William Smithers (born July 10, 1927) 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.
Early life and career
Smithers was born on July 10, 1927, in Richmond, Virginia, the son of systems engineer Marion Wilkinson Smithers and Marion Albany Smithers (née Thompson).[2]
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, Smithers moved to Los Angeles to play "David Schuster" in the television series Peyton Place for nine months. He also played Stanley Norris on the soap Guiding Light from 1970 to 1971, and, from 1976 to 1977, was a cast member in the series Executive Suite.
His performance in Papillon prompted the producers of Demolition Man to name that film's prison warden "William Smithers".
In 1981 and from 1984 to 1989, he played oil baron Jeremy Wendell on the prime-time soap opera Dallas.
Smithers vs. MGM
As the plaintiff in Smithers vs. MGM, despite being threatened with blacklisting should he pursue the matter, he sued the multimillion-dollar corporation to protect his contractual rights with regard to star billing in the 1976 television 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.[5][6]
He lived in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, acting teacher S. Loraine Boos Hull, known as Lorrie Hull Smithers (August 5, 1928 - January 10, 2022).
She authored Strasberg's Method: As Taught by Lorrie Hull. With Smithers, she co-produced an acting-training DVD The Method).[7]
From 2003 to 2005, he created, produced and directed the Santa Barbara Theatre of the Air for KCSB radio, broadcasting works of classic and contemporary playwrights.
From 2010 to 2013, he and his wife were co-hosts and co-producers of the Santa Barbara Channels (now TV Santa Barbara) television interview program Just Between Us! Seven episodes of this program were named finalists for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 WAVE (Western Access Video Excellence) Awards.
In 2010 and 2011, Smithers served on the Board of Directors of TV Santa Barbara. In December 2015, he was appointed by the Santa Barbara City Council to the city's Arts Advisory Committee.
