Actor
John Smith
Born March 6, 1931 in Los Angeles, California, USADied January 25, 199528 films
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).
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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. 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).
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The best way into John Smith's work
First watchWe're No Angels19557.2as Medical Officer ArnaudThree convicts escape from prison on Devil's Island just before Christmas and arrive at a nearby French colonial town.View filmEssential films
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Filmography
28 films as actor- 2011MeteorNarrator
- 1972Justin Morgan Had a HorseMr. Ames
- 1971Blood LegacyDr. Carl Isenburg
- 1967Hondo and the ApachesEd Dow
- 1966WacoJoe Gore
- 1964Circus WorldSteve McCabe
- 1959Island of Lost WomenJoe Walker
- 1958Handle with CareBill Reeves
- 1958Sea DiversMike Gilbert
- 1957The Crooked CircleTommy Kelly
- 1957The Lawless EightiesWilliam Wesley Van Orsdel
- 1957The Kettles on Old MacDonald's FarmBrad Johnson
- 1957Fury at ShowdownMiley Sutton
- 1957Tomahawk TrailPvt. Reynolds
- 1956The Women of Pitcairn IslandThursday October Christian
- 1956Friendly PersuasionCaleb Cope
- 1956Rebel in TownWesley Mason
- 1956Hot Rod GirlJeff Northrup
- 1956Quincannon, Frontier ScoutLt. Phil Hostedder
- 1956Ghost TownDuff Dailey
- 1956The Bold and the BraveSmith
- 1955Desert SandsPvt. Rex Tyle
- 1955We're No AngelsMedical Officer Arnaud
- 1955WichitaJim Earp
- 1955Seven Angry MenFrederick Brown
- 1954The High and the MightyMilo Buck
- 1945The Bells of St. Mary'sChoir Member (uncredited)
- 1944Going My WayChoir Member (uncredited)