Howard Smith (actor)

Howard Irving Smith (August 12, 1893 – January 10, 1968) was an American

Howard Irving Smith[1] was born August 12, 1893, in Attleboro, Massachusetts,^[2] to parents George H. Smith and Sybelle Pollard Smith.^[3]

Smith began as a concert singer, but his hopes of an opera career were ended after his service in the

In 1928, with big-time vaudeville ending, Smith landed a job on radio's popular The Collier Hour, and received $35 for three minutes work. His radio career continued with The March of Time, Cavalcade of America, Forty Minutes in Hollywood and Crime Doctor.^[4] Smith created the role of Sergeant Velie in The Adventures of Ellery Queen.^[5]: 8 He played the role of Will Brown, Homer's father, on radio's The Aldrich Family^[5]: 21 and later reprised the role on the NBC television series.^[6]: 23

A member of the

After New York stage appearances in Solitaire, Decision and Dear Ruth, Smith created the role of Charley in the original Broadway production of Death of a Salesman.^[11] He may be best remembered for his recreation of the role in the 1951 screen version.^[12]

His other film credits include Kiss of Death, Call Northside 777, The Street with No Name, State of the Union, A Face in the Crowd and No Time for Sergeants.^[13] He made his film debut in 1918, in Young America.^[14]

On television, Smith played the overbearing boss Oliver Misrell in The Twilight Zone first-season episode, "A Stop at Willoughby" (1960), and also appeared in the 1962 episode, "Cavender Is Coming". In 1962, he was cast in the Perry Mason season six episode, "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle", as character Frank Warden.

He was regularly featured on the 1960s TV series Hazel, as George Baxter's gruff client Harvey "Harv" Griffin.^{[6]: 322 [14]}

His wife, actress and singer Lillian Boardman, died in 1953.^[4] Smith died January 10, 1968, in Hollywood, following a heart attack.^[14]: 239 He was cremated and his ashes are buried at Kensico Cemetery in Valhalla, New York.^[4]

Partial filmography

References