Known for Acting
Birthday
March 6, 1931
Place of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
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).

Adam-12

The Virginian

Emergency!

Marcus Welby, M.D.

Police Woman

Gunsmoke

Laramie

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

The Ford Television Theatre

The Millionaire

Wire Service

Telephone Time

Hondo

Frontier

The Wonderful World of Disney

The Wonderful World of Disney

Letter to Loretta

Cimarron City

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

General Electric Theater