Veteran American actor William Smithers, known for his role on CBS’s primetime soap opera “Dallas,” dies at age 98. Both outlets report that Smithers played Jeremy Wendell, an oilman character on the series, described as a formidable presence and a foil to J.R. Ewing. They also note his long acting career spanning decades and including a role in the film “Papillon.” The reports agree that his death marks the end of a professional life that included both television and film work. While details such as the date and cause of death are not provided in the excerpts, the sources concur on his age at death and on the key titles—“Dallas” and “Papillon”—for which he is best remembered.