1 hour ago
William Smithers, an character champion known for a recurring domiciled connected nan deed ’80s TV bid Dallas arsenic good arsenic a featured domiciled successful nan 1973 Steve McQueen situation play Papillon, died May 26 successful Santa Barbara, California. He was 98.
His decease was first reported by nan section newspaper Santa Barbara Independent yesterday. A origin of decease was not disclosed.
A prolific characteristic character connected TV pinch dozens of credits from nan 1950s though nan 1990s, Smithers will apt champion beryllium remembered for his capacity arsenic lipid baron Jeremy Wendell connected Dallas. In 1981 and past from 1984 to 1989, he played lipid baron Jeremy Wendell, providing nan primetime soap pinch a ruthless arch-villain who caused nary extremity of problem for nan series’ cardinal antihero J.R. Ewing (Larry Hagman).
Born successful Richmond, Virginia, connected July 10, 1927, Smithers served successful nan Navy during World War II and successful 1951 made his Broadway debut arsenic Tybalt successful Romeo and Juliet starring Olivia de Havilland. The pursuing twelvemonth he was accepted arsenic a life personnel of The Actors Studio, and successful 1957 received an Obie Award for his capacity successful Chekhov’s The Seagull.
In summation to various Off Broadway roles, Smithers’ Broadway credits included Jean Anouilh’s Legend of Lovers (1951), Calder Willingham’s End arsenic a Man (1953), Carson McCullers’s The Square Root of Wonderful (1957) and Terence Rattigan’s Man and Boy (1963).
After appearing successful galore TV anthology play bid successful nan 1950s, Smithers segued to regular bid activity successful nan ’60s, astir notably a nine-month tally arsenic nan characteristic David Schuster successful nan nighttime soap Peyton Place successful 1965-66. Episodic activity followed successful specified shows arsenic Shane, Voyage to nan Bottom of nan Sea, Judd For The Defense, The Invaders, Mission: Impossible, Mannix, and galore others. In 1968 he appeared successful nan “Bread and Circuses” section of Star Trek.
He continued TV activity connected celebrated bid passim nan ’70s and ’80s: He was a bid regular connected nan 1976-77 firm play series Executive Suite. In summation Papillon, successful which he played a prison guard successful a hellish French Guiana prison, Smithers besides appeared successful 1973 movie Scorpio.
Information connected survivors was not instantly available.
