If you’ve ever watched a movie from the 1970s or 80s and thought, "That guy looks like he could actually kill the hero," you were probably looking at William Smith. He wasn't just some actor playing a tough guy. He was the real deal. A world-record-holding arm wrestler. An Air Force vet with top-secret clearance. A guy who spoke five languages. Honestly, the list of William Smith movies and TV shows is so massive—nearly 300 credits—that it’s easy to lose track of just how much he shaped the "heavy" archetype in Hollywood.
He didn't just walk onto a set; he loomed.
Most people recognize him from that brutal, bare-knuckle brawl with Clint Eastwood at the end of Any Which Way You Can. Or maybe as the Soviet colonel who gave Patrick Swayze nightmares in Red Dawn. But there’s a lot more to his filmography than just muscles and mean stares.
Why We Can't Stop Watching William Smith
The thing about Bill Smith was his presence. He had this way of making even the most B-grade exploitation flick feel like a Shakespearean tragedy. He was Anthony Falconetti in the 1976 miniseries Rich Man, Poor Man. That role basically defined the TV villain for a generation. People hated Falconetti. They really hated him. But they couldn't look away because Smith brought this simmering, intelligent menace to the part.
He wasn't just a meathead. Not even close.
Did you know he was a child actor first? Yeah, he was a village boy in The Ghost of Frankenstein (1942) and showed up in classics like Going My Way and Meet Me in St. Louis. It's wild to think the same guy who played a choir member in the 40s would eventually be throwing Arnold Schwarzenegger’s father through a window in Conan the Barbarian.
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The Biker King and the Western Era
Before he became the ultimate blockbuster villain, Smith was the king of the drive-in. If there was a motorcycle involved, he was probably on it. Films like Run, Angel, Run! and The Losers (also known as Nam's Angels) made him a counter-culture icon.
He moved into Westerns naturally. Laredo gave him a chance to show some charm as Joe Riley. It wasn't all just scowling. He had timing. He had range. But let’s be real—we liked him best when he was being bad.
- Rich Man, Poor Man (1976): The Falconetti role. This is where he became a household name.
- Hawaii Five-O: He joined the cast in the final season as Kimo Carew.
- Batman (1968): He played Adonis. Yes, he actually fought Batman.
- The A-Team & Knight Rider: He did the rounds on all the 80s staples.
That Fight with Clint Eastwood
If you want to talk about William Smith movies and TV shows, you have to talk about Any Which Way You Can. The fight between his character, Jack Wilson, and Eastwood’s Philo Beddoe is legendary. It’s one of the longest, most grueling fights in cinema history.
They didn't use many stunt doubles. Smith and Eastwood actually hit each other. A lot.
It wasn't a "pretty" fight. It was two middle-aged men beating the hell out of each other in a back alley. Smith’s athleticism was on full display there. He was an award-winning bodybuilder and a former amateur boxer, and you can see that technical skill in his movement. He made you believe that Clint might actually lose.
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A Spetsnaz Colonel and a Barbarian's Father
By the 1980s, Smith was the go-to guy for authority figures who had lost their souls. In Red Dawn, he played Colonel Strelnikov. He was cold. Precise. He represented the "invader" perfectly.
Then you have Conan the Barbarian. He plays Conan’s father in the beginning. He doesn't have much screen time, but his monologue about "The Riddle of Steel" sets the entire tone for the movie. "No one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts... This you can trust," he says, pointing to the sword. It’s iconic.
The Cult Classics and the Later Years
Not every movie he did was a hit. Some were, frankly, pretty weird. The Thing with Two Heads? Yeah, he was in that. Invasion of the Bee Girls? Also him. He worked constantly. He’d do a prestige miniseries one week and a low-budget horror flick the next.
He never looked down on the material.
Even in his later years, he kept popping up in unexpected places. His final film appearance was actually a small role in the 2020 Steve Carell comedy Irresistible. He was 87 years old and still had that unmistakable voice.
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What You Should Watch First
If you're just diving into his work, don't just stick to the cameos.
- Rich Man, Poor Man: Watch it for the pure villainy.
- Any Which Way You Can: For the greatest bar-room brawl ever filmed.
- The Outsiders: He has a small but memorable part as a store clerk.
- Seven (1979): He plays a lead role here, a spiritual precursor to the action-hero era.
The Legacy of a Tough Guy
William Smith passed away in 2021, but he left behind a body of work that is basically a history of 20th-century entertainment. He was one of the last "men's men" in Hollywood—a guy who did his own stunts, wrote poetry, taught Russian at UCLA, and could probably bench press a car.
He didn't need CGI to look intimidating. He just needed to stand there.
If you're looking to explore more, start by tracking down some of his 70s biker films. They’re gritty, weird, and show a side of Hollywood that doesn't really exist anymore. You can find many of his titles on streaming services like Tubi or Pluto TV, which specialize in the kind of cult cinema he excelled in.
Next time you see a villain who actually scares you, check the credits. There’s a good chance they’re trying to channel a little bit of Bill Smith.
Take Action: To see him at his peak, find a copy of Rich Man, Poor Man. It’s a masterclass in how to play a character that people love to hate. If you’re more into action, queue up Red Dawn or Any Which Way You Can this weekend to see his physical presence in full force.