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Gerald Wilson Oliver Smith (June 26, 1892 – May 28, 1974) was an English-born actor who spent most of his career in the United States, both in New York City as a stage actor and in the
Hollywood Hollywood usually refers to: * Hollywood, Los Angeles, a neighborhood in California * Hollywood, a metonym for the cinema of the United States Hollywood may also refer to: Places United States * Hollywood District (disambiguation) * Hollywoo ...
film industry. Born in Sidcup, Kent, England, Smith debuted as a music hall singer in London. He came to the United States as part of a London Gaiety Company production of ''To-night's the Night''. His
Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street **Broadway Theatre (53rd Stree ...
career began in 1916, and he appeared in, among other productions, three
George Gershwin George Gershwin (; born Jacob Gershwine; September 26, 1898 – July 11, 1937) was an American composer and pianist whose compositions spanned popular, jazz and classical genres. Among his best-known works are the orchestral compositions ' ...
musicals: '' Lady Be Good'' (1924), ''
Oh, Kay! ''Oh, Kay!'' is a musical with music by George Gershwin, lyrics by Ira Gershwin, and a book by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse. It is based on the play ''La Présidente'' by Maurice Hennequin and Pierre Veber. The plot revolves around the adven ...
'' (1928) and '' Pardon My English'' (1933). He also had bit parts in
silent films A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...
, such as '' The Mysterious Miss Terry'' (1917), and went on to appear in talkies and musicals in the 1930s and 1940s. He began working in Hollywood in 1937, and was frequently
typecast In film, television, and theatre, typecasting is the process by which a particular actor becomes strongly identified with a specific character, one or more particular roles, or characters having the same traits or coming from the same social or ...
as a genteel butler or pompous English gentleman.Gerald Oliver Smith
at
Allmovie AllMovie (previously All Movie Guide) is an online database with information about films, television programs, and screen actors. , AllMovie.com and the AllMovie consumer brand are owned by RhythmOne. History AllMovie was founded by popular-cult ...
His film appearances included ''
Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
'', ''
National Velvet ''National Velvet'' is a novel by Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), first published in 1935. It was illustrated by Laurian Jones, Bagnold's daughter, who was born in 1921. Plot summary ''National Velvet'' is the story of a 14-year-old girl named ...
'', and ''
One Hundred Men and a Girl ''One Hundred Men and a Girl'' (styled 100 Men and a Girl in advertising) is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin and the maestro Leopold Stokowski. Written by Charles Kenyon, Bruce Manning, an ...
''. Smith appeared in more than one hundred movies, often in small roles, and was not always mentioned in the credits. From 1952 to 1956 he made several television appearances. He retired to the
Motion Picture & Television Country House and Hospital In physics, motion is the phenomenon in which an object changes its position with respect to time. Motion is mathematically described in terms of displacement, distance, velocity, acceleration, speed and frame of reference to an observer and meas ...
late in life.


Death

On May 28, 1974, Smith died in
Woodland Hills, California Woodland Hills is a neighborhood bordering the Santa Monica Mountains in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles, California. Geography Woodland Hills is in the southwestern region of the San Fernando Valley, which is located east of Ca ...
, at age 81. He is buried at Pierce Brothers Valhalla Memorial Park, North Hollywood, Los Angeles.


