William Smithers
Encyclopedia
William Smithers is an American
actor, perhaps best known for his recurring role as Jeremy Wendell in the television
series Dallas
. He appeared in the series in 1981 and from 1984 to 1989. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
in Virginia
and Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
After his freshman year, he was chosen to play the leading role of Thomas Jefferson
in the first production of Paul Green's The Common Glory, presented at Williamsburg, VA. NY Times critic Brooks Atkinson called him "worth encouraging."
In 1951, he made his Broadway debut as Tybalt in the Dwight Deere Wiman
production of Romeo and Juliet, starring Olivia de Havilland
; for this performance he received a Theater World Award. In 1952 he was accepted as a Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio. In 1957 he received an Obie Award for his portrayal of Treplev in Anton Chekhov
's The Sea Gull.
His other Broadway plays included Anouilh's Legend of Lovers, Calder Willingham's End As A Man, (begun as a project at the Actors Studio), Carson McCullers's The Square Root of Wonderful and Terence Rattigan's Man and Boy (performed in London and New York). Off-Broadway, he played leading roles in Frank Gilroy's Who'll Save the Plowboy? (Obie Award, Best Drama), Willingham's End As A Man (before the production went to Broadway), Sean O'Casey's Shadow of a Gunman (also begun as a Studio project) and George Bellak's The Troublemakers.
In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles to do the recurring role of David Schuster in the TV series "Peyton Place
." He has guest-starred or appeared in nearly 400 television productions, including Star Trek
, Mission:Impossible, and Hawaii Five-O
and in six feature films, most notably "Attack!" (Lt. Woodruff) and "Papillon
" (Warden Barrot). His performance in the latter prompted the producers of "Demolition Man" to name that film's prison warden "William Smithers."
As the plaintiff in Smithers vs. MGM, despite being threatened with blacklisting should he pursue the matter, he sued a multi-million-dollar corporation to protect his contractual rights with regard to star billing in the 1976 TV series "Executive Suite." In so doing, he won a case that was appealed as far as the California Supreme Court, and is now taught in entertainment law
courses. [See Law and Business of the Entertainment Industries, pp. 463–464.]
He now lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife, acting teacher Lorrie Hull Smithers (author of Strasberg's Method: As Taught by Lorrie Hull, and with him co-producer of the acting-training DVD The Method). From 2003-2005, he created, produced and directed the Santa Barbara Theatre of the Air for KCSB radio, broadcasting works of classic and contemporary playwrights. Since September, 2008, the repertory of these SBTA radio broadcasts has been made available for free download at: http://theatre-of-the-air.com/WordPress.
Mr. and Mrs. Smithers now co-host the Santa Barbara Channels television interview program "Just Between Us!" Previously-broadcast episodes of this show are now online at: http://SB-JustBetweenUs.com. (In September, 2010 Mr. Smithers was named to the Board of Directors of SB Channels.)
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor, perhaps best known for his recurring role as Jeremy Wendell in the television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
series Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
. He appeared in the series in 1981 and from 1984 to 1989. He attended Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden-Sydney College
Hampden–Sydney College is a liberal arts college for men located in Hampden Sydney, Virginia, United States. Founded in 1775, Hampden–Sydney is the oldest private charter college in the Southern U.S., the last college founded before the American Revolution, and one of only three four-year,...
in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
and Catholic University in Washington, D.C.
After his freshman year, he was chosen to play the leading role of Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson was the principal author of the United States Declaration of Independence and the Statute of Virginia for Religious Freedom , the third President of the United States and founder of the University of Virginia...
in the first production of Paul Green's The Common Glory, presented at Williamsburg, VA. NY Times critic Brooks Atkinson called him "worth encouraging."
In 1951, he made his Broadway debut as Tybalt in the Dwight Deere Wiman
Dwight Deere Wiman
Dwight Deere Wiman was an American silent movie actor, playwright and theatrical director. He is best known as a Broadway producer.-Early life & Education:...
production of Romeo and Juliet, starring Olivia de Havilland
Olivia de Havilland
Olivia Mary de Havilland is a British American film and stage actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress in 1946 and 1949. She is the elder sister of actress Joan Fontaine. The sisters are among the last surviving leading ladies from Hollywood of the 1930s.-Early life:Olivia de Havilland...
