Actor, war hero deserved recognition

It is hard for me to imagine that the media has not included William Smith, actor, war hero, and more in those to remember.

He was one of my favorite actors of all time. There were a lot of great things I could say about him in addition to his acting credentials, including being a Korean War vet who spoke six languages, but you can read about that on your own.

He appeared in over 300 films and TV, including Conan, Darker than Amber, Seven, Gun Smoke, Kung Fu, Laredo, Hawaii Five O, Rockford Files and so many more. I met him years ago at the Du Page County Fair Grounds, where he signed couple of photos for me. He was a very big guy, intimidating but I liked him immediately.

At his death he was 88, but I knew with the death of many of those his age like Clint Walker, James Garner and Peter Brown from that era, it was going to happen sooner or later. He was voted a few years ago as the "best bad guy" of all time and was voted into the Cow Boy Hall of Fame. When asked he said he liked playing good guys most of all.

Older readers probably remember him most of all as Falconetti in Rich Man Poor Man, but me I liked him in CC and Company and his legendary fights with Rod Taylor in Darker than Amber and David Caradine in Kung Fu.

I have had my TV set to record anything he is in for years now and I still get a kick out of watching him just be one of the best SOBs ever to be on screen. Here is to you, Bill Smith. See ya.

Larry Eichman

Addison