dbinia
John Smith

John Smith

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).

Meteor

2011

as Narrator

Police Woman

1974

Justin Morgan Had a Horse

1972

as Mr. Ames

Emergency!

1972

as Capt. Hammer

Marcus Welby, M.D.

1969

as Doc Hunter

Adam-12

1968

as Ron McKee

Hondo and the Apaches

1967

as Ed Dow

Hondo

1967

Waco

1966

as Joe Gore

Circus World

1964

as Steve McCabe

The Virginian

1962

as Dee Garvey

Laramie

1959

as Slim Sherman

Island of Lost Women

1959

as Joe Walker

Cimarron City

1958

as Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple

Handle with Care

1958

as Bill Reeves

The Crooked Circle

1957

as Tommy Kelly

The Lawless Eighties

1957

as William Wesley Van Orsdel

The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm

1957

as Brad Johnson

Fury at Showdown

1957

as Miley Sutton

Tomahawk Trail

1957

as Pvt. Reynolds

The Women of Pitcairn Island

1956

as Thursday October Christian

Friendly Persuasion

1956

as Caleb Cope

Wire Service

1956

as Howie

Rebel in Town

1956

as Wesley Mason

Hot Rod Girl

1956

as Jeff Northrup

Quincannon, Frontier Scout

1956

as Lt. Phil Hostedder

Telephone Time

1956

Ghost Town

1956

as Duff Dailey

The Bold and the Brave

1956

as Smith

Desert Sands

1955

as Pvt. Rex Tyle

Alfred Hitchcock Presents

1955

as Irving Randall

Frontier

1955

Gunsmoke

1955

as David

We're No Angels

1955

as Medical Officer Arnaud

Wichita

1955

as Jim Earp

Seven Angry Men

1955

as Frederick Brown

The Millionaire

1955

as Charles 'Lucky' Swanson

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954

as Rep Aeronaut

The Wonderful World of Disney

1954

as Mr. Ames

A Star Is Born World Premiere

1954

as Self

The High and the Mighty

1954

as Milo Buck

Letter to Loretta

1953

as Art

Schlitz Playhouse of Stars

1951

The Bells of St. Mary's

1945

as Choir Member (uncredited)

Going My Way

1944

as Choir Member (uncredited)