Pete Smith
Acting
Born: September 4, 1892 · New York City, New York, USA
Died: January 12, 1979 (aged 86)
Highest Rated
Biography
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.
Photos (2)
Movies (108)
Manhattan Melodrama
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Killer Dog
Narrator (voice)
Romance of Radium
Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
Narrator (voice)
Hollywood Scout
Narrator / Chimp (voice)
Aqua Antics
Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
Narrator (voice)
Ice Aces
Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
Narrator (voice)
Menu
Narrator (voice)
Victory Quiz
1942
Water Wisdom
Narrator(voice)
Studio Visit
Narrator (voice)
The Great Morgan
Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Film Antics
Narrator
Camera Sleuth
Narrator (voice)
Spots Before Your Eyes
Narrator
Hurling
Narrator
Equestrian Acrobats
Narrator (voice)
Wanted - A Master
Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Aeronutics
Narrator (voice)
Trader Hound
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Flicker Memories
Narrator (voice)
Groovie Movie
Narrator
Marines in the Making
Narrator (voice)
Calling All Pa's
Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
as Interlocutor (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Narrator (voice)
Radio Hams
Narrator (voice)
Fala: The President's Dog
Narrator - Host
Army Champions
Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
Narrator (voice)
Acro-Batty
Narrator
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Narrator (voice)
The Grand Bounce
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bowling Tricks
Narrator(voice)
Sure Cures
Narrator (voice)
Audioscopiks
Commentator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
Narrator (voice)
Three on a Rope
Narrator
Strikes and Spares
Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
Narrator (voice)
Hollywood Daredevils
Narrator
Wedding Bills
Narrator (voice)
Swing High
Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
This Is a Living?
Narrator (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
Narrator (voice)
Fala at Hyde Park
Narrator
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Narrator (voice)
Inflation
Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Water Sports
Narrator (voice)
Take a Cue
Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
Narrator (voice)
Rough Riding
Narrator
Fish Tales
Narrator (voice)
Water Trix
Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
Narrator (voice)
Movie Pests
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
Narrator (voice)
Did'ja Know?
Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
Narrator (voice)
What About Daddy?
Narrator
Now You See It
Narrator (voice)
Seventh Column
Narrator (voice)
Donkey Baseball
Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
Narrator (voice)
Candid Cameramaniacs
Narrator
Wrong Way Butch
Narrator (voice)
Friend Indeed
Narrator
Throttle Pushers
Narrator(voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
Narrator (voice)
The Domineering Male
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Narrator (voice)
Culinary Carving
Narrator
Desert Regatta
Narrator (voice)
Anaesthesia
Narrator
Goofy Movies Number Four
Narrator (voice)
Wild and Woolly
Narrator (voice)
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
Narrator
Third Dimensional Murder
Narrator (voice)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
Narrator (voice)
Let's Cogitate
Narrator (voice
Trained Hoofs
Narrator (voice)
Sports Oddities
Narrator
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Six
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
Narrator (voice)
Reducing
Narrator (voice)
Roping Wild Bears
Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
Narrator (voice)
The New Audioscopiks
Narrator
Poetry of Nature
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Cash Stashers
Narrator (voice)
Heroes at Leisure
Narrator (voice)
Penny Wisdom
Narrator (voice)
Marine Circus
Narrator
TV Shows (1)
Self / Appearances (2)
Writing (6)
Producing (68)
Killer Dog
Producer
Romance of Radium
Producer
Just Suppose
Producer
Hollywood Scout
Producer
Aqua Antics
Producer
Fancy Answers
Producer
Ice Aces
Producer
Menu
Producer
Studio Visit
Producer
Film Antics
Producer
Camera Sleuth
Producer
Spots Before Your Eyes
Producer
Wanted - A Master
Producer
Marines in the Making
Producer
Calling All Pa's
Producer
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
Producer
Army Champions
Producer
Acro-Batty
Producer
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
Producer
Sure Cures
Producer
Audioscopiks
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Two
Producer
Cuban Rhythm
Producer
You Can't Win
Producer
Strikes and Spares
Producer
Quicker'n a Wink
Producer
Curious Contests
Producer
This Is a Living?
Producer
Harnessed Rhythm
Producer
Ain't It Aggravatin'
Producer
Inflation
Producer
Fishing Feats
Producer
Seeing Hands
Producer
Water Sports
Producer
Handlebars
Producer
Fish Tales
Producer
Water Trix
Producer
Color Scales
Producer
Movie Pests
Producer
Goofy Movies Number One
Producer
Did'ja Know?
Producer
Things We Can Do Without
Producer
Treasures from Trash
Producer
What About Daddy?
Producer
Now You See It
Producer
Seventh Column
Producer
Donkey Baseball
Producer
Dogs 'n Ducks
Producer
The Jonker Diamond
Producer
Wrong Way Butch
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Three
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Seven
Producer
Desert Regatta
Producer
Anaesthesia
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Four
Producer
Wild and Woolly
Producer
Third Dimensional Murder
Producer
Bar-Rac's Night Out
Producer
Crashing the Movies
Producer
Let's Cogitate
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Nine
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Six
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Five
Producer
Reducing
Producer
Bargain Madness
Producer
Cash Stashers
Producer
Heroes at Leisure
Producer
Penny Wisdom
Producer