Bill Smitrovich

Bill Smitrovich
Smitrovich at Schriever Air Force Base in 2010
Born
William Stanley Zmitrowicz Jr.

(1947-05-16) May 16, 1947 (age 77)
OccupationActor
Years active1982–present
SpouseShaw Purnell
Children2

William Stanley Zmitrowicz Jr. (born May 16, 1947), known professionally as Bill Smitrovich (/ˈsmɪtrəvɪ/ SMIT-rə-vitch[1]), is an American actor.

Personal life

[edit]

Smitrovich was born on May 16, 1947, in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Anna (née Wojna) and Stanley William Zmitrowicz, a tool and die maker.[2] He is of Polish descent.[3] Bill is a graduate of the University of Bridgeport (1972) and holds an MFA from Smith College (1976). He is married to Shaw Purnell from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They have a son, Alexander John, and a daughter Maya Christina, four years younger.

Career

[edit]

Smitrovich has starred in a number of television series. His first prominent TV series role was in the 1980s series Crime Story as Det. Sgt. Danny Krychek. He went on to star in the hit drama series Life Goes On (1989–93). Smitrovich was the lead guest star in the pilot film of the 1980s crime drama hit series Miami Vice. He also appeared in the final episode of NYPD Blue. He has also been seen in The Henry Lee Project with Danny Glover. In 1996, Smitrovich was cast as Seattle police lieutenant Bob Bletcher in Millennium, created and produced by Chris Carter, the creator of The X-Files. He is perhaps best known for his roles on the A&E series A Nero Wolfe Mystery (based on the Nero Wolfe detective stories by Rex Stout) as Inspector Cramer, and on the ABC hit series The Practice as Assistant District Attorney Kenneth Walsh and then went on to Without a Trace, where he played the recurring character of Chief Alex Olcyk. In 2010 he starred in the NBC series The Event as Vice President Raymond Jarvis.[4]

Smitrovich has also played a number of characters in military roles. These include Independence Day (1996), Air Force One (1997), Thirteen Days (2000), Fail Safe (2000), and Eagle Eye (2008).[citation needed]

He has made many guest appearances on various television shows. His best-known appearances include the two-part Star Trek: Deep Space Nine third-season episode "Past Tense," 24, Numb3rs, NYPD Blue, Touched by an Angel, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, Criminal Minds, Castle, and the Dynasty reboot.[citation needed]

Smitrovich has also starred in several television films, playing Alexander Haig in the 2003 biographical TV miniseries The Reagans, as well as filling roles in Futuresport (1998) and in The '60s miniseries (1999). On film, Smitrovich's roles include the Stephen King adaptation Silver Bullet (1985), Renegades (1989), The Trigger Effect (1996), Gridiron Gang (2006), and the Marvel Comics superhero film Iron Man (2008).[5]

Bill played the role of Mr. Zimburger in the Johnny Depp film The Rum Diary. He also appeared as the head of the CIA, Hanley, in Pierce Brosnan's film The November Man.[citation needed]

Selected filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1982 Muggable Mary, Street Cop Charlie Hock Television film
1995 Fantastic Four Daredevil (voice) Episode: "And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them"
1998 Futuresport Couch Douglas Television film
1999–2000 Batman Beyond Ronnie Boxer, Frank Watt (voice) 2 episodes[6]
2000 Fail Safe General Stark Television film
2001–2002 Nero Wolfe Inspector Cramer 25 episodes
2003 The Reagans Alexander Haig Television film
2015 Two and a Half Men Rick Episode: "For Whom the Booty Calls"
2016 Grey's Anatomy Therapist Episode: "All I Want Is You"
2017–2018 Dynasty Thomas Carrington 3 episodes

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1982 A Little Sex Technician
1983 Without a Trace Police Officer
1984 Splash Ralph Bauer
1984 Maria's Lovers Bartender
1985 Key Exchange Lenny
1985 Silver Bullet Andy Fairton
1985 The Beniker Gang Laundry Truck Driver
1986 A Killing Affair Pink Gresham
1986 Band of the Hand Chavez
1986 Manhunter Lloyd Bowman
1989 Her Alibi Farrell
1989 Renegades Finch
1990 Crazy People Bruce
1995 Bodily Harm Darryl Stewart
1995 Nick of Time Officer Trust
1996 The Phantom Dave Palmer
1996 Independence Day Colonel Watson
1996 The Trigger Effect Steph
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Jim Kitchens
1997 Air Force One William Northwood
1998 Around the Fire Matt Harris
2000 Thirteen Days Maxwell Taylor
2005 The Game of Their Lives Admiral Higgins
2006 Heavens Fall George Chamlee
2006 Gridiron Gang Wainwright
2008 The Last Lullaby Martin
2008 Iron Man General Gabriel
2008 Flash of Genius Judge Franks
2008 Eagle Eye Admiral Thompson
2008 Seven Pounds George Ristuccia
2011 The Rum Diary Mr. Zimburger
2012 Ted Frank
2014 The November Man Hanley
2015 Ted 2 Frank
2017 Bitch Papa
2024 Joker: Folie à Deux Herman Rothwax [7]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "'The Event' stars Lisa Vidal and Bill Smitrovich". YouTube. 20 September 2010. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
  2. ^ "Bill Smitrovich Biography ((?)-)". Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  3. ^ "TV Guide". Triangle Publications. 1 January 1989. Retrieved 18 February 2017 – via Google Books.
  4. ^ "Wedding Bells Thwarted by Bothersome Conspiracy". The New York Times. 20 September 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  5. ^ "Bill Smitrovich - Geffen Playhouse". Geffen Playhouse. Retrieved August 20, 2024.
  6. ^ "Bill Smitrovich (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved October 6, 2024. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  7. ^ Cremona, Patrick (October 3, 2024). "Joker: Folie á Deux cast | Who stars with Joaquin Phoenix and Lady Gaga in sequel?". Radio Times. Retrieved October 6, 2024.
[edit]