By A.J. Llewellyn
Current mood: ecstatic
Category: Movies, TV, Celebrities

 Actor William Smith in his prime as “Falconetti” in the TV series “Rich Man, Poor Man”

Actor William Smith with (L) his wife Joanne and (R) actress Linda Roberts photo by Ruth McKinney on Friday, November 28

On Friday, I had the distinct pleasure of meeting one of Hollywood’s legendary bad guys, Mr. William Smith.

My lovely friend, actress Linda Roberts and her husband Mike had their annual post-Turkey Day bash at their house and as usual, it was an amazing assortment of people. Linda and Mike know the coolest people in Hollywood, from actors to gaffers and let’s just put It this way: if a bomb had gone off in that house, Hollywood would have been in serious trouble.

But I digress. I was lounging against the kitchen wall talking to my wonderful friend Ruth when in walked an older man. His gait was like that of a sheriff in an old-style cowboy movie.  Then I saw his face. No. it couldn’t  be. One of the greatest bad asses of all bad asses, William Smith!

“Is that who I think it is?” I asked Ruth as he smiled and walked past us. He has a presence which old-time Hollywood stars have. There was no ego, just a shimmering…and Ruth glanced at him.

“I think he’s an actor,” she said. Oh, it had to be him. My God…this man was the meanest, hardest most convincing bad guy in movies! His wife walked toward us and she was just the prettiest little thing.

“Hi,” I said, when Linda introduced me to Joanne. “I hope I’m not being rude, but what’s your husband’s name?”

“Bill,” she said.

“Bill what?”

“Actually, his name is William Smith.”

I almost passed out. “He is one of THE greatest bad guys ever if not THE greatest,” I said.

“A.J, please, please come and tell Bill this. It would really make his day.”

I was nervous as hell. Man, I was about to snivel all over the man who played Falconetti! A legend. A bad, bad, bad, bad guy too big even for Hollywood.  I mean, he started as a tot…playing a village kid in Frankenstein. He moved on to bit parts in classics like Gilda and Meet Me in Saint Louis before finding his niche as the black hat in movies.

Joanne took me to the living room where Bill was sitting, chatting with another partygoer.

She introduced us and I experienced a moment of terror. This after all, is one of the true genuine tough guys of this world. The last of the Hollywood breed. For a moment, I realized there’s nobody that’s stepped behind him to fill those massive shoes. He’s a wrestling champion, a decorated war veteran and he is still muscular as all hell.

“How are you this afternoon, AJ?” He took my hand and shook it. He looks like a madman, ferociously buff in spite of his advancing years but he has that quality that all old-time Hollywood movie stars have. It’s a quality seriously lacking in today’s young bucks and I recognized it in him. A quiet dignity, a sweetness that surprised me.

“You are the greatest bad guy ever,” I told him. My hand was still in his and his left hand came up and closed over my trapped paw.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Oh, no. I mean it. When I was a kid growing up in Australia…” I paused. I wanted to make sure he understood how much his work meant to me. “I wasn’t allowed to watch TV growing up but the one show my dad let me watch was Rich Man, Poor Man and I have to tell you, Falconetti is one of the greatest pieces of acting ever. You taught me to love the villain.”

He looked at me and something passed between us. He knew I wasn’t just tongue dancing. He knew he had touched my life and I knew I had just touched his. He turned to his wife. “Wow…that just makes your day, doesn’t it?”

I sat beside him and we talked for a few minutes. I asked him how many movies he’d made.

“One hundred and twenty nine. I’m about to do a new one in two weeks, playing a sheriff in a cowboy movie.”

Now why didn’t that surprise me? I asked him which was his favorite movie role and he really couldn’t remember there have been so many.

“Sometimes I loved the part but the movie was you know…a real stinker. I’m excited I’m finally playing the good guy though.”

His smile is still disarming. I asked him if he was writing his autobiography. He looked surprised. “No. Should I?”

At the age of 79 and the amazing career he’s had? Of course he should. But this proves again my theory of true and genuine Hollywood stars. These guys don’t think they have much to tell. Unlike today’s celebutanttes who think there’s a book in every DUI charge, this humble hero seemed astonished that I thought he ought to write a book.

“What would you call it if you were to write one?” I wanted to know.

“Bullshit Billy,” he said instantly.

“Midnight Sun,” his wife responded, “Because he is not at all what he appears to be.”

Together 19 years, this couple has the kind of old fashioned love I dream about, a passion still evident. She was his make up artist on a movie.

“Was it love at first sight?” I asked.

“For Bill it was.” She squeezed her husband’s shoulders. “But he had to work a little to get me.”

I offered them to help put together a memoir for William and I hope they take me up on it. But for now, on this Sunday morning, I am still basking in my sweet, warm encounter with a Hollywood Giant. I am glad I met the man who’s fueled many of my fantasies and wound up in the pages of my books. Anyone who’s read my Phantom Lover series will remember that Lopaka fantasizes about his husband Kimo being a pirate king with an eye patch.  Kimo complies in…well, several books in fact.

Guess who inspired that?

Mr. William Smith, Bullshit Billy and the Midnight Sun, God bless you and thank you for your work.

Aloha oe,

A.J.

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