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Lane Smith
Actor

Lane Smith

29 Apr 1936Born
13 Jun 2005Died
69Age at death
101Credits

Biography

Lane Smith (April 29, 1936 – June 13, 2005) was an American actor . He graduated from the Leelanau School, a boarding school in Glen Arbor, Michigan, and spent one year boarding at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, before going off to study at the Actors Studio in the late 1950s and early 1960s along with Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino; he was recognized in their Hall of Fame. Smith served two years in the United States Army.

After graduating, Smith found steady work in New York theater before making his film debut in Maidstone in 1970. During the 1970s, he regularly made appearances in small film roles including Rooster Cogburn in 1975 and Network in 1976.

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In 1981, Smith appeared in the Sidney Lumet-directed film Prince of the City. He also acted on television, notably playing a United States Marine in Vietnam in the television miniseries A Rumor of War and in the 1980 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie Gideon's Trumpet starring Henry Fonda, José Ferrer and John Houseman. Smith is also credited for playing McMurphy 650 times in the 1971 Off-Broadway revival of One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest.

Smith made a major breakthrough in 1984 with significant roles in Red Dawn, Places in the Heart and the television series V. He also played on Quincy, M.E. in season 8, episode 7, "Science for Sale" as an oncologist searching for a cure to cancer. In 1989, Smith gained recognition for his portrayal of Richard Nixon in the docudrama The Final Days. Newsweek praised the performance, writing, "Smith] is such a good Nixon that his despair and sorrow at his predicament become simply overwhelming." Smith earned a Golden Globe nomination for his performance. He also appeared in the original Broadway stage production of David Mamet's Glengarry Glen Ross as James Lingk. He received a Drama Desk Award for his performance.

In 1990, Smith appeared in Air America playing a United States Senator, a role for which he was selected based on his resemblance to then-Minority Leader Bob Dole. Two years later, he played a small-town district attorney opposite Joe Pesci in My Cousin Vinny, followed by a role as Coach Jack Reilly in The Mighty Ducks. In 1993 Smith landed the role of Perry White in Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, which he played for four seasons until 1997. In 1994, he portrayed New York Yankees front officeman Ron in The Scout, alongside Albert Brooks and Brendan Fraser. In 1998, Smith appeared in a major role as fictional television anchorman Emmett Seaborn in the HBO miniseries From The Earth to the Moon. His final film appearance was in The Legend of Bagger Vance (2000).

Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (also known as ALS, or Lou Gehrig's disease) in April 2004. He died of the disease at his home in Northridge, California on June 13, 2005 at the age of 69. He was survived by his wife, Debbie Benedict Smith and his son Robert Smith.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 101 credits.

