John Smith

John Smith

1931-03-06 – 1995-01-25 (age 63) Los Angeles, California, USA
View on IMDb ↗

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).

Photos

Known For

Friendly Persuasion
Friendly Persuasion

1956

as Caleb Cope

Wichita
Wichita

1955

as Jim Earp

The High and the Mighty
The High and the Mighty

1954

as Milo Buck

We're No Angels
We're No Angels

1955

as Medical Officer Arnaud

Tomahawk Trail
Tomahawk Trail

1957

as Pvt. Reynolds

Going My Way
Going My Way

1944

as Choir Member (uncredited)

Circus World
Circus World

1964

as Steve McCabe

A Star Is Born World Premiere
Desert Sands
Desert Sands

1955

as Pvt. Rex Tyle

Waco
Waco

1966

as Joe Gore

The Bells of St. Mary's
The Bells of St. Mary's

1945

as Choir Member (uncredited)

Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Quincannon, Frontier Scout

1956

as Lt. Phil Hostedder

Island of Lost Women
Island of Lost Women

1959

as Joe Walker

Hondo and the Apaches
Blood Legacy
Blood Legacy

1971

as Dr. Carl Isenburg

Ghost Town
Ghost Town

1956

as Duff Dailey

The Lawless Eighties
The Lawless Eighties

1957

as William Wesley Van Orsdel

Seven Angry Men
Seven Angry Men

1955

as Frederick Brown

Rebel in Town
Rebel in Town

1956

as Wesley Mason

Fury at Showdown
Fury at Showdown

1957

as Miley Sutton