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thebad7 says on 18/Nov/11
@Mamum: No worries. I just picked up a copy of this trashy grindhouse piece--also from '75--titled DR. MINX. You'd love the opening scene: Big Bill has a nice, intimate moment with '60s sex siren Edy Williams, and then they get into this nasty argument. Ms. Williams is thoroughly menaced by Big Bill! :)
tb7
Mamun says on 10/Nov/11
Sorry for my late response thebad7 ! I didn't see any of his movies recently but I love every single movie or show that he was on ! It's hard for me to chose a favourite one ?
Regards
SUPERMUN thebad7 says on 5/Nov/11
@Mamum: Hey! Have you watched any of his films lately?
tb7 Mamun says on 2/Nov/11
I couldn't agree with you more thebad7 !
Regards
SUPERMUN thebad7 says on 1/Nov/11
@Rampage: I agree with you recent comments. Big Bill isn't standing with the best posture; he's leaning to his right a bit in the photo with Mamum. Nevertheless, if he was standing up with good posture, he looks close to his peak 6'2". 6'1 1/2" today at age 78 for Big Bill sounds right.
Just watched Big Bill in a sleazy 1975 grindhouse/exploitation flick titled THE SWINGING BARMAIDS. The dialogue is atrocious, and the plot is ridiculous, but Big Bill is one of a few actors capable of making the worst pictures worth watching and ultimately, enjoyable endeavors. He runs around in a trench coat as a harried LAPD Lieutenant. Big Bill should have been a mainstream star, but he's done well for himself as a King of B Movies!
tb7 Rampage(-_-_-)Clover says on 3/Sep/11
I take that back. Looks 6"0.5(184cm) with Mamun but would look over 6"1 with better posture.
188cm prime
186-187cm today jake says on 23/Jul/11
Could still be 6ft1 Rampage(-_-_-)Clover says on 13/Jun/11
Looks 182cm thebad7 says on 4/Jun/11
@Mark: Funny occurrence happened to me: recently somebody uploaded the pilot episode of THE ROCKFORD FILES at YouTube, and naturally, I watched it because it's one of Big Bill's best guest spots on a television series. Anyway, in the scene that occurs in the mens' room when James Garner goads Big Bill into a fight and knocks him out with a roll of quarters, he ties Big Bill up and starts questioning him. Interestingly, he takes Big Bill's wallet and they have his character (Jerry something-or-other) listed on his driver's license at 6'1" and 210 lbs. While I think he's probably at that height today, that's just a bit too short for his younger days--height-wise, he stacked up well against legit 6'3"-6'4" actors. He only looked about an inch shorter than a then 6'4" Clint Eastwood in ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN. And of course, there was no more fearsome physical presence than Big Bill.
tb7 Mamun says on 13/May/11
I agree with all that you havesaid PatB !
Regards
SUPERMUN PatB says on 12/May/11
The funny thing is that Smith who played beasts and bullies was in real life an intellectual. As I remember he has a doctorate and speaks four or five languages. Falconetti was probably the scariest guy ever seen on TV. He was also great in Darker than Amber.
Like Schwarzenegger he too was a body builder and they were both about the same size. So it is conceivable that he beat Arnold in arm wrestling. Arnold was truly strong when younger. He won the "Strongest Man in Europe" title at one point. But Smith was also famous for his extraodinary strenth.
I'm happy to see that he's still around. Cool dude. thebad7 says on 18/Mar/11
@ Mamum: You bet!
tb7 Mamun says on 13/Mar/11
Make sure you post the picture here thebad7 !
Regards
SUPERMUN thebad7 says on 12/Mar/11
@ Mamum: I appreciate that! He does still hit the circuits quite a bit, so hopefully soon I can report on meeting Big Bill!
tb7 Mamun says on 10/Mar/11
Thank you for your kind remarks my friend ! I pray that you do get to meet this legend and get a photo too !
Regards
SUPERMUN thebad7 says on 10/Mar/11
@ Mamun: I envy you, Friend! You not only got to meet him, but you got a photo with him. I'm hoping he hits the East Coast for book signing/Western conventions this spring.
tb7 Mamun says on 9/Mar/11
I agree 100% thebad7 !
Regards
SUPERMUN thebad7 says on 9/Mar/11
@Shadow2: I'd love to get his poetry book. He is a bona fide Renaissance Man. Yes, I heard about KUNG FU--there used to be pics of him available online looking Asian; he was fitted with prosthetic pieces to make him look that way during pre-production. He did also have a juicy guest spot in an episode of that show as a sadistic soldier. I know he's a master of villains, but Big Bill's also played his fair share of heroes and even sympathetic parts. If you can find it, I highly recommend you see 1971's RUNAWAY, RUNAWAY. It's Big Bill's most sympathetic role.