Filmography

*'' The Mysterious Miss Terry'' (1917) as John Quig (film debut) *'' School for Wives'' (1925) as Ronald Van Stuyvesant *'' The Strange Case'' (1931, Short) *''
Kissing Time ''Kissing Time'', and an earlier version titled ''The Girl Behind the Gun'', are musical comedies with music by Ivan Caryll, book and lyrics by Guy Bolton and P. G. Wodehouse, and additional lyrics by Clifford Grey. The story is based on the ...
'' (1933, Short) as Ferdie *''
His Double Life ''His Double Life'' is a 1933 American pre-Code comedy-drama film directed by Broadway theatrical impresario and first time film director Arthur Hopkins with directorial input from the experienced William C. deMille, Cecil's older brother. It ...
'' (1933) as (uncredited) *'' They're Off'' (1936, Short) as Race Track Man *'' The Man I Marry'' (1936) as Throckton Van Cortland *'' Girl Overboard'' (1937) as Harvey *'' When You're in Love'' (1937) as Gerald Meeker *'' Top of the Town'' (1937) as Borden Executive *'' The Lady Escapes'' (1937) as Reggie Farnworth *''The Big Boodle'' (1937) as Butler (uncredited) *''
One Hundred Men and a Girl ''One Hundred Men and a Girl'' (styled 100 Men and a Girl in advertising) is a 1937 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster and starring Deanna Durbin and the maestro Leopold Stokowski. Written by Charles Kenyon, Bruce Manning, an ...
'' (1937) as Stevens *'' Behind the Mike'' (1937) as Robert Ainesley *''
The Lady Fights Back ''The Lady Fights Back'' is a 1937 American action film directed by Milton Carruth and written by Brown Holmes and Robert T. Shannon. It is based on the 1937 novel ''Heather of the High Hand'' by Arthur Stringer. The film stars Kent Taylor, ...
'' (1937) as Sir Daniel McAndrews *'' Fight for Your Lady'' (1937) as 1st Creditor (uncredited) *'' Crashing Hollywood'' (1938) as Joe, Mike's Butler (uncredited) *'' Invisible Enemy'' (1938) as Bassett *''
Blond Cheat ''Blond Cheat'' is a 1938 romantic comedy film directed by Joseph Santley and starring Joan Fontaine, Derrick De Marney, and Cecil Kellaway. The film was produced by William Sistrom, and originally released by RKO Radio Pictures. The original st ...
'' (1938) - Bankers as Mike's Butler (uncredited) *'' Gateway'' (1938) as Englishman *''
Vacation from Love ''Vacation from Love'' is a 1938 American comedy film directed by George Fitzmaurice, written by Patterson McNutt and Harlan Ware, and starring Dennis O'Keefe, Florence Rice, Reginald Owen, June Knight, Edward Brophy and Truman Bradley. It was ...
'' (1938) as Skewes, the Butler (uncredited) *''
The Law West of Tombstone ''The Law West of Tombstone'' is a 1938 Western film. It was an early Western for Tim Holt. Plot A Judge Roy Bean figure dispenses justice in Arizona. He teams up with the Tonto Kid to fight the McQuinn gang. Cast * Harry Carey as Bill Barker ...
'' (1938) as Delmonico Maitre d' (uncredited) *''
Three Smart Girls Grow Up ''Three Smart Girls Grow Up'' is a 1939 American musical comedy film directed by Henry Koster, written by Felix Jackson and Bruce Manning, and starring Deanna Durbin, Nan Grey, and Helen Parrish. Durbin and Grey reprise their roles from ''Three ...
'' (1939) as Guest (uncredited) *'' The Kid from Texas'' (1939) as Noel - Bertie's Butler (uncredited) *''
Bridal Suite ''Bridal Suite'' is a 1939 American comedy film directed by Wilhelm Thiele and written by Samuel Hoffenstein. The film stars Annabella, Robert Young, Walter Connolly, Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, and Arthur Treacher. The film was released on ...
'' (1939) as Purser (uncredited) *'' Bachelor Mother'' (1939) as Hennessy (uncredited) *'' Pride and Prejudice'' (1940) as Col. Fitzwilliam (uncredited) *'' Dulcy'' (1940) - Huggins as the Butler (uncredited) *'' Kiddie Kure'' (1940, Short) as Evans, the Butler *'' You're the One'' (1941) as Hotel Clerk *'' Federal Fugitives'' (1941) as Hobbs - Lane's Butler *''
The Singing Hill ''The Singing Hill'' is a 1941 American Western film directed by Lew Landers and starring Gene Autry, Smiley Burnette, and Virginia Dale. Based on a story by Jesse Lasky Jr. and Richard Murphy, the film is about a singing cowboy and foreman of ...
'' (1941) as Dada the Butler *'' Puddin' Head'' (1941) as Hudson - Butler *''
Mrs. Miniver ''Mrs. Miniver'' is a 1942 American romantic war drama film directed by William Wyler, and starring Greer Garson and Walter Pidgeon. Inspired by the 1940 novel '' Mrs. Miniver'' by Jan Struther, it shows how the life of an unassuming British ...
'' (1942) as Car Dealer (uncredited) *''
Beyond the Blue Horizon ''Beyond the Blue Horizon'' is a 1971 studio album by American jazz guitarist George Benson. It was his first album released by CTI and included organist Clarence Palmer, drummer Jack DeJohnette, bassist Ron Carter, and percussionists Michael ...
'' (1942) as Chadwick *''
Tish ''TISH'' was a Canadian poetry newsletter founded by student-poets at the University of British Columbia in 1961. The publication was edited by a number of Vancouver poets until 1969. The newsletter's poetics were built on those of writers associa ...
'' (1942) as Parkins (uncredited) *''
Casablanca Casablanca, also known in Arabic as Dar al-Bayda ( ar, الدَّار الْبَيْضَاء, al-Dār al-Bayḍāʾ, ; ber, ⴹⴹⴰⵕⵍⴱⵉⴹⴰ, ḍḍaṛlbiḍa, : "White House") is the largest city in Morocco and the country's econom ...
