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).
2011
as Narrator
1974
1972
as Mr. Ames
1972
as Capt. Hammer
1969
as Doc Hunter
1968
as Ron McKee
1967
as Ed Dow
1967
1966
as Joe Gore
1964
as Steve McCabe
1962
as Dee Garvey
1959
as Slim Sherman
1959
as Joe Walker
1958
as Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple
1958
as Bill Reeves
1957
as Tommy Kelly
1957
as William Wesley Van Orsdel
1957
as Brad Johnson
1957
as Miley Sutton
1957
as Pvt. Reynolds
1956
as Thursday October Christian
1956
as Caleb Cope
1956
as Howie
1956
as Wesley Mason
1956
as Jeff Northrup
1956
as Lt. Phil Hostedder
1956
1956
as Duff Dailey
1956
as Smith
1955
as Pvt. Rex Tyle
1955
as Irving Randall
1955
1955
as David
1955
as Medical Officer Arnaud
1955
as Jim Earp
1955
as Frederick Brown
1955
as Charles 'Lucky' Swanson
1954
as Rep Aeronaut
1954
as Mr. Ames
1954
as Self
1954
as Milo Buck
1953
as Art
1951
1945
as Choir Member (uncredited)
1944
as Choir Member (uncredited)