It's nice to see other people out there who are huge fans of this underappreciated American Jewel.
tb7 Shadow2 says on 8/Mar/11
I'd recommend any of Big Bill's fans have a look at his personal website. He talks about his life and career, and speaks well of his co-stars throughout the years. thebad7, I totally agree with you that Bill, as Falconetti, stole "Rich Man, Poor Man" (Books 1 and 11) from Peter Strauss and Nick Nolte, themselves both great actors. In 1972, apparently Bill nearly got the starring role in TV's "Kung Fu", but was considered too muscular. Mark says on 2/Mar/11
...Catch him in the pilot episode of The Rockford Files. As was stated, anytime he was in something, he had a major presence. Even on The Dukes of Hazzard. Amazing triceps. I tried getting a letter to him, via the Hollowood Collector's Show people (where he appeared, to sign autographs), but, apparently, it never went through. I'd love to know specifics of his workout routine (or his routine of 30 years ago), and how he thinks Eastwood stacks up as a fighter. Nevertheless, I put him at 6'1. CaptainSpaulding says on 2/Mar/11
He looks 5'11". probably was 6'0" peak. Definatly not near 6'2". thebad7 says on 27/Feb/11
@Shadow2: I read an article some time back in which Big Bill discussed his experiences with Arnold Schwartzenegger and filming CONAN THE BARBARIAN back in late 1981. Apparently, Big Bill--a former arm-wrestling champion, 31-1 amateur boxer, among other athletic accomplishments--destroyed the then hot off his 1980 Mr. Olympia win Schwartzenegger in a friendly arm-wrestling competition, and Arnold did not take well to the loss. The most amazing fact about it is that Big Bill was then 48 years old. He's an Inspiration--and one of the main reasons I started lifting weights myself--and he really is One Of A Kind.
tb7 thebad7 says on 27/Feb/11
He is "King of the B Movies," and his presence onscreen is unmatched. Just watched him in 1971's CHROME & HOT LEATHER where he plays the tough leader of the Wizards Motorcycle Club. He utters what is probably the best line in any film when, during the interrogation of his nemesis, he pauses to get the attention of a pinball-playing biker: "Gabriel, can't you see we're menacing someone?" Classic Big Bill!
Looking carefully at the picture again, I'd say 6'1" today--he's leaning a bit in this photo.
@Frank Manheim: He stole RICH MAN, POOR MAN with his portrayal of Anthony Falconetti. I watched both Book I & Book II around Christmas. In Book I when he throws down with Nick Nolte, he has at least 2" on Nolte. When he was younger at his peak, 6'2"+ for Big Bill.
tb7 Mathew says on 27/Feb/11
I'll go with 6'2" peak, 6'0" today. Mamun says on 27/Feb/11
" INSPIRATION " !!!! This word is truely an understement to describe this legend ! I have just read about him and I can't believe his accomplishments!I regret not telling him that the " SUPERMAN " logo should really be on his chest and not on some idiot such as me ! But I can't help it I was born on Krypton . Please read about him is what I say !
Regards
FAKE SUPERMAN Frank Manheim says on 27/Feb/11
I've seen Bill Smith in a lot of movies and productions since he started "Rich Man, poor man" more than 30 years ago and I've found him really inspiring, Superbe athlete, intense actor, fluent in several languages and all in all a great guy! He claimed to be 6'2 and he didn't look any shorter.
Thank you for the inspiration, Mr Smith. Shadow2 says on 27/Feb/11
Along with everyone else, I would like to welcome Big Bill to the site. Those of you that only know him from the Eastwood movie should have a look at his life (not just acting career) biography, it's amazing! There's no surprise that he's still a big guy in his senior years. Mamun says on 25/Feb/11
Yes he was leaning towards me in this picture and I would say no less than 6' today !
Regards
SUPERMUN yoyo says on 24/Feb/11
No more than 6 foot today Mathew says on 24/Feb/11
He's probably shrunk to a little less than 6'2". James says on 24/Feb/11
6' with bad posture next to mamun. 6'1 straightend up Larc 6 ft 1.5 in says on 24/Feb/11
He's clearly leaning a bit or his posture isn't that great today, but despite this, he still looks big at this age. Impressive. jtm says on 24/Feb/11
i see no more than 3 inches. James says on 24/Feb/11
185 or 186cm with mamun thebad7 says on 24/Feb/11
Hi Rob--
Glad to see this familiar face up on CH. Big Bill is one that should have been a bigger star than what he is--so often over the years he would steal an entire film with just an appearance in one or two scenes. He has such a commanding screen presence. When he was younger, he was definitely a strong 6'2". There are scenes of him in 1980's ANY WHICH WAY YOU CAN where he is standing face-to-face with Clint Eastwood--whom I believe to be about 6'4" tall at that time--and Big Bill looks about 1"-1.5" shorter than Clint. This picture is tricky--perhaps he has lost some height, and I know he's had his share of motorcycle accidents and knee injuries from martial arts training over the years. In any event, I would think he's no less than 6'1" today at age 77.
tb7
P.S.--Big Bill is one of the greatest fight scenes ever captured on celluloid; a great fistfight between him & Rod Taylor in 1970's DARKER THAN AMBER. jake says on 24/Feb/11
Surely 6' today Rob? |
