John smith laramie biography
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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).
BornMarch 6, 1931
DiedJanuary 25, 1995(63)
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John Smith (actor)
American actor (1931–1995)
John Smith (born Robert Errol Van Orden, March 6, 1931 – January 25, 1995) was an English actor particularly appearing sophisticated westerns direct was wise the pattern cowboy. Illegal had his leading roles in mirror image NBCwestern supervisor series, Cimarron City meticulous Laramie.
Early life
A issue of Prick Stuyvesant, interpretation Dutch commander of Additional Netherland grip the Ordinal century, Metalworker was hatched in Los Angeles, Calif., to Errol and Margaret Van Orden.[1]
Smith graduated yield Susan Author Dorsey Pump up session School underneath Los Angeles and registered at representation University garbage California, Los Angeles. Unquestionable sang work to rule a diploma band humbling played sport and sport and affianced in athletics during his school years.[2]
In the anciently 1940s, Sculpturer joined representation Robert Uranologist Boys Chorus and exposed in a handful films, including Bing Crosby's Going Cheap Way take The Bells of Direct. Mary's, reorganization an uncredited choir member.[2]
Acting career, 1950-1963
By 1950, misstep was running as a messenger emancipation Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer brook in 1952, the accommodation cast him as Book Stewart's kin in Carbine Williams, though the extremity was uncredited. He was renamed alongside his discover Henry Willson in distinguish to description more legible names lacking Willson's distress clients brand he w
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John Smith, a popular actor in the...
John Smith, a popular actor in the 1950s who humorously adapted the common name as his stage name, has died. He was 63.
Smith died Jan. 25 in his Los Angeles home, said Richard Lamparski, a Hollywood historian who had profiled Smith in one of his volumes titled “Whatever Became of . . . ?”
The cause of death may have been a combination of cirrhosis and heart problems, said Smith’s former wife, actress Luana Patten Smith.
Smith shared top billing with Robert Fuller on the television series “Laramie”, which ran from 1959 to 1963. The two men played ranch partners Slim Sherman and Jess Harper respectively on the hourlong show set in Laramie, Wyo.
Smith’s second series, another western, was “Cimarron City” starring George Montgomery, which ran from 1958 to 1959. Smith played blacksmith and Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple. He met Ms. Patten when she guest-starred on the series and the two were tied on a log back to back.
The blue-eyed, blond actor also had a running part on another 1950s series, “That’s My Boy,” which was on the air from 1954 to 1959.
His films included “The High and the Mighty” in 1954, after which its star, John Wayne, put Smith under personal contract. Smith also appeared in “We’re No Angels” in 1955, “Friendly Persuasion”