'' (1942) as Pickpocketed Englishman (uncredited) *'' Forever and a Day'' (1943) as Man in Air Raid Shelter *''
Thumbs Up A thumb signal, usually described as a thumbs-up or thumbs-down, is a common hand gesture achieved by a closed fist held with the thumb extended upward or downward in approval or disapproval, respectively. These gestures have become metaphors i ...
'' (1943) as Hopeless Orchestra Leader (uncredited) *'' Heaven Can Wait'' (1943) as Smith - Van Cleve's Second Butler (uncredited) *''
Jane Eyre ''Jane Eyre'' ( ; originally published as ''Jane Eyre: An Autobiography'') is a novel by the English writer Charlotte Brontë. It was published under her pen name "Currer Bell" on 19 October 1847 by Smith, Elder & Co. of London. The first ...
'' (1943) as Footman at Gateshead (uncredited) *''
Knickerbocker Holiday ''Knickerbocker Holiday'' is a 1938 musical written by Kurt Weill (music) and Maxwell Anderson (book and lyrics); based loosely on Washington Irving's '' Knickerbocker's History of New York'' about life in 17th-century New Netherland (old New Y ...
'' (1944) as English Colonist (uncredited) *''
Casanova Brown ''Casanova Brown'' is a 1944 American comedy romantic film directed by Sam Wood, written by Nunnally Johnson, and starring Gary Cooper, Teresa Wright, and Frank Morgan. The film had its world premiere in western France after the Allies had ...
'' (1944) as Chauffeur (uncredited) *'' Mrs. Parkington'' (1944) as Taylor *''
National Velvet ''National Velvet'' is a novel by Enid Bagnold (1889–1981), first published in 1935. It was illustrated by Laurian Jones, Bagnold's daughter, who was born in 1921. Plot summary ''National Velvet'' is the story of a 14-year-old girl named ...
'' (1944) as Photographer *'' The Man in Half Moon Street'' (1945) as Pharmacy Clerk (uncredited) *'' Sunbonnet Sue'' (1945) as Masters *'' The Sailor Takes a Wife'' (1945) as Gerald - Freddie's Butler *''
Rainbow Over Texas ''Rainbow Over Texas'' is a 1946 American Western film in which Roy Rogers plays himself as a famous cowboy-singer returning to Texas. Directed by Frank McDonald from a story by Max Brand, it co-stars George "Gabby" Hayes and Dale Evans. The s ...
'' (1946) as Larkin the Butler *''
The Verdict ''The Verdict'' is a 1982 American legal drama film directed by Sidney Lumet and written by David Mamet, adapted from Barry Reed's 1980 novel of the same name. It stars Paul Newman, Charlotte Rampling, Jack Warden, James Mason, Milo O'Shea, an ...
'' (1946) as Artist (uncredited) *''
Moss Rose Moss Rose, known as The Leasing.com Stadium for sponsorship reasons, is a football stadium in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England, which is the home ground of Macclesfield F.C., and the former home of Macclesfield Town, a club wound up in Septembe ...
'' (1947) as Hotel Desk Clerk (uncredited) *''
Singapore Singapore (), officially the Republic of Singapore, is a sovereign island country and city-state in maritime Southeast Asia. It lies about one degree of latitude () north of the equator, off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, borderin ...
'' (1947) as Englishman (uncredited) *'' Linda, Be Good'' (1947) as Butler *'' Her Husband's Affairs'' (1947) as Harold - Winterbottom's Butler (uncredited) *'' Enchantment'' (1948) as Willoughby *''
That Forsyte Woman ''That Forsyte Woman'' (released in the United Kingdom as ''The Forsyte Saga'') is a 1949 romance film directed by Compton Bennett and starring Greer Garson, Errol Flynn, Walter Pidgeon, Robert Young and Janet Leigh. It is an adaptation of the ...
'' (1949) as Wilson *'' Belle of Old Mexico'' (1950) as Matthews (uncredited) *'' Lullaby of Broadway'' (1951) as Salesman at Fur Shop (uncredited) *'' As Young as You Feel'' (1951) as McKinleys' Butler (uncredited) *'' Dick Turpin's Ride'' (1951) as Burfrey (uncredited) *'' Adventures of Wild Bill Hickok'' (1952, TV) as Equerry *'' Lady in the Iron Mask'' (1952) (uncredited) *'' Captain Pirate'' (1952) as Heatherstone (uncredited) *'' Sword of Venus'' (1953) as Sir Norman Blandish (final film) (uncredited) *''
My Little Margie ''My Little Margie'' is an American television situation comedy starring Gale Storm and Charles Farrell that alternated between CBS and NBC from 1952 to 1955. The series was created by Frank Fox and produced in Los Angeles, California, at Hal R ...
'' (1955, TV) as Blivens, the Butler *''
The 20th Century-Fox Hour ''The 20th Century Fox Hour'' is an American drama anthology series televised in the United States on CBS from 1955 to 1957. Some of the shows in this series were restored, remastered and shown on the Fox Movie Channel in 2002 under the title ''H ...
'' (1955-1956) as Wilson/Bates *''
The Barbara Stanwyck Show ''The Barbara Stanwyck Show'' is an American anthology drama television series which ran on NBC from September 1960 to September 1961. Barbara Stanwyck served as hostess, and starred in all but four of the half-hour productions. The four in which ...
'' (1960, TV) (final appearance)


References


External links

* * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Gerald Oliver 1892 births 1974 deaths English male actors Male actors from London British expatriate male actors in the United States