Pete Smith
Known For: Acting
Gender: Male
Date of Birth: September 4, 1892
Day of Death: January 12, 1979 (86 years old)
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, USA
Born Peter Schmidt in New York City, Pete Smith got a job after graduating business college with The Player magazine and later with Billboard magazine. That led to his being hired as a publicist for Famous Players-Lasky and Artcraft Pictures, and he was later appointed publicity director at Paramount Pictures. Director Marshall Neilan hired Smith to be the publicist for his own production company, and Smith left New York for Hollywood. After Neilan's company closed, Smith freelanced for a short period before being hired by MGM in 1925 as the head of its publicity department, a position he held until 1930. The job that really brought him recognition, however, was his producing, writing and narrating a series of shorts known as "Pete Smith Specialties" for MGM. The one-reelers covered just about every subject imaginable, from the animal world to the latest technology to how to handle annoying patrons in movie theaters, all delivered with Smith's trademark wry, bemused narration. Many of the later shorts were written and directed by actor Dave O'Brien, using the name David Barclay. Sixteen entries in the series were nominated for Oscars, and two of them won. The series came to an end in 1954, though there were enough made to continue releasing into 1955. Smith's later years were plagued by bad health, and he spent more and more time being hospitalized. In 1979, with his health deteriorating rapidly, he committed suicide by jumping out of the window of his ninth-floor hospital room. He was 86 years old.
2002
1955
1954
Actor Narrator
Film Antics
Actor Narrator
Out for Fun
Actor Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Actor Narrator (voice)
Do Someone a Favor!
Actor Narrator
The Camera Caught It
Actor Narrator
Rough Riding
Actor Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
Producer
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Producer
Film Antics
Producer
Do Someone a Favor!
Producer
Fish Tales
1953
Actor Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
Actor Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
Actor Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
Actor Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
Actor Narrator
The Mosconi Story
Producer
Things We Can Do Without
Producer
Cash Stashers
Producer
Dogs 'n Ducks
Producer
This Is a Living?
Writer
This Is a Living?
1952
1951
1950
Actor Narrator (voice)
Did'ja Know?
Actor Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
Actor Narrator (voice)
Wrong Way Butch
Actor Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
Actor Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Curious Contests
Producer
Did'ja Know?
Producer
A Wife's Life
Producer
Wrong Way Butch
Producer
Crashing the Movies
Producer
Curious Contests
1949
1948
Actor Narrator (voice
Let's Cogitate
Actor Narrator (voice)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Actor Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
Actor Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
Actor Narrator (voice)
Ice Aces
Actor Narrator(voice)
Bowling Tricks
Producer
Let's Cogitate
Producer
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
Producer
You Can't Win
Producer
Just Suppose
Writer
Ice Aces
Producer
Ice Aces
1947
Actor Narrator
Neighbor Pests
Actor Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
Actor Narrator (voice)
I Love My Wife BUT!
Actor Narrator
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
Actor Narrator (voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
Actor Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
Producer
I Love My Wife BUT!
Producer
Have You Ever Wondered?
Producer
Now You See It
1946
Actor Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
Actor Narrator (voice)
I Love My Husband, But!
Actor Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Actor Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
Actor Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
Actor Narrator (voice)
Studio Visit
Producer
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
Producer
I Love My Husband, But!
Producer
Sure Cures
Producer
Gettin' Glamour
Producer
Treasures from Trash
Producer
Studio Visit
1945
1944
1943
1942
Actor as Interlocutor (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
Actor Narrator
Acro-Batty
Actor
Victory Quiz
Actor Narrator (voice)
Calling All Pa's
Actor Narrator (voice)
Marines in the Making
Actor Narrator (voice)
Aqua Antics
Actor Narrator
What About Daddy?
Producer
Acro-Batty
Writer
Acro-Batty
Producer
Marines in the Making
Producer
Calling All Pa's
Producer
Aqua Antics
Producer
What About Daddy?
1941
Actor Narrator (voice)
Third Dimensional Murder
Actor Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
Actor Narrator (voice)
Aeronutics
Actor Narrator (voice)
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Actor Narrator (voice)
Lions on the Loose
Actor Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
Actor Narrator (voice)
Army Champions
Actor Narrator
Football Thrills of 1940
Actor Narrator (voice)
Water Bugs
Actor Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
Actor
Memory Tricks
Producer
Third Dimensional Murder
Producer
Fancy Answers
Producer
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Producer
Lions on the Loose
Producer
Army Champions
Producer
Cuban Rhythm
1940
Actor
Stuffie
Actor Narrator (voice)
Wedding Bills
Actor Narrator (voice)
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
Actor Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
Actor Narrator (voice)
The Domineering Male
Actor Narrator
Spots Before Your Eyes
Producer
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
Producer
Quicker'n a Wink
Producer
Spots Before Your Eyes
1939
Actor Narrator
Marine Circus
Actor Narrator
Double Diving
Actor Narrator
Let's Talk Turkey
Actor Narrator
Set 'em Up
Actor Narrator (voice)
Radio Hams
Actor Narrator (voice)
Take a Cue
Actor Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
Actor Narrator (voice)
Heroes at Leisure
Actor Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Poetry of Nature
Actor Narrator
Culinary Carving
Producer
Heroes at Leisure
1938
Actor Narrator
The New Audioscopiks
Actor Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
Actor Narrator
Three on a Rope
Actor Narrator
Hot on Ice
Actor Narrator
Grid Rules
Actor Narrator
Penny's Party
Actor Narrator
Man's Greatest Friend
Actor Narrator
Anaesthesia
Actor Narrator
Football Thrills of 1937
Actor
Penny's Picnic
Producer
Anaesthesia
Producer
Football Thrills of 1937
Producer
Man's Greatest Friend
Producer
Grid Rules
Producer
Hot on Ice
Director
Football Thrills of 1937
1937
Actor Narrator (voice)
Romance of Radium
Actor Narrator (voice)
Penny Wisdom
Actor Narrator
Friend Indeed
Actor Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
Actor Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Grand Bounce
Actor Narrator
Candid Cameramaniacs
Actor Narrator (voice)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Actor Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
Actor Narrator
Dexterity
Producer
Penny Wisdom
Producer
Romance of Radium
Producer
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Producer
Dexterity
1936
Actor Narrator (voice)
Killer Dog
Actor Narrator
Hurling
Actor Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
Actor Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
Actor Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Wanted - A Master
Actor Narrator (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
Producer
The Jonker Diamond
Writer
The Jonker Diamond
Producer
Killer Dog
Producer
Wanted - A Master
Producer
Harnessed Rhythm
1935
Actor Narrator (voice)
Donkey Baseball
Actor Narrator (voice)
Water Sports
Actor Commentator (voice)
Audioscopiks
Actor Narrator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Actor Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
Producer
Donkey Baseball
Writer
Donkey Baseball
Producer
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Producer
Water Sports
Writer
Trained Hoofs
1934
Actor Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Six
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Ten
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Eight
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
Actor Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Actor Narrator (voice)
Roping Wild Bears
Actor Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Manhattan Melodrama
Actor Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Two
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Six
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Ten
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Three
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Eight
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Four
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Five
Producer
Strikes and Spares
1933
1932
Actor Narrator (voice)
Swing High
Actor Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
Actor Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
Actor Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
Actor Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
Actor Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
Producer
Microscopic Mysteries
Producer
Color Scales
Producer
Desert Regatta
Producer
Olympic Events
