William Smith

Biography

William Smith was a prominent American actor renowned for his extensive work in film and television, amassing over 300 credits throughout his career. He is particularly celebrated for his role as Anthony Falconetti in the acclaimed miniseries "Rich Man, Poor Man." Smith earned a Bachelor of Arts from Syracuse University and a Master's degree in Russian Studies from UCLA.

Born in Columbia, Missouri, in 1933, Smith embarked on his acting journey at just eight years old in 1942, making his film debut as a child in classics such as "The Ghost of Frankenstein," "The Song of Bernadette," and "Meet Me in St. Louis."

In 1961, he became a familiar face on the ABC series "The Asphalt Jungle," where he played police Sergeant Danny Keller. His breakout leading role was as Texas Ranger Joe Riley in the NBC western series "Laredo." Smith also made a memorable guest appearance as Jude Bonner in the long-running western "Gunsmoke" in 1967.

In 1969, he portrayed John Richard Parker in the episode "The Understanding" of "Death Valley Days," a tale of survival and love set against a backdrop of Comanche captivity. That same year, he played the outlaw Hendry Brown in another episode, "The Restless Man," where he attempted to reform his ways in a lawless town.

Smith's later work included a controversial role on "Gunsmoke" in 1972, where he played a character who infamously harmed Amanda Blake's Miss Kitty Russell. His talent for embodying villainous characters earned him the title of "the greatest bad-guy character actor of our time."