William Smithers

William Smithers is the character actor from Richmond, Virginia, who played Merik in the second season episode .
He was well-versed for playing villainous roles, and is perhaps best known for his recurring role as J.R. Ewing's arch nemesis Jeremy Wendell on , primarily from 1984 through 1989. Prior to this, Smithers had brief stints on such popular TV shows as Young Dr. Malone (from 1962 through 1963) and Peyton Place (1965 through 1966). He was also a regular on (1976), co-starring fellow Trek actors Sharon Acker, Richard Cox, Leigh J. McCloskey, Paul Lambert, Madlyn Rhue, Percy Rodriguez, and Mitch Ryan. Corey Allen was among the directors of this series. Allen later directed Smithers in the 1980 made-for-TV movie The Return of Frank Cannon, which co-starred Diana Muldaur.
Besides Star Trek, Smithers has made frequent television guest appearances. Among the shows on which he has guest-starred are Mission: Impossible (which, like The Original Series, was originally produced by Desilu), , , (with Paul Carr), (starring Clarence Williams III and Tige Andrews), Ironside, (with Lee Meriwether), (featuring Robert Ito and Garry Walberg), and (with Noble Willingham and Marshall R. Teague). Smithers only has a few feature films to his credit, however. Among these are Attack (1956, with Original Series director Jud Taylor), (1972, starring Robert Hooks and Paul Winfield), (1973, co-starring fellow Original Series guest actors John Colicos, Joanne Linville, James B. Sikking, and Celeste Yarnall), (1973, co-starring Bill Mumy, Ron Soble, Victor Tayback, and Anthony Zerbe), and (1978, with guest star Richard Lynch).
==Other Trek connections==
* episode "The Plant Man" (1966) with Arch Whiting
*Call to Danger (1968 TV movie) with Laurel Goodwin and James Gregory
*Where the Ladies Go (1980 TV movie) with Lou Antonio
==External links==
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Category:Performers
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