John Smith

About

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).

Known for

The VirginianSeries • 1962Adam-12Series • 1968Emergency!Series • 1972Police WomanSeries • 1974Marcus Welby, M.D.Series • 1969Alfred Hitchcock PresentsSeries • 1955GunsmokeSeries • 1955Father Knows BestSeries • 1954LaramieSeries • 1959The Ford Television TheatreSeries • 1952The MillionaireSeries • 1955Telephone TimeSeries • 1956The Wonderful World of DisneySeries • 1954Friendly PersuasionMovie • 1956WichitaMovie • 1955We're No AngelsMovie • 1955The High and the MightyMovie • 1954The Bells of St. Mary'sMovie • 1945Going My WayMovie • 1944Circus WorldMovie • 1964Blood LegacyMovie • 1971