John Smith

Known for ActingBorn 1931-03-06Died 1995-01-25Los Angeles, California, USA

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).Read more

Movies & web series

Wire Service

Handle with Care

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

Emergency!

A Star Is Born World Premiere

The Wonderful World of Disney

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

The Ford Television Theatre

Hondo and the Apaches

Frontier

Adam-12

We're No Angels

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

Rebel in Town

The Lawless Eighties

Hondo

General Electric Theater

The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm

Laramie

Marcus Welby, M.D.

The Bells of St. Mary's

Friendly Persuasion

Gunsmoke

Police Woman

Waco

The Virginian

Going My Way

Letter to Loretta

The Crooked Circle

Telephone Time

Circus World

Cimarron City

Wichita

The Bold and the Brave

Tomahawk Trail

Seven Angry Men

The High and the Mighty

The Millionaire

Fury at Showdown

Meteor

Quincannon, Frontier Scout

Ghost Town

Desert Sands

Hot Rod Girl

Island of Lost Women

The Women of Pitcairn Island

Blood Legacy

Sea Divers