Actor John Smith was born Robert Errol Van Orden in Los Angeles. He began his career singing with The Robert Mitchell Boy Choir, a group which appeared in two Bing Crosby films, Going My Way (1944) and The Bells of St. Mary's (1945). His agent Henry Willson, who also gave Tab Hunter and Rock Hudson their names, changed Van Orden's name to "John ...
May 12, 1994, London, United Kingdom, January 25, 1995, Los Angeles, California, United States
Place Of Birth
Los Angeles, California, USA
Height
6' 2" (1.88 m)
Profession
Actor
Education
University of California, Los Angeles
Nationality
English, American
Spouse
Luana Patten
Parents
George Smith, Alice Smith, Errol Van Orden, Margaret Van Orden
Awards
Medal of Honor
Movies
Friendly Persuasion, Circus World, The High and the Mighty, We're No Angels, Island of Lost Women, Justin Morgan Had a Horse, Hot Rod Girl, The Lawless Eighties, Fury at Showdown, The Women of Pitcairn Island, Wichita, Quincannon, Frontier Scout, Seven Angry Men, Desert Sands, Ghost Town, The Bold a...
His ex-Laramie (1959) co-star, Robert Fuller, paid tribute to him at the Festival of the West, in Scottsdale, Arizona, 15 years after Smith's death [20 March 2010].
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He introduced Julie London to Robert Fuller, whom Fuller became his best friend for 40 years until London's death in 2000.
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A sports and cowboy buff.
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Was an excellent deep sea diver and an avid hunter.
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Had originally decided to be an aeronautical engineer.
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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.
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Upon his death, he was cremated, his ashes were scattered at sea.
$400,000
