There aren't many left. The classic tough guys of the drive-in are almost gone. There's Eastwood. Michael Ironside. Most of the rest have departed this world and are in that great outdoor theater in the sky.
William Smith was one of the best action heroes of his era. Sadly, not a lot of people know him these days. Perhaps this is due to Smith never really having a signature role like Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson had.
William Smith appeared in dozens of action/exploitation pictures. The list is long and renowned. Grave of the Vampire, The Thing With Two Heads, Invasion of the Bee Girls, Policewoman, Black Samson, The Swinging Barmaids, Hammer, and Fast Company are just a few of his impressive credits. He appeared in a hell of a lot of TV shows, many of which are of interest to genre fans: Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kung Fu, Planet of the Apes. Smith's tough-guy presence made him a favorite in Western shows and movies.
Drive-In fans remember and love William Smith for his numerous roles in biker movies. He was a natural in them, and from the first one he appeared in, Run, Angel, Run, in 1966, Smith became the perfect choice for the once very popular biker movie subgenre.
William Smith was in show business for decades, and he even made an appearance in The Ghost of Frankenstein.
Smith was the real deal. A body builder, an arm wrestling champion, and a hero in the Korean War. His final screen appearance was with Steve Carell in 2020's Irresistible.
William Smith's steely screen presence was the antithesis of the smirking, wise-cracking action hero that became the norm. He was a no-nonsense actor whose credible performances improved any production.
Written by Mark Sieber
William Smith was one of the best action heroes of his era. Sadly, not a lot of people know him these days. Perhaps this is due to Smith never really having a signature role like Clint Eastwood or Charles Bronson had.William Smith appeared in dozens of action/exploitation pictures. The list is long and renowned. Grave of the Vampire, The Thing With Two Heads, Invasion of the Bee Girls, Policewoman, Black Samson, The Swinging Barmaids, Hammer, and Fast Company are just a few of his impressive credits. He appeared in a hell of a lot of TV shows, many of which are of interest to genre fans: Kolchak: The Night Stalker, The Six Million Dollar Man, Kung Fu, Planet of the Apes. Smith's tough-guy presence made him a favorite in Western shows and movies.
Drive-In fans remember and love William Smith for his numerous roles in biker movies. He was a natural in them, and from the first one he appeared in, Run, Angel, Run, in 1966, Smith became the perfect choice for the once very popular biker movie subgenre.
William Smith was in show business for decades, and he even made an appearance in The Ghost of Frankenstein.
Smith was the real deal. A body builder, an arm wrestling champion, and a hero in the Korean War. His final screen appearance was with Steve Carell in 2020's Irresistible.
William Smith's steely screen presence was the antithesis of the smirking, wise-cracking action hero that became the norm. He was a no-nonsense actor whose credible performances improved any production.
Written by Mark Sieber
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