Star Trek: The Original Series guest actor William Smithers has passed away at the age of 98. While a cause of death has not been revealed yet, the Santa Barbara Independent did report Smithers actually died back on Tuesday, May 26, even though the news was just released.
Fans of TOS will immediately recognize and remember Smithers from the season 2 episode “Bread and Circuses,” in which Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and the landing party find themselves prisoners in a Roman gladiator-esque society.
Smithers portrayed the former commander of the SS Beagle, Captain R.M. Merik, who decided to break the Prime Directive and forced his crew members to try and integrate into a violent civilization. Merik desired a starship of his own, and that ambition-turned-weakness obviously played a part in why he was so easily swayed to stay on planet 892-IV by the nefarious Proconsul Claudius Marcus.
However, despite the wrongs Merik committed against his own crew, the Beagle’s commander found redemption at the end of “Bread and Circuses” by giving his life to save Kirk, Mr. Spock (Leonard Nimoy), and Dr. McCoy (DeForest Kelley), all of whom would have died without Merik’s communicator heroics.
Even though Smithers only appeared as one character on a single Star Trek series, Merik remains a memorable and beloved Starfleet commander in large part thanks to the actor’s indelible performance.
However, most television fans will likely remember Smithers for his prolific work on the primetime soap opera Dallas and years earlier in the classic series Peyton Place. Personally, outside of Star Trek, I’ll never forget Smithers’ appearance in the Steve McQueen and Dustin Hoffman-led Papillon as the sinister Warden Barrot: he wanted that name, or Papillon (McQueen) was going to die!
Papillon is still a tremendous film and just one of Smithers’ many unparalleled performances over the course of his illustrious career, which dates all the way back to his Broadway debut in “Romeo and Juliet” as Tybalt.
The Redshirts Always Die and FanSided teams are saddened to hear of Mr. Smithers’ passing, and we would like to pass on our condolences to those closest to him, including his family and friends.
For more Star Trek content, and to remember William Smithers, please visit the Redshirts Always Die Facebook and X pages.
Rest in peace, Mr. Smithers.
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