Roger Smith (actor)
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For other living people and characters by the same name, see Roger Smith.
Roger LaVerne Smith (born December 18, 1932) is an American television and film actor and scriptwriter.
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[edit] Early life
A debonair and handsome leading man in his youth, Smith was born in South Gate, California, the son of Dallas and Leone Smith. When he was six, his parents enrolled him into a stage school; there he took singing, dancing and elocution lessons. He was educated at the University of Arizona on a football scholarship. He won several amateur talent prizes as a singer and guitarist.
[edit] Military service
He served with the Naval Reserve in Hawaii. After a chance meeting with the actor James Cagney, he was encouraged to try a career in Hollywood.
[edit] Entertainment career
He signed with Columbia Pictures in 1957 and made several films, then moved to Warner Brothers in 1959. His signature television role was as Jeff Spencer, a private detective in the firm headed by Efrem Zimbalist, Jr.. Like some other detective shows of the period, this show's title was its address: 77 Sunset Strip. Smith was forced to leave the series in 1963, due to a blood clot in his brain. His health continued to decline for some time, and he was forced to retire from acting after Myasthenia gravis, a neuromuscular disease, was diagnosed in 1965. His condition went into remission in 1985. Following his retirement from performing, he has managed his wife Ann-Margret's career and produced her popular Las Vegas stage shows.
He also appeared (naturally) on This is Your Life when host Ralph Edwards devoted an episode to Ann-Margret. In addition to the appearances credited below, Smith has appeared as himself on several game shows.
[edit] Marriages
He has married twice:
- Australian-born actress Victoria Shaw. In 1973 Smith obtained sole custody of their three children:
- Swedish-born actress Ann-Margret; on 8 May 1967.
[edit] Film credits
- Man of a Thousand Faces (1957) .... Creighton Chaney at 21
- Operation Mad Ball (1957) .... Cpl. Berryman
- No Time to Be Young (1957) .... Bob Miller
- Crash Landing (1958) .... John Smithback
- Auntie Mame (1958) .... Patrick Dennis -older
- Never Steal Anything Small (1959) .... Dan Cabot
- For Those Who Think Young (1964) (uncredited) .... Detective
- Rogues' Gallery (1968) .... Richard Rogue
- Sette uomini e un cervello (1968) .... Un giocatore
[edit] Television credits
- Original Amateur Hour (1948)...as a singer and guitarist with Ted Mack
- Damon Runyon Theater "Hot Oil" (1956 Episode) .... Richard
- Celebrity Playhouse "Faith" (1956 Episode)
- The Ford Television Theatre
- "Stand by to Dive" (1956 Episode) .... Skee Langford
- "A Past Remembered" (1956 Episode) .... Jug Jensen
- "Never Lend Money to a Woman" (1956 Episode) .... Carter
- Sheriff of Cochise "The Kidnapper (1957 Episode) .... Jim
- West Point "M-24" (1957 Episode)
- The George Sanders Mystery Theater "Round Trip" (1957 Episode)
- Father Knows Best (1957-1958 Episodes) .... Doyle Hobbs
- Wagon Train "The Daniel Barrister Story" (1958 Episode) .... Dr. Peter Culver
- Sugarfoot "Yampa Crossing" (1958 Episode) .... Gene Blair
- 77 Sunset Strip (Specific episodes, 1958-1963) .... Jeff Spencer
- Hawaiian Eye "I Wed Three Wives" (1960 Episode) .... Jeff Spencer
- Surfside 6 "Love Song for a Deadly Redhead" (1962 Episode) .... Jeff Spencer
- Kraft Suspense Theatre "Knight's Gambit" (1964 Episode) .... Anthony Griswold Knight
- Mister Roberts (1965 Series) .... Lt. Douglas Roberts
- Hullabaloo