Ian Douglas Smith, GCLM, ID (8 April 1919 – 20 November 2007) was a politician, farmer and fighter pilot who served as Prime Minister of Rhodesia (or Southern Rhodesia) from 1964 to 1979. His country's first native-born premier, he led the mostly white minority government that unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1965, following prolonged dispute over the terms. He remained Prime Minister for almost all of the 14 years of international isolation that followed, and oversaw Rhodesia's security forces during most of the Bush War, which pitted the unrecognised government against communist-backed black nationalist guerrilla groups. Smith, who has been described as personifying white Rhodesia, remains a highly controversial figure—supporters lionise him as a man of integrity and vision "who understood the uncomfortable truths of Africa", while critics describe an unrepentant racist whose policies and actions caused the deaths of thousands and contributed to Zimbabwe's later crises.Smith was born to British immigrants in Selukwe, a small town in the Southern Rhodesian Midlands, four years before the colony became self-governing in 1923. Serving as a Royal Air Force fighter pilot in the Middle East and Europe during the Second World War, he spent months behind German lines in Italy and suffered debilitating facial and bodily wounds that remained conspicuous for the rest of his life. He set up a farm in his home town in 1948 and, the same year, became Member of Parliament for Selukwe—at 29 years old, the country's youngest ever MP. Originally a Liberal, he moved to the United Federal Party in 1953, and rose through the political ranks over the rest of the decade, serving as Chief Whip from 1958. He left in 1961 in protest at the territory's new constitution, and the following year helped Winston Field to form the all-white, firmly conservative Rhodesian Front (RF), which called for the colony's full independence without an immediate shift to black majority rule.Smith became Deputy Prime Minister following the RF's December 1962 election victory, and stepped up to the premiership after Field resigned in April 1964. With the UK government refusing to grant independence while Rhodesia did not devise a set timetable for the introduction of majority rule, talks with the British Prime Minister Harold Wilson repeatedly broke down, leading Smith and his Cabinet to declare independence on 11 November 1965. His government endured in the face of United Nations economic sanctions with the assistance of South Africa and, until 1974, Portugal. Talks with Britain in 1966, 1968 and 1971 came to nothing. Smith declared Rhodesia a republic in 1970 and led the RF to three more decisive election victories over the next seven years. After the Bush War began in earnest in 1972, he negotiated with the non-militant nationalist leader Bishop Abel Muzorewa and the rival guerrilla movements headed by Joshua Nkomo and Robert Mugabe.In 1978, Smith an
Selukwe, Southern Rhodesiaref|Selukwe and Shurugwi are the same place; the town was renamed in 1982.|group="n"|name="selukwe"
Height
5' 11" (1.8 m)
Profession
Actor, Writer, Producer
Education
Rhodes University
Nationality
Rhodesian
Spouse
Janet Watt
Children
Alec Smith, Robert Watt, *Jean, *Robert, *Alec, Jean Watt
Parents
Agnes Smith, John Douglas Smith
Nominations
Gold Logie Award for Best Personality on Australian Television, Logie Award for Best Actor
Movies
Body Melt, A Wild Ass of a Man, Auntie, Albert
TV Shows
Larry King Live, Celebrity Fit Club, The View, Anderson Cooper 360°, The Tyra Banks Show, Meet the Faith, The 50 Million Pound Challenge
Star Sign
Gemini
#
Quote
1
Playing against the character was always good for Harold [Bishop]. I've always said use what you've got. If you've got a face that wobbles around a bit, use it get a laugh. People are always trying to be what they're not, but if I'm fat and a bit funny to look at when I do things like that, OK let's get a laugh, let's make it work.
2
Back in the days of Bellbird (1967) it was a great school for young actors. It was a school for experienced stage actors as well. These days if a kid looks OK they get the job. We find out if they can act later. Learning how to teach the kids is very important.
#
Fact
1
Reg Watson offered Ian the chance to work on Neighbours (1985) on the day that Smith and his colleagues taped the final edition of Prisoner (1979) - Watson being the creator of both series. 30 years to the day of the Wentworth drama's first edition, Ian's final Ramsay Street appearance was transmitted by Network Ten.
2
Was in the audience watching a performance of Little Britain live when they toured Australia. During the show Vicki Pollard (played by Matt Lucas, who much like David Walliams had no idea Ian was in the audience) said she went to Ramsey Street and got fingered by Ian Smith's character, Harold Bishop.
3
Found out, at the age of 54, that he was adopted.
4
Although Ian Smith is now the longest serving actor on the Australian TV show "Neighbours", he has not played the character of Harold Bishop continuously. Ian originally played the character from 1987-1991, then left the show for 5 years before returning to play the character again in 1996.
5
The longest-serving member of the Neighbours (1985) cast, having played Harold Bishop since episode 415 in 1987.
Actor
Title
Year
Status
Character
Albert
2015/IV
Short completed
Albert
Comedy Showroom: Moonman
2016
TV Short
Ian
Neighbours
1987-2015
TV Series
Harold Bishop
Grandad
2013/II
Short
Grandad
It's a Date
2013
TV Series
Don
Underbelly
2010
TV Series
Ken Wallis
The Jesus Spoon
2009
Short
Buck Senior
The Last of the Ryans
1997
TV Movie
Sir Arthur Rylah
The Genie from Down Under
1996
TV Series
Race Judge
Blue Heelers
1994
TV Series
Clive Burton
Body Melt
1993
Dr. Carrera
Time Trax
1993
TV Series
Max Shepparton
Prisoner
1979-1984
TV Series
Ted Douglas / Rev. Potter
I Can Jump Puddles
1981
TV Series
Mr. Slade
Young Ramsay
1980
TV Series
Doctor
A Wild Ass of a Man
1980
TV Movie
Dando
Skyways
1979
TV Series
Col. Garner
Chopper Squad
1978
TV Series
Band: Chalice
Glenview High
1977
TV Series
Rocky
Bellbird
1977
TV Series
Russell
Bluey
1977
TV Series
Sen. Det. Davidson
Power Without Glory
1976
TV Series
Dwyer
Quality of Mercy
1975
TV Series
Matlock Police
1971-1975
TV Series
Berry / Larry Fisher / Estate Agent / ...
Ryan
1974
TV Series
Division 4
1971-1974
TV Series
Mike Chapman / Stanley / Jackson / ...
Alpha Scorpio
1974
TV Mini-Series
Homicide
1966-1972
TV Series
Johnny Reid / Joe Baxter / Michael Edmunds / ...
Detective
1969
TV Series
Dick Spencer
Writer
Title
Year
Status
Character
Neighbours
1987-1990
TV Series written by - 9 episodes
Prisoner
TV Series script editor - 269 episodes, 1980 - 1986 writer - 51 episodes, 1982 - 1986