'Dallas', 'Papillon' Actor Was 98
Deadline • • entertainment
Key Points:
- William Smithers, known for his role as Jeremy Wendell on the ’80s TV series Dallas and a recurring part on Peyton Place, died at age 98 on May 26 in Santa Barbara, California; the cause of death was not disclosed.
- Smithers had a prolific acting career spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s, including a featured role in the 1973 film Papillon and numerous television appearances on shows like Star Trek, Mission: Impossible, and Executive Suite.
- Born in Richmond, Virginia, in 1927, Smithers served in the Navy during World War II, debuted on Broadway in 1951, and was a life member of The Actors Studio, earning an Obie Award for his stage work.
- He is best remembered for portraying the ruthless oil baron Jeremy Wendell on Dallas, where he was a key antagonist to Larry Hagman’s character J.R. Ewing.
- Details about his survivors have not been released.
