Howard Smith

Biography

Howard Smith built a career as an American character actor in vaudeville, theater, radio, film, and television. Born in Attleboro, Massachusetts, he began as a concert singer, but after World War I ended his opera hopes, Enrico Caruso steered him to vaudeville, where he teamed with Harry Meeker. When vaudeville faded, Smith moved to radio, appearing on The Collier Hour and creating Sergeant Velie on The Adventures of Ellery Queen. With Orson Welles's Mercury Theatre, he played the bomber commander in the 1938 War of the Worlds broadcast and appeared as Joseph Johnson in Too Much Johnson (2013). He originated Charley in Death of a Salesman on Broadway and repeated the role in the 1951 film. His film credits also included Kiss of Death (1947), Call Northside 777 (1948), A Face in the Crowd (1957), and No Time for Sergeants (1958). On television he played Harvey Griffin on Hazel.

74years old at death

Born August 12, 1893Attleboro
Died January 10, 1968Hollywood
Star sign: LeoThe sign runs July 23 to August 22
Also credited as Howard I. Smith and Howard Irving Smith

Movie Career

Films: 15
Career span: 66 years1947 to 2013

Genres

Comedy40%, 6 films
Drama40%, 6 films
Crime20%, 3 films
Horror13%, 2 films
Thriller13%, 2 films

First and latest

Did you know?!

A change of course
Smith started out singing concerts, but after serving in the 77th Infantry Division during World War I his opera ambitions were over. Enrico Caruso then advised him to try a musical act in vaudeville.

Howard Smith movies on Netflix

Too Much Johnson2013IMDb rating 5.6as Joseph Johnson
Dawn of the Dead1978IMDb rating 7.8as TV Commentator
The Brass Bottle1964IMDb rating 6.3as Senator Grindle
Bon Voyage!1962IMDb rating 5.6as Judge Henderson
Murder, Inc.1960IMDb rating 6.6as Albert Anastasia
I Bury the Living1958IMDb rating 6.3as George Kraft
No Time for Sergeants1958IMDb rating 7.5as Maj. Gen. Eugene Bush
Wind Across the Everglades1958IMDb rating 6.5as George Leggett
A Face in the Crowd1957IMDb rating 8.1as J.B. Jeffries
The Caddy1953IMDb rating 6.3as Golf Official
Death of a Salesman1951IMDb rating 7.2as Charley
Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4as K.L. Palmer
State of the Union1948IMDb rating 7.2as Sam I. Parrish
The Street with No Name1948IMDb rating 7.0as Ralph Demory
Kiss of Death1947IMDb rating 7.4as Warden

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

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Dawn of the Dead1978 Horror, Sci-Fias TV Commentator
IMDb rating 7.8138K votes
Kiss of Death1947 Crime, Thrilleras Warden
IMDb rating 7.411K votes
No Time for Sergeants1958as Maj. Gen. Eugene Bush
IMDb rating 7.55.0K votes
Call Northside 7771948as K.L. Palmer
IMDb rating 7.412K votes
I Bury the Living1958as George Kraft
IMDb rating 6.33.5K votes
A Face in the Crowd1957as J.B. Jeffries
IMDb rating 8.120K votes
Death of a Salesman1951as Charley
IMDb rating 7.21.4K votes
The Caddy1953as Golf Official
IMDb rating 6.32.7K votes

Most often with

Henry Hathaway directed two of these films. Nine actors appear in two of them each. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

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Richard Widmark

John McIntire

Robert Adler

Peter Falk

Burl Ives

Alex GerryHenry HathawayDirector, 2 films

Films together

Richard Widmark2 films together, 1947 to 1948
Richard Widmark's page
- The Street with No Name1948IMDb rating 7.0Smith as Ralph DemoryWidmark as Alec Stiles
- Kiss of Death1947IMDb rating 7.4Smith as WardenWidmark as Tommy Udo
John McIntire2 films together, 1948
John McIntire's page
- Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4Smith as K.L. PalmerMcIntire as Sam Faxon
- The Street with No Name1948IMDb rating 7.0Smith as Ralph DemoryMcIntire as Cy Gordon
Robert Adler2 films together, 1947 to 1948
Robert Adler's page
- Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4Smith as K.L. PalmerAdler as Taxicab Driver
- Kiss of Death1947IMDb rating 7.4Smith as WardenAdler as Detective
Peter Falk2 films together, 1958 to 1960
Peter Falk's page
- Murder, Inc.1960IMDb rating 6.6Smith as Albert AnastasiaFalk as Abe Reles
- Wind Across the Everglades1958IMDb rating 6.5Smith as George LeggettFalk as Writer
Burl Ives2 films together, 1958 to 1964
Burl Ives's page
- The Brass Bottle1964IMDb rating 6.3Smith as Senator GrindleIves as Fakrash
- Wind Across the Everglades1958IMDb rating 6.5Smith as George LeggettIves as Cottonmouth
Alex Gerry2 films together, 1962 to 1964
Alex Gerry's page
- The Brass Bottle1964IMDb rating 6.3Smith as Senator GrindleGerry as Dr. Travisley
- Bon Voyage!1962IMDb rating 5.6Smith as Judge HendersonGerry as Horace Bidwell
Henry HathawayDirector, 2 films, 1947 to 1948
All films by Henry Hathaway
- Call Northside 7771948IMDb rating 7.4Smith as K.L. Palmer
- Kiss of Death1947IMDb rating 7.4Smith as Warden
Also two films together3 more actors
- Mildred DunnockDeath of a Salesman (1951) and Kiss of Death (1947)
- Andy GriffithNo Time for Sergeants (1958) and A Face in the Crowd (1957)
- James MillhollinBon Voyage! (1962) and No Time for Sergeants (1958)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

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