older man, was the gym, Cervelli Smith said. In 2009, Smith published a book of poetry, 'The Poetic Works of William Smith.' 'He's definitely tough as nails but he had the heart of a poet,' she said.

His family later moved to Southern California, and Smith immediately began to seek work in films, finding jobs as a child performer and later as a studio extra.Ĭervelli Smith said in a phone interview Sunday that besides the toughguy roles that made her husband a star on screen, he had a compassionate side as well. At the ranch, he would develop a love and admiration for horses and the classic Western lifestyle, according to his website. Smith, who was born March 24, 1933, grew up on a cattle ranch in Missouri owned by his parents, William Emmett Smith and Emily Richards Smith. In 'Rich Man, Poor Man,' he played the dangerous and eccentric character Anthony Falconetti, which he would later reprise in a follow-up to the series, 'Rich Man, Poor Man Book II.' His last role was in 'Irresistible,' a 2020 film directed by Jon Stewart. In the 1980s, the 6-foot-2 actor earned roles in Francis Ford Coppola's 'The Outsiders,' (1983) and in 'Conan the Barbarian' (1982), for which he was cast as the father of Conan, who was played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. The Columbia, Missouri, native solidified his Hollywood status after tussling onscreen with actors like Clint Eastwood, Nick Nolte and Yul Brynner.

'Now that was a good fight,' Smith recalled in a 2010 interview with BZ Film. He was throwing punches with Rod Taylor for the 1970 film 'Darker Than Amber' when the two began fighting each other for real. He did many of his own stunts, and sometimes those scenes got heated. Smith had more than 300 acting credits listed on IMDb from 1954 to 2020.

He was a polyglot, a bodybuilder, a champion discus thrower and an Air Force pilot during the Korean War, according to his website. While Smith was best known for his roles in action movies like 'Any Which Way You Can' (1980), and television shows including 'Laredo,' 'Rich Man, Poor Man' and 'Hawaii Five-O,' the real action came from his off-screen life. Smith's wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, said he died at the Motion Picture and Television Fund's Country House and Hospital. Family Life He spent his early days in Columbia, Missouri.

In addition, he appeared in numerous horror movies of the 1980s, '90s, and early 2000s.

#William smith actor family movie#

William Smith, an actor known for his portrayals of villains and his onscreen movie brawls, died Monday in Woodland Hills, California. Trivia His notable film credits include roles in Eye of the Tiger, Red Dawn, and The Mean Season, all of which were released in the 80s.