Bill Smitrovich

Connecticut-born actor 'Bill Smitrovich' (qv) (on May 16, 1947) started his acting career rather late. A Masters degree holder from Smith College and a former acting teacher at the University of Massachusetts, the hefty actor earned his big break in an understudy role in the world premiere of 'Arthur Miller' (qv)'s "The American Clock" at the Spoleto Festival, a production that went to Broadway. Other stage parts have included "Food from Trash," "Requiem for a Heavyweight," "Far East" and "Frankie & Johnny at the Claire de Lune." Bill was a founding member of the No Theatre Company, now in association with the Wooster Group, whose members included 'Willem Dafoe' (qv) and the late 'Spalding Gray' (qv). Bill made his 1978 New York debut in the company's production of "The Elephant Man."In the early 1980s he started tackling film and TV roles, often playing good cops and assorted villainous types. He made his film debut in a small role in _A Little Sex (1982)_ (qv) and went on to play a prime part in the TV-movie pilot of _Miami Vice (1984)_ (qv). A co-starring detective part on the series _Crime Story (1986)_ (qv) led to more visibility. He finally became a household face (if not quite a name) as former construction worker-turned-restaurateur Drew Thatcher, the father of three on the critically acclaimed dramatic series _Life Goes On (1989)_ (qv). Co-starring with 'Patti LuPone' (qv) (of "Evita" fame), they played parents to a son born with Down Syndrome (portrayed by 'Chris Burke' (qv)). The much-admired family-oriented show, which went on to deal with other topical themes such as AIDS, lasted four seasons.Since then Bill has involved himself in raising public consciousness and sensitivity of Down Syndrome. He has hosted the annual "Life Goes On Celebrity Golf Classic" for the Down Syndrome Association of Los Angeles. Following this TV success, Bill co-starred on the _A Nero Wolfe Mystery (2001)_ (qv) with 'Timothy Hutton' (qv) and 'Maury Chaykin' (qv), had a recurring chief prosecutor role on _The Practice (1997)_ (qv) and played a lieutenant in the Fox hit series _Millennium (1996)_ (qv). His many film roles include _Key Exchange (1985)_ (qv), _Renegades (1989)_ (qv), _The Trigger Effect (1996)_ (qv) with Dermot Mulroney, _Independence Day (1996)_ (qv) with 'Will Smith' (qv), a strong role as a public defender in 'Rob Reiner' (qv)'s _Ghosts of Mississippi (1996)_ (qv), _Air Force One (1997)_ (qv) and, more recently, as a general in 'Kevin Costner' (qv)'s Cuban Missile Crisis drama _Thirteen Days (2000)_ (qv). He also played 'Alexander Haig' (qv) in the TV-movie biopic on 'Ronald Reagan' (qv) starring 'James Brolin' (qv) and 'Judy Davis' (qv).Married to 'Shaw Purnell' (qv) and the father of two, he has played a number of high-ranking officials, both good or corrupt, over the years. Most of Bill's recent work into the millennium has been on the small screen with guest appearances on such popular shows as "Nash Bridges," "NYPD Blue," "24," "Numb3rs," "Law and Order," "Criminal Minds," "Brothers & Sisters," "Desperate Housewives," "Boston Legal," "Castle," "Californication," "Two and a Half Men" and "Grey's Anatomy," with regular/recurring roles on such series as _The Practice (1997)_ (qv), _Without a Trace (2002)_ (qv), _The Event (2010)_ (qv), _The Last Ship (2014)_ (qv) _Dynasty (2017)_ (qv). Occasional big screen supports include _Thirteen Days (2000)_ (qv), _Iron Man (2008)_ (qv), _The Rum Diary (2011)_ (qv),_Eagle Eye (2008)_ (qv), _Ted (2012)_ (qv) and its sequel _Ted 2 (2015)_ (qv), _The November Man (2014)_ (qv), _Bitch (2017)_ (qv) and _Valley of Bones (2017)_ (qv)::Gary Brumburgh / [email protected]