Pete Smith
Known for Acting · 171 credits
- Born
- 1892-09-04
- Died
- 1979-01-12
- Place of birth
- New York City, New York, USA
- Also known as
- Peter Schmidt
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.
Known For
TV Shows (1)
Movies (170)
Diamond Demon
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Swing High
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Aqua Antics
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
1950
as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Ice Aces
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Film Antics
1954
as Narrator
Hollywood Daredevils
1943
as Narrator
Camera Sleuth
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Fala: The President's Dog
1943
as Narrator - Host
Studio Visit
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Radio Hams
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Fala at Hyde Park
1946
as Narrator
Army Champions
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Guest Pests
1945
as Narrator
Weather Wizards
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Hollywood Scout
1945
as Narrator / Chimp (voice)
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Menu
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
1950
as Narrator
Pro Football
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Inflation
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Pete Smith - Narrator
Double Diving
1939
as Narrator
Stuffie
1940
Flicker Memories
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Dexterity
1937
as Narrator
Snow Birds
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Aeronutics
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Killer Dog
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Acro-Batty
1942
as Narrator
Manhattan Melodrama
1934
as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Victory Quiz
1942
Audioscopiks
1935
as Commentator (voice)
Water Sports
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
1938
as Narrator (voice)
Wedding Bills
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Rough Riding
1954
as Narrator
Water Trix
1949
as Narrator (voice)
Trader Hound
1931
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Microscopic Mysteries
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Water Bugs
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Fine Feathers
1933
as Narrator
Bowling Tricks
1948
as Narrator(voice)
Memory Tricks
1941
Musiquiz
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Groovie Movie
1944
as Narrator
Friend Indeed
1937
as Narrator
Water Wisdom
1943
as Narrator(voice)
What About Daddy?
1942
as Narrator
Handlebars
1933
as Narrator (voice)
The Great Morgan
1945
as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Neighbor Pests
1947
as Narrator
Cuban Rhythm
1941
as Narrator (voice)
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Marines in the Making
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
1936
as Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Hurling
1936
as Narrator
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
as Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
1934
as Narrator (voice)
The Man Around the House
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Social Sea Lions
1940
as Narrator
Sports Oddities
1949
as Narrator
Those Good Old Days
1949
as Narrator
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940
as Narrator
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Narrator (voice)
The Mosconi Story
1953
as Narrator
Romance of Radium
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
1937
as Narrator (voice)
The Fall Guy
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Cogitate
1948
as Narrator (voice
This Is a Living?
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Take a Cue
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Penny's Picnic
1938
Home Maid
1944
as Narrator
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
1946
as Narrator (voice)
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949
as Narrator
The Domineering Male
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Out for Fun
1954
as Narrator
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills No. 10
1947
Football Thrills of 1940
1941
as Narrator
Wanted - A Master
1936
as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Crashing the Movies
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Hot on Ice
1938
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1941
1942
as Narrator
Penny's Party
1938
as Narrator
Football Thrills No. 9
1946
as Narrator
Wild and Woolly
1931
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1944
1945
as Narrator
Three on a Rope
1938
as Narrator
The New Audioscopiks
1938
as Narrator
Heroes at Leisure
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Super Cue Men
1949
as Narrator
Man's Greatest Friend
1938
as Narrator
Desert Regatta
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
1943
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942
as as Interlocutor (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1943
1944
as Narrator
Goofy Movies Number Ten
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Animals in Action
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Eight
1934
as Narrator (voice)
About Pete Smith
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 h… With 171 credits spanning from 1931 to 2002, Pete Smith has appeared in 170 films and 1 TV show.
Fans searching for Pete Smith movies, Pete Smith filmography, or the latest projects starring Pete Smith can stream many of these titles on Bowood.TV, free and in HD, with no subscription required.
Most Popular Pete Smith Movies
- Diamond Demon (1947) — as Narrator (voice)
- Olympic Events (1932) — as Narrator (voice)
- Swing High (1932) — as Narrator (voice)
- Aqua Antics (1942) — as Narrator (voice)
- Curious Contests (1950) — as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Where to Watch Pete Smith Films
Most Pete Smith movies and series are available to stream on Bowood.TV in full HD, completely free and without signup. Browse the complete filmography above to jump directly to any title. For more films and the latest web series featuring Pete Smith, check our movies catalogue and browse page.