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).
Known for
Emergency!
Capt. Hammer
Adam-12
Ron McKee
The Virginian
Dee Garvey
Gunsmoke
David
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Doc Hunter
Circus World
Steve McCabe
Laramie
Slim Sherman
Police Woman
Alfred Hitchcock Presents
Irving Randall
Wichita
Jim Earp
Blood Legacy
Dr. Carl Isenburg
The Ford Television Theatre
Tomahawk Trail
Pvt. Reynolds
The Millionaire
Charles 'Lucky' Swanson
The Bells of St. Mary's
Choir Member (uncredited)
The High and the Mighty
Milo Buck
Ghost Town
Duff Dailey
Going My Way
Choir Member (uncredited)
Telephone Time
Fury at Showdown
Miley Sutton
Hondo
We're No Angels
Medical Officer Arnaud
Friendly Persuasion
Caleb Cope
The Bold and the Brave
Smith
Waco
Joe Gore
Rebel in Town
Wesley Mason
Hondo and the Apaches
Ed Dow
The Women of Pitcairn Island
Thursday October Christian
A Star Is Born World Premiere
Self
Island of Lost Women
Joe Walker
Desert Sands
Pvt. Rex Tyle
Quincannon, Frontier Scout
Lt. Phil Hostedder
The Crooked Circle
Tommy Kelly
Letter to Loretta
Art
The Kettles on Old MacDonald's Farm
Brad Johnson
Frontier
Willie Magill - aka The Colfax Kid
The Wonderful World of Disney
Rep Aeronaut
The Wonderful World of Disney
Mr. Ames
Justin Morgan Had a Horse
Mr. Ames
Wire Service
Howie
The Lawless Eighties
William Wesley Van Orsdel
Cimarron City
Deputy Sheriff Lane Temple
Seven Angry Men
Frederick Brown
General Electric Theater
Schlitz Playhouse of Stars
Hot Rod Girl
Jeff Northrup
Meteor
Narrator
Handle with Care
Bill Reeves