Acting · New York City, New York, USA · Born September 4, 1892
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.
MovieAdded Attractions: The Hollywood Shorts Story
2002
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
TVMGM Parade
1955
The Fall Guy
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Animals in Action
1955
as Narrator (voice)
Just What I Needed
1955
as Narrator
The Man Around the House
1955
as Narrator (voice)
MovieRough Riding
1954
as Narrator
The Camera Caught It
1954
as Narrator
MovieFilm Antics
1954
as Narrator
Out for Fun
1954
as Narrator
Do Someone a Favor!
1954
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFish Tales
1954
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAin't It Aggravatin'
1954
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThings We Can Do Without
1953
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThis Is a Living?
1953
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCash Stashers
1953
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDogs 'n Ducks
1953
as Narrator (voice)
The Mosconi Story
1953
as Narrator
MovieReducing
1952
as Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
1952
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFishing Feats
1951
as Narrator (voice)
MovieBargain Madness
1951
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCamera Sleuth
1951
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCurious Contests
1950
as Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
MovieWrong Way Butch
1950
as Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
1950
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDid'ja Know?
1950
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCrashing the Movies
1950
as Narrator (voice)
Pest Control
1950
as Narrator
MovieSports Oddities
1949
as Narrator
We Can Dream, Can't We?
1949
as Narrator
MovieWater Trix
1949
as Narrator (voice)
Those Good Old Days
1949
as Narrator
Super Cue Men
1949
as Narrator
MovieLet's Cogitate
1948
as Narrator (voice
MovieIce Aces
1948
as Narrator (voice)
MovieJust Suppose
1948
as Narrator (voice)
MovieYou Can't Win
1948
as Narrator (voice)
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
1948
as Narrator (voice)
MovieBowling Tricks
1948
as Narrator(voice)
Have You Ever Wondered?
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Surfboard Rhythm
1947
as Narrator
Football Thrills No. 10
1947
Neighbor Pests
1947
as Narrator
I Love My Wife BUT!
1947
as Narrator (voice)
MovieNow You See It
1947
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDiamond Demon
1947
as Narrator (voice)
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
1947
as Narrator
I Love My Husband, But!
1946
as Narrator (voice)
MovieSure Cures
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills No. 9
1946
as Narrator
MovieTreasures from Trash
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
1946
as Narrator (voice)
MovieStudio Visit
1946
as Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
1946
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFala at Hyde Park
1946
as Narrator
Badminton
1945
as Narrator (voice)
Guest Pests
1945
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1944
1945
as Narrator
MovieHollywood Scout
1945
as Narrator / Chimp (voice)
MovieThe Great Morgan
1945
as Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Safety Sleuth
1944
as Pete Smith - Narrator
Football Thrills of 1943
1944
as Narrator
MovieMovie Pests
1944
as Narrator (voice)
Sportsman's Memories
1944
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGroovie Movie
1944
as Narrator
Home Maid
1944
as Narrator
Water Wisdom
1943
as Narrator(voice)
Football Thrills of 1942
1943
as Narrator
MovieSeventh Column
1943
as Narrator (voice)
MovieSeeing Hands
1943
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MovieFala: The President's Dog
1943
as Narrator - Host
MovieHollywood Daredevils
1943
as Narrator
MovieMarines in the Making
1942
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Tree in a Test Tube
1942
as as Interlocutor (voice)
MovieCalling All Pa's
1942
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1941
1942
as Narrator
MovieVictory Quiz
1942
MovieAcro-Batty
1942
as Narrator
MovieWhat About Daddy?
1942
as Narrator
MovieAqua Antics
1942
as Narrator (voice)
MovieHow to Hold Your Husband - BACK
1941
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFancy Answers
1941
as Narrator (voice)
MovieArmy Champions
1941
as Narrator (voice)
MovieFlicker Memories
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1940
1941
as Narrator
Water Bugs
1941
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCuban Rhythm
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Lions on the Loose
1941
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAeronutics
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Memory Tricks
1941
MovieThird Dimensional Murder
1941
as Narrator (voice)
Penny To the Rescue
1941
as Narrator
MovieWedding Bills
1940
as Narrator (voice)
MovieQuicker'n a Wink
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Please Answer (I.Q. #3)
1940
as Narrator
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Social Sea Lions
1940
as Narrator
MovieSpots Before Your Eyes
1940
as Narrator
MovieThe Domineering Male
1940
as Narrator (voice)
Stuffie
1940
Maintain the Right
1940
as Narrator
Let's Talk Turkey
1939
as Narrator
Set 'em Up
1939
as Narrator
MovieTake a Cue
1939
as Narrator (voice)
MovieCulinary Carving
1939
as Narrator
MoviePoetry of Nature
1939
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MovieRadio Hams
1939
as Narrator (voice)
MovieWeather Wizards
1939
as Narrator (voice)
MovieMarine Circus
1939
as Narrator
MovieHeroes at Leisure
1939
as Narrator (voice)
Double Diving
1939
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1938
1939
as Narrator
Penny's Picnic
1938
Man's Greatest Friend
1938
as Narrator
Hot on Ice
1938
as Narrator
Grid Rules
1938
as Narrator
Football Thrills of 1937
1938
as Narrator
MovieFisticuffs
1938
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAnaesthesia
1938
as Narrator
Penny's Party
1938
as Narrator
Three on a Rope
1938
as Narrator
MovieThe New Audioscopiks
1938
as Narrator
MovieFriend Indeed
1937
as Narrator
MovieCandid Cameramaniacs
1937
as Narrator
MovieRomance of Radium
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
1937
as Narrator (voice)
MovieEquestrian Acrobats
1937
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Grand Bounce
1937
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
MoviePenny Wisdom
1937
as Narrator (voice)
MovieBar-Rac's Night Out
1937
as Narrator (voice)
Dexterity
1937
as Narrator
MovieWanted - A Master
1936
as Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
MovieHurling
1936
as Narrator
MovieKiller Dog
1936
as Narrator (voice)
MovieHarnessed Rhythm
1936
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThe Jonker Diamond
1936
as Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
1936
as Narrator (voice)
MovieAudioscopiks
1935
as Commentator (voice)
MovieLa Fiesta de Santa Barbara
1935
as Narrator (voice)
MovieWater Sports
1935
as Narrator (voice)
MovieTrained Hoofs
1935
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDonkey Baseball
1935
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Ten
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Nine
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieStrikes and Spares
1934
as Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Eight
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MoviePro Football
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Seven
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Six
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Five
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Four
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieManhattan Melodrama
1934
as Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Three
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number Two
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieRoping Wild Bears
1934
as Narrator (voice)
MovieGoofy Movies Number One
1933
as Narrator (voice)
Fine Feathers
1933
as Narrator
MovieMenu
1933
as Narrator (voice)
MovieHandlebars
1933
as Narrator (voice)
MovieInflation
1933
as Narrator (voice)
MovieThrottle Pushers
1933
as Narrator(voice)
MovieSwing High
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
1932
as Narrator (voice)
MovieDesert Regatta
1932
as Narrator (voice)
MovieSnow Birds
1932
as Narrator (voice)
MovieColor Scales
1932
as Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
1932
as Narrator (voice)
MovieWild and Woolly
1931
as Narrator (voice)
MovieTrader Hound
1931
as Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Football Thrills of 1939
as Narrator
