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John Smith
Actor

John Smith

6 Mar 1931Born
25 Jan 1995Died
63Age at death
48Credits

Biography

Actor John Smith was born Robert Errol Van Orden in Los Angeles. He began his career singing with The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir, a group which appeared in two Bing Crosby films, Going My Way (1944) and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945).

His agent Henry Willson, who also gave Tab Hunter and Rock Hudson their names, changed Van Orden's name to "John Smith". Robert Hofler, author of "The Man Who Invented Rock Hudson", reports that an actress identified as Pocahontas Crowfoot was in the courtroom when the name change was granted.

In We're No Angels (1955), Smith had a small role as "Arnaud", the ship's doctor.

Read the full biography

Aldo Ray, observing the doctor in full dress whites, says "he looks like a glass of milk". John Smith's other film credits include Circus World (1964) and Justin Morgan Had a Horse (1972). Smith also appeared in the television westerns Cimarron City (1958) and Laramie (1959).

Known for

Filmography

  1. 2011MeteorFilm: Narrator
  2. 1974Police WomanSeries (1 episode)
  3. 1972Justin Morgan Had a HorseFilm: Mr. Ames
  4. 1972Emergency!Series: Capt. Hammer (2 episodes)
  5. 1971Blood LegacyFilm: Dr. Carl Isenburg
  6. 1969Marcus Welby, M.D.Series: Doc Hunter (1 episode)
  7. 1968Adam-12Series: Ron McKee (1 episode)
  8. 1967Hondo and the ApachesFilm: Ed Dow
  9. 1967HondoSeries (3 episodes)
  10. 1966WacoFilm: Joe Gore
  11. 1964Circus WorldFilm: Steve McCabe
  12. 1962The VirginianSeries: Dee Garvey (1 episode)
  13. 1959LaramieSeries: Slim Sherman (124 episodes)
  14. 1959Island of Lost WomenFilm: Joe Walker
  15. 1958Cimarron CitySeries: Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple (26 episodes)
  16. 1958Handle with CareFilm: Bill Reeves
  17. 1958Sea DiversFilm: Mike Gilbert
  18. 1957The Crooked CircleFilm: Tommy Kelly
  19. 1957The Lawless EightiesFilm: William Wesley Van Orsdel
  20. 1957The Kettles on Old MacDonald's FarmFilm: Brad Johnson
  21. 1957Fury at ShowdownFilm: Miley Sutton
  22. 1957Tomahawk TrailFilm: Pvt. Reynolds
  23. 1956The Women of Pitcairn IslandFilm: Thursday October Christian
  24. 1956Friendly PersuasionFilm: Caleb Cope
  25. 1956Wire ServiceSeries: Howie (1 episode)
  26. 1956Rebel in TownFilm: Wesley Mason
  27. 1956Hot Rod GirlFilm: Jeff Northrup
  28. 1956Quincannon, Frontier ScoutFilm: Lt. Phil Hostedder
  29. 1956Telephone TimeSeries: Philip Horton (1 episode)
  30. 1956Ghost TownFilm: Duff Dailey
  31. 1956The Bold and the BraveFilm: Smith
  32. 1955Desert SandsFilm: Pvt. Rex Tyle
  33. 1955Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries: Irving Randall (1 episode)
  34. 1955FrontierSeries: Willie Magill - aka The Colfax Kid (1 episode)
  35. 1955GunsmokeSeries: David (1 episode)
  36. 1955We're No AngelsFilm: Medical Officer Arnaud
  37. 1955WichitaFilm: Jim Earp
  38. 1955Seven Angry MenFilm: Frederick Brown
  39. 1955The MillionaireSeries: Charles 'Lucky' Swanson (1 episode)
  40. 1954The Wonderful World of DisneySeries: Rep Aeronaut, Mr. Ames (2 episodes)
  41. 1954Father Knows BestSeries: Utah (1 episode)
  42. 1954The High and the MightyFilm: Milo Buck
  43. 1953Letter to LorettaSeries: Art (1 episode)
  44. 1953General Electric TheaterSeries (1 episode)
  45. 1952The Ford Television TheatreSeries (1 episode)
  46. 1951Schlitz Playhouse of StarsSeries (1 episode)
  47. 1945The Bells of St. Mary'sFilm: Choir Member (uncredited)
  48. 1944Going My WayFilm: Choir Member (uncredited)

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.