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)
Donkey Baseball
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Film Antics
1954
as Narrator
Camera Sleuth
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Manhattan Melodrama
1934
as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Victory Quiz
1942
Studio Visit
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Seventh Column
1943
as Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
1950
as Narrator
Double Diving
1939
as Narrator
Ice Aces
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Fala: The President's Dog
1943
as Narrator - Host
Added Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Fall Guy
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Marines in the Making
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Killer Dog
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Sure Cures
1946
as Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
1950
as Narrator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Romance of Radium
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932
as Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
1942
as as Interlocutor (voice)
Strikes and Spares
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Grid Rules
1938
as Narrator
Anaesthesia
1938
as Narrator
The Jonker Diamond
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Wanted - A Master
1936
as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Treasures from Trash
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Trader Hound
1931
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Radio Hams
1939
as Narrator (voice)
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Movie Pests
1944
as Narrator (voice)
The Grand Bounce
1937
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Third Dimensional Murder
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Fisticuffs
1938
as Narrator (voice)
Friend Indeed
1937
as Narrator
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Heroes at Leisure
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Wrong Way Butch
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Cogitate
1948
as Narrator (voice
This Is a Living?
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Menu
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
1932
as Narrator (voice)
The Domineering Male
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Penny Wisdom
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Talk Turkey
1939
as Narrator
Penny's Party
1938
as Narrator
Goofy Movies Number Two
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Acrobats
1937
as Narrator (voice)
The Great Morgan
1945
as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Pro Football
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Set 'em Up
1939
as Narrator
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Pete Smith - Narrator
Wedding Bills
1940
as Narrator (voice)
What About Daddy?
1942
as Narrator
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
as Narrator (voice)
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Fishing Feats
1951
as Narrator (voice)
Candid Cameramaniacs
1937
as Narrator
Hollywood Daredevils
1943
as Narrator
Army Champions
1941
as Narrator (voice)
The Camera Caught It
1954
as Narrator
Seeing Hands
1943
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Harnessed Rhythm
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Take a Cue
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Badminton
1945
as Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Inflation
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Fish Tales
1954
as Narrator (voice)
The Mosconi Story
1953
as Narrator
Dogs 'n Ducks
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
1934
as Narrator (voice)
The Man Around the House
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Culinary Carving
1939
as Narrator
Spots Before Your Eyes
1940
as Narrator
Maintain the Right
1940
as Narrator
Calling All Pa's
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Water Trix
1949
as Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Swing High
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Social Sea Lions
1940
as Narrator
Quicker'n a Wink
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Reducing
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills No. 10
1947
You Can't Win
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Poetry of Nature
1939
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Lions on the Loose
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Aqua Antics
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
1950
as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Three on a Rope
1938
as Narrator
Diamond Demon
1947
as Narrator (voice)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
as Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
1953
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940
as Narrator
Guest Pests
1945
as Narrator
Hurling
1936
as Narrator
Audioscopiks
1935
as Commentator (voice)
Throttle Pushers
1933
as Narrator(voice)
Marine Circus
1939
as Narrator
Animals in Action
1955
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
- Donkey Baseball (1935) — as Narrator (voice)
- Cash Stashers (1953) — as Narrator (voice)
- Film Antics (1954) — as Narrator
- Camera Sleuth (1951) — as Narrator (voice)
- Bargain Madness (1951) — as Narrator (voice)
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.