; for this performance he received a Theater World Award. In 1952 he was accepted as a Lifetime Member of the Actors Studio. In 1957 he received an Obie Award for his portrayal of Treplev in Anton Chekhov
Anton Chekhov
Anton Pavlovich Chekhov was a Russian physician, dramatist and author who is considered to be among the greatest writers of short stories in history. His career as a dramatist produced four classics and his best short stories are held in high esteem by writers and critics...
's The Sea Gull.
His other Broadway plays included Anouilh's Legend of Lovers, Calder Willingham's End As A Man, (begun as a project at the Actors Studio), Carson McCullers's The Square Root of Wonderful and Terence Rattigan's Man and Boy (performed in London and New York). Off-Broadway, he played leading roles in Frank Gilroy's Who'll Save the Plowboy? (Obie Award, Best Drama), Willingham's End As A Man (before the production went to Broadway), Sean O'Casey's Shadow of a Gunman (also begun as a Studio project) and George Bellak's The Troublemakers.
In 1965 he moved to Los Angeles to do the recurring role of David Schuster in the TV series "Peyton Place
Peyton Place (TV series)
Peyton Place is an American prime-time soap opera which aired on ABC in half-hour episodes from September 15, 1964 to June 2, 1969.Based upon the 1956 novel of the same name by Grace Metalious, the series was preceded by a 1957 film adaptation. A total of 514 episodes were broadcast, in...
." He has guest-starred or appeared in nearly 400 television productions, including Star Trek
Star Trek: The Original Series
Star Trek is an American science fiction television series created by Gene Roddenberry, produced by Desilu Productions . Star Trek was telecast on NBC from September 8, 1966, through June 3, 1969...
, Mission:Impossible, and Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O
Hawaii Five-O is an American police procedural drama series produced by CBS Productions and Leonard Freeman. Set in Hawaii, the show originally aired for twelve seasons from 1968 to 1980, and continues in reruns. The show featured a fictional state police unit run by Detective Steve McGarrett,...
and in six feature films, most notably "Attack!" (Lt. Woodruff) and "Papillon
Papillon (film)
Papillon is a 1973 film based on the best-selling novel by the French convict Henri Charrière.This motion picture was directed by Franklin J. Schaffner, starring Steve McQueen as Henri Charrière , and Dustin Hoffman as Louis Dega...
" (Warden Barrot). His performance in the latter prompted the producers of "Demolition Man" to name that film's prison warden "William Smithers."
As the plaintiff in Smithers vs. MGM, despite being threatened with blacklisting should he pursue the matter, he sued a multi-million-dollar corporation to protect his contractual rights with regard to star billing in the 1976 TV series "Executive Suite." In so doing, he won a case that was appealed as far as the California Supreme Court, and is now taught in entertainment law
Entertainment law
Entertainment law or media law is a term for a mix of more traditional categories of law with a focus on providing legal services to the entertainment industry. The principal areas of Entertainment Law overlap substantially with the well-known and conventional field of intellectual property law...
courses. [See Law and Business of the Entertainment Industries, pp. 463–464.]
He now lives in Santa Barbara, CA with his wife, acting teacher Lorrie Hull Smithers (author of Strasberg's Method: As Taught by Lorrie Hull, and with him co-producer of the acting-training DVD The Method). From 2003-2005, he created, produced and directed the Santa Barbara Theatre of the Air for KCSB radio, broadcasting works of classic and contemporary playwrights. Since September, 2008, the repertory of these SBTA radio broadcasts has been made available for free download at: http://theatre-of-the-air.com/WordPress.
Mr. and Mrs. Smithers now co-host the Santa Barbara Channels television interview program "Just Between Us!" Previously-broadcast episodes of this show are now online at: http://SB-JustBetweenUs.com. (In September, 2010 Mr. Smithers was named to the Board of Directors of SB Channels.)