John Smith
Acting • Born 1931-03-06 – Died 1995-01-25
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. 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).
Filmography
48 credits
Friendly Persuasion
Movie • 1956
Caleb Cope
The High and the Mighty
Movie • 1954
Milo Buck
Hot Rod Girl
Movie • 1956
Jeff Northrup
The Crooked Circle
Movie • 1957
Tommy Kelly
The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm
Movie • 1957
Brad Johnson
Hondo and the Apaches
Movie • 1967
Ed Dow
Tomahawk Trail
Movie • 1957
Pvt. Reynolds
Island of Lost Women
Movie • 1959
Joe Walker
The Bold and the Brave
Movie • 1956
Smith
Fury at Showdown
Movie • 1957
Miley Sutton
The Lawless Eighties
Movie • 1957
William Wesley Van Orsdel
Desert Sands
Movie • 1955
Pvt. Rex Tyle
Handle with Care
Movie • 1958
Bill Reeves
Circus World
Movie • 1964
Steve McCabe
Going My Way
Movie • 1944
Choir Member (uncredited)
The Bells of St. Mary's
Movie • 1945
Choir Member (uncredited)
Ghost Town
Movie • 1956
Duff Dailey
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Movie • 1956
Lt. Phil Hostedder
Meteor
Movie • 2011
Narrator
Seven Angry Men
Movie • 1955
Frederick Brown
Wichita
Movie • 1955
Jim Earp
Waco
Movie • 1966
Joe Gore
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Movie • 1954
Self
We're No Angels
Movie • 1955
Medical Officer Arnaud
The Women of Pitcairn Island
Movie • 1956
Thursday October Christian
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Movie • 1972
Mr. Ames
Rebel in Town
Movie • 1956
Wesley Mason
Blood Legacy
Movie • 1971
Dr. Carl Isenburg
The Virginian
TV • 1962
Dee Garvey
Telephone Time
TV • 1956
Cimarron City
TV • 1958
Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple
Laramie
TV • 1959
Slim Sherman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
TV • 1955
Irving Randall
Letter to Loretta
TV • 1953
Art
Hondo
TV • 1967
The Millionaire
TV • 1955
Charles 'Lucky' Swanson
Gunsmoke
TV • 1955
David
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
TV • 1951
Wire Service
TV • 1956
Howie
Police Woman
TV • 1974
Adam-12
TV • 1968
Ron McKee
Marcus Welby, M.D.
TV • 1969
Doc Hunter
Emergency!
TV • 1972
Capt. Hammer
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Rep Aeronaut
The Wonderful World of Disney
TV • 1954
Mr. Ames
Frontier
TV • 1955
Willie Magill - aka The Colfax Kid
The Ford Television Theatre
TV • 1952
General Electric Theater
TV • 1953