“Laredo” Star William Smith Dies At 88

actorwilliamsmith / YouTube

Actor William Smith, known for his 78-year Hollywood career, has died.

On Monday, July 5, 2021, Smith passed away at Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital in Woodland Hills. His wife, Joanne Cervelli Smith, confirmed the news to The Hollywood Reporter, but Joanne did not wish to reveal the cause of death. Smith was 88. 

Smith gained popularity for his roles in television shows such as Laredo, Hawaii Five-O, and more. The actor also starred alongside legendary actors such as Rod Taylor, Clint Eastwood, and more. Throughout his almost eight-decade career, Smith earned an impressive 289 credits. According to his IMDb page, Smith’s last role was in the 2020 film, Irresistible. 

Aside from acting, Smith was also a bodybuilder. The actor’s physique later landed him a role alongside fellow bodybuilder Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1982 film Conan the Barbarian. 

RIP William Smith. He passed away July 5th at the age of 88. pic.twitter.com/zhlfvQKGFU

— TV Yesteryear ? (@tvyesteryear) July 9, 2021

Smith was a man of many talents and spoke four foreign languages, including French, Russian, German, and Serbo-Croatian. The actor was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force in 1951 and won a boxing championship. 

For more on the actor’s incredible career, check out the following video.