Although John Smith is the youngest member of the Break Bread collective, he's made up for his inexperience by playing any and every show that comes his way. Starting out as mcenroe's back-ups boy, and then following Fermented Reptile around, he's also a member of Your Brother In My Backpack, a quintet of hip hop twerps, and the Henchmen, along with junglist DJ Abel. Besides his contributed rants to Fermented Reptile's "let's just call you quits", Smith's only project that exists on anything other than dusty, old, "ultra-limited edition" tapes are Park-Like Setting's vinyl and CD releases. Which he refers to as "so dope that it's just weird to me."
Born at 8:12pm-PST
Has a daughter, but not by wife.
According to his obituary, Robert Van Orden changed his name to John Smith in order to be the only one in the business.
Early in his career he was a member of the The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir , appearing in the Bing Crosby films Going My Way and The Bells of St. Marys .
Graduated from Susan Miller Dorsey High School in Los Angeles, California, in 1949.
Acting mentor was George Montgomery.
Best remembered by the public for his starring role as Slim Sherman on "Laramie" .
Worked with Robert Fuller and Julie London on episodes of two television series: "Laramie" and "Emergency!" .
Met Robert Fuller and Doug McClure in 1956, while working on the movie Friendly Persuasion , though they didnt all participate in the movie.
Best friends with Robert Fuller for almost 40 years, from 1956 till Smiths death in 1995.
Went to high school with future baseball manager Sparky Anderson.
Of Dutch, German and Irish ancestry.
Died just 1 week before Doug McClure.
Started singing at age 13.
His parents were Errol and Margaret Van Orden.
After his last guest-starring role on "Emergency!" , Smith withdrew from acting at the age of 41.
Before he was a successful actor, he worked at MGM Studios as a mailboy and soon advanced to head of the mail department.
Friends with: Robert Fuller , James Drury , Doug McClure , Denny Miller , Robert Conrad , Adam West , Julie London , Randolph Mantooth , Robert Crawford Jr. , Dan Blocker , R.G. Armstrong , Jim Davis , Claude Akins , John McIntire , Denver Pyle , James Best , Brian Keith , Ernest Borgnine , James Coburn , Dan Duryea , Noah Beery Jr. , Harry Carey Jr. , Dan Blocker , Robert Young , Russell Johnson and L.Q. Jones.
Upon his death, he was cremated, his ashes were scattered at sea.
Was a guest at the very first Festival of The West in 1990. In later years, failing health prevented him from attending. Smith died in 1995.
Had originally decided to be an aeronautical engineer.
Was an excellent deep sea diver and an avid hunter.
A sports and cowboy buff.
He introduced Julie London to Robert Fuller , and remained close friends with Fuller for 40 years until his death in 1995.
His ex- "Laramie" co-star, Robert Fuller , paid tribute to him at the Festival of the West, in Scottsdale, Arizona, 15 years after Smiths death [20 March 2010].
He was known as quite the social butterfly.
Led the NFL in Points Scored in 1979 (115) and 1980 (129).
Led the NFL in Field Goals Attempted (33) in 1979.
Leader of the Labour Party in the UK from 18th July 1992 until his death.
The Labour partys famous original headquarters on Walworth Road , south London was named John Smith House in his honour, being printed on the gateway before the building entrance. Sometime after the creation of New Labour, this disappeared...
Portrayed by Frank Kelly in British television drama, The Deal focusing upon his successors alleged rivalry.
His daughter is the television newsreader Sarah Smith.
In 1990, He was a jobber for the WWE before going to ECW in 1992.
