Peter Bruce Smith (7 August 1958 – 29 January 2022) was a New Zealand actor. He appeared in iconic New Zealand films such as ''

The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical romance film written and directed by New Zealand filmmaker Jane Campion. It stars Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin (in her first major acting role). The film focuses on a mute Sc ...

'' (1993) and '' Once Were Warriors'' (1994), as well as working on well known television shows, including appearances on ''

The Billy T James Show William James Te Wehi Taitoko (17 January 1948 – 7 August 1991), better known by his stage name Billy T. James, was a New Zealand entertainer, comedian, musician and actor. He became a key figure in the development of New Zealand comedy and ...

'' (1990) and ''

Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand Prime time, prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital. The show was first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992 and is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, be ...

'' in 1999.

Career

At the outset of his career, Smith joined a drama course run by Maori film maker Don Selwyn, and soon thereafter performed in several of Selwyn's theatre productions, among them ''The Gospel according to Taane'' (1985), '' The Maori Merchant of Venice'' (2002) and ''Te Whai Ao''. Smith made his screen debut with a GOFTA-winning role as one of the last people on earth, in science fiction film '' The Quiet Earth'' (1985). His film credits include many notable New Zealand films, among them ''

'' (1993), '' Once Were Warriors'' (1995), and the latter's sequel '' What Becomes of the Broken Hearted'' (1999). He also featured as an

orc An orc (sometimes spelt ork; ), in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth fantasy fiction, is a race of humanoid monsters, which he also calls "goblin". In Tolkien's ''The Lord of the Rings'', orcs appear as a brutish, aggressive, ugly, and malevol ...

in Peter Jackson's '' The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (2003). Additionally, he appeared in the Australian film '' The Boys'' in 1998. Smith also appeared in several television programmes, including '' E Tipu E Rea'' (1989), '' Marlin Bay'' (1992–94), '' Plainclothes'' (1995), ''

'' (1999), '' Greenstone'' (1999), and '' Mataku'' (2001–04). He also starred in the drama series '' The Market'' (2005), for which he received an award for Best Performance by a supporting Actor at the Air New Zealand Screen Awards. He performed in comedy skits and sketches in ''

'' (1990) and current events satires '' Issues'' and '' More Issues'' (1991). Smith has also featured in and narrated several commercials and documentaries. Smith created, presented, narrated, and directed several episodes of various documentary series, among them ''Nga Waiata o Te Hiku o Te Ika: Songs of the North'' (2002) and ''Maramataka: Once Were Gardeners'' (2007). The latter, a 13-part series screened on

Māori Television Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, was a look at modern

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

relationships with the land.

Personal life and death

Smith died from kidney disease on 29 January 2022, at the age of 63.

Awards

Smith won best supporting actor in New Zealand drama feature film ''Flight of the Albatross'' (1995). In 2006, he won Best Performance by a Supporting Actor at the Air New Zealand Screen Awards for his role in '' The Market''.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Pete 1958 births 2022 deaths New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male Māori actors People from Kaitaia Te Aupōuri people Te Rarawa people Deaths from kidney disease