in memoriam
Readers, I've pointed out before that it sads when I see so many of the faces of both television and movie projects of my youth having to say good-bye; but this is -- as they say -- life.
I noticed information on the World Wide Web just this afternoon regarding the passage of actor William Smithers. By all accounts, it actually looks like he may've passed in May, 2026; but the news is only just getting out via the Information Superhighway.
As are so many of the talents featured on SciFiHistory.Net, he certainly wasn't a household name. It looks as though his was a career of small standouts, seizing opportunity whenever it came by way of supporting and more character-driven roles than it was the big marquee lead. Genre fans might recognize the fellow from, chiefly, his role aboard "Bread And Circuses," a second season outing of the classic Star Trek; but the man had a few more deserving of mention.
IMDB.com reports that the actor's first genre project was none other than the 1954 telefilm version of the pulp character The Shadow. I believe this was one of those pilots shot for a series that was never picked up; and that's a crying shame as The Shadow remains one of my all-time personal favorite properties. I wish it would get a good big screen or small screen treatment, but methinks that's not likely to happen.
Over a decade later, Smithers proved he wasn't afraid to go back into the water with the guest appearance aboard the Irwin Allen series, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sean. Then, in 1967, he played a part aboard a Tarzan series.
Also in 1967, he guest-starred on The Invaders, a property he saw once more in a role in 1968. For those wondering, these were two different characters that Smithers played as it wasn't all that uncommon for actors and actresses to get cast as different faces in subsequent seasons.
Over the years, other stops included such enterprises as Mission: Impossible, Call To Danger (1973), Scorpio (1973), The Six Million Dollar Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Lucan.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of William Smithers.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
I noticed information on the World Wide Web just this afternoon regarding the passage of actor William Smithers. By all accounts, it actually looks like he may've passed in May, 2026; but the news is only just getting out via the Information Superhighway.
As are so many of the talents featured on SciFiHistory.Net, he certainly wasn't a household name. It looks as though his was a career of small standouts, seizing opportunity whenever it came by way of supporting and more character-driven roles than it was the big marquee lead. Genre fans might recognize the fellow from, chiefly, his role aboard "Bread And Circuses," a second season outing of the classic Star Trek; but the man had a few more deserving of mention.
IMDB.com reports that the actor's first genre project was none other than the 1954 telefilm version of the pulp character The Shadow. I believe this was one of those pilots shot for a series that was never picked up; and that's a crying shame as The Shadow remains one of my all-time personal favorite properties. I wish it would get a good big screen or small screen treatment, but methinks that's not likely to happen.
Over a decade later, Smithers proved he wasn't afraid to go back into the water with the guest appearance aboard the Irwin Allen series, Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sean. Then, in 1967, he played a part aboard a Tarzan series.
Also in 1967, he guest-starred on The Invaders, a property he saw once more in a role in 1968. For those wondering, these were two different characters that Smithers played as it wasn't all that uncommon for actors and actresses to get cast as different faces in subsequent seasons.
Over the years, other stops included such enterprises as Mission: Impossible, Call To Danger (1973), Scorpio (1973), The Six Million Dollar Man, The Amazing Spider-Man, and Lucan.
Our warmest prayers are extended to the family, friends, and fans of William Smithers.
May he rest in peace.
-- EZ
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