  1. 2012Well Received the Death of an ArtistFilm
  2. 2003Out of OrderSeries: Frank (5 episodes)
  3. 2001WW3Film: John Sullivan
  4. 2000DAGSeries: Agent Baxter (1 episode)
  5. 2000The CapriceFilm: Lane
  6. 2000The Legend of Bagger VanceFilm: Grantland Rice
  7. 2000BullSeries (1 episode)
  8. 1999Judging AmySeries: Mr. Radford (1 episode)
  9. 1999Inherit the WindFilm: Reverend Jeremiah Brown
  10. 1998The Hi-Lo CountryFilm: Steve Shaw
  11. 1998LegacySeries: Asa Winters (3 episodes)
  12. 1998Getting PersonalFilm: Dr. Maddie
  13. 1998From the Earth to the MoonSeries: Emmett Seaborn (6 episodes)
  14. 1997Alien Nation: The Udara LegacyFilm: Senator Silverthorne
  15. 1997The PracticeSeries: Judge Finkel (2 episodes)
  16. 1997King of the HillSeries: Charlie Fortner (voice), Nate Hashaway (voice) (2 episodes)
  17. 1996The War at HomeFilm: Marjorie's Husband
  18. 1996CluelessSeries: Dan Hafner (1 episode)
  19. 1995The Outer LimitsSeries: Dr. Malcolm Boussard (1 episode)
  20. 1994The ScoutFilm: Ron Wilson
  21. 1994The Spy WithinFilm: Stephen Hahn
  22. 1993Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanSeries: Perry White (87 episodes)
  23. 1993Son in LawFilm: Walter Warner
  24. 1993Walker, Texas RangerSeries: Reverend Thornton Powers (1 episode)
  25. 1992The Distinguished GentlemanFilm: Dick Dodge
  26. 1992The Mighty DucksFilm: Jack Reilly
  27. 1992DuplicatesFilm: Mr. Fryman
  28. 1992My Cousin VinnyFilm: Jim Trotter III
  29. 1991False ArrestFilm: Martin Busey
  30. 1991Good SportsSeries: R.J. Rappaport (15 episodes)
  31. 1990Blind VengeanceFilm: Col. Blanchard
  32. 1990Air AmericaFilm: Senator Davenport
  33. 1990ChallengerFilm: Larry Mulloy
  34. 1989The Final DaysFilm: Richard Nixon
  35. 1989Night GameFilm: Whitty
  36. 1988Killer InstinctFilm: Dr. Butler
  37. 1987PrisonFilm: Warden Eaton Sharpe
  38. 1987WeedsFilm: Claude
  39. 1987A Place to Call HomeFilm: Sam
  40. 1986Native SonFilm: Britton
  41. 1986Kay O'BrienSeries (12 episodes)
  42. 1986Dress GraySeries: Col. King (2 episodes)
  43. 1986If Tomorrow ComesSeries: Warden Brannigan (1 episode)
  44. 1985Terror at London BridgeFilm: Anson Whitfield
  45. 1985Beverly Hills Cowgirl BluesFilm: Captain Max Rosenberg
  46. 1985The New Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries: Robert Warren (1 episode)
  47. 1985Amazing StoriesSeries: Dr. Caruso (1 episode)
  48. 1985The Twilight ZoneSeries: (segment "Profile in Silver") (1 episode)
  49. 1985Hollywood BeatSeries: Cp. Milton Treadwell (1 episode)
  50. 1985MacGruder and LoudSeries: Richard (1 episode)
  51. 1984VSeries: Nathan Bates (13 episodes)
  52. 1984Murder, She WroteSeries: Pol. Chief Miles Underwood (1 episode)
  53. 1984Places in the HeartFilm: Albert Denby
  54. 1984Red DawnFilm: Mayor Bates
  55. 1984Purple HeartsFilm: Cmdr. Markel
  56. 1984Something About AmeliaFilm: Officer Dealy
  57. 1983ChiefsSeries: Hoss Spence (3 episodes)
  58. 1983Special BulletinFilm: Morton Sanders
  59. 1983The American SnitchFilm: Chuck Maxwell
  60. 1982The Member of the WeddingFilm: Mr. Addams
  61. 1982FrancesFilm: Docteur Symington
  62. 1982Thou Shalt Not KillFilm: Clarence Blake
  63. 1982Prime SuspectFilm: Tom Keating
  64. 1982American PlayhouseSeries: Britton (1 episode)
  65. 1981Dark Night of the ScarecrowFilm: Harless Hocker
  66. 1981Prince of the CityFilm: Tug Barnes
  67. 1981Hill Street BluesSeries: Mike (1 episode)
  68. 1980Mark, I Love YouFilm: Don Payer
  69. 1980The Georgia PeachesFilm: Randolph Dukane
  70. 1980ResurrectionFilm: Don
  71. 1980A Rumor of WarSeries: Sgt. Willliam Holgren (2 episodes)
  72. 1980Honeysuckle RoseFilm: Brag
  73. 1980On the NickelFilm: Preacher
  74. 1980Gideon's TrumpetFilm: Fred Turner
  75. 1980City in FearFilm: Brian
  76. 1979Disaster on the CoastlinerFilm: John Carlson
  77. 1979The Solitary ManFilm: Jack Collins
  78. 1979Hart to HartSeries (1 episode)
  79. 1979Over the EdgeFilm: Sloan
  80. 1978The Crash of Flight 401Film

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