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Bill Smitrovich
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Miami Vice Characters
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Born
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May 16, 1947, Bridgeport, Connecticut
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Active
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1982-present
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Spouse/Children
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Shaw Purnell (1985-present), two children
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William Stanley "Bill" Smitrowicz (born May 16, 1947) is an American actor. He appeared in the show Miami Vice as Scottie Wheeler, DEA agent, Crockett's former partner, and Calderone informant in the episode "Brother's Keeper" and as Miami DEA Commander Burr in the episode "The Prodigal Son".
Early Life/Career
Smitrovich was born in Bridgeport, Connecticut, the son of Anna (Wojna) and Stanley William Zmitrowicz, a tool and die maker. He graduated from University of Bridgeport, then earned his Masters degree from Smith College and later taught acting at the University of Massachusetts. Later he went into theatre, appearing in numerous plays in the 1970's. In the 1980's he jumped to the small screen in the TV movie Muggable Mary, Street Cop, then the big screen in A Little Sex, and then other TV and movie roles followed.
Miami Vice
In 1984, Michael Mann cast Smitrovich in the pilot episode "Brother's Keeper" of a new TV show, Miami Vice. He played Scottie Wheeler, former partner of James "Sonny" Crockett and current DEA agent, but he was also an informant for a drug lord, Calderone, that Crockett had been searching for over many months, and Wheeler's actions cost the life of his current partner, Eddie Rivera. Later, Smitrovich returned for the second season opener "The Prodigal Son" as Miami DEA Commander Burr, who wants Crockett and Tubbs to go to New York to flush out the murderous Revilla drug cartel, responsible for deaths in both New York and Miami.
After Vice
Smitrovich continued to work with Mann on his other projects, including the movie Manhunter (with Kim Griest, Dennis Farina, Michael Talbott and Michele Shay), and his other police drama Crime Story, where he played Detective Danny Krychek for the series run. He also appeared in Mann's Robbery Homicide Edition in 2002. In 1989, he starred in the family drama Life Goes On as the patriarch of the Thacher family, Drew, and remained for the entire series run. He later appeared in the series Millenium and then appeared on Don Johnson's Nash Bridges for three episodes before extended runs on the series' A Nero Wolfe Mystery, The Practice, and Without A Trace. His most recent TV role was in the 2010-11 series The Event and his most recent movie role was in the 2011 film The Rum Diary (with Richard Jenkins).
Personal Life
Smitrovitch married Shaw Purnell in 1985 and has a son, Alexander John, and a daughter Maya Christina.