Bill Smitrovich
Stanley William Zmitrowicz Jr. (born May 16, 1947), known professionally as Bill Smitrovich, is an American actor.
Bill Smitrovich

U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Daniel Martinez · Renowned actor visits with Schriever Airmen · Public domain
- Birth Name
- Stanley William Zmitrowicz Jr.
- Born
- 16 May 1947
- Birthplace
- Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S.
- Occupation
- Actor
- Spouse
- Shaw Purnell
- Nationality
- United States
- Education
- University of Bridgeport · Smith College
- Languages
- English
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Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q862481 · wikipedia · Bill Smitrovich
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The documentary record
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Institutions cited
Bibliothèque nationale de France · Deutsche Nationalbibliothek
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Key facts
Key facts
• Birth Name — Stanley William Zmitrowicz Jr. • Born — 16 May 1947 • Birthplace — Bridgeport, Connecticut, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1982–present • Spouse — Shaw Purnell • Children — 2
Documentary record
Bill Smitrovich (born 16 May 1947) is recorded as an actor.
Personal life
Personal life
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. He is of Polish descent. 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.
Documentary record
Bill Smitrovich was born on 16 May 1947 in Bridgeport.
Career
Career
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. He is 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 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. Smitrovich has also played several characters in military roles. These include Independence Day (1996), Air Force One (1997), Thirteen Days (2000), Fail Safe (2000), and Eagle Eye (2008). 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. Smitrovich has also starred in several television films, playing Alexander Haig in the 2003 biographical miniseries The Reagans, as well as 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). 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.
Television
Television
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — Muggable Mary, Street Cop — Charlie Hock — Television film • 1983 — Skipper Kevin Corkum — Dan Harvie — Television film • 1995 — Fantastic Four — Daredevil (voice) — Episode: "And a Blind Man Shall Lead Them" • 1996–1997 — Millenium — Lt. Robert "Bob" Bletcher — 11 episodes • 1998 — Futuresport — Couch Douglas — Television film • 1999–2000 — Batman Beyond — Ronnie Boxer, Frank Watt (voice) — 2 episodes • 2000 — Fail Safe — General Stark — Television film • 2000 — The Golden Spiders: A Nero Wolfe Mystery — Inspector Cramer — 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
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1982 — A Little Sex — Technician • 1983 — Without a Trace — Police Officer • 1984 — Splash — Ralph Bauer • Maria's Lovers — Bartender • 1985 — Key Exchange — Lenny • Silver Bullet — Andy Fairton • The Beniker Gang — Laundry Truck Driver • 1986 — A Killing Affair — Pink Gresham • Band of the Hand — Chavez • Manhunter — Lloyd Bowman • 1989 — Her Alibi — Farrell • Renegades — Finch • 1990 — Crazy People — Bruce • 1995 — Bodily Harm — Darryl Stewart • Nick of Time — Officer Trust • 1996 — The Phantom — Dave Palmer • Independence Day — Colonel Watson • The Trigger Effect — Steph • 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 • Gridiron Gang — Wainwright • 2008 — The Last Lullaby — Martin • Iron Man — General Gabriel • Flash of Genius — Judge Franks • Eagle Eye — Admiral Thompson • 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 • 2026 — Not Dead Yet — Mike
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Bill Smitrovich, revision 1375306745 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
References
Citations
References
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Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 15 August 2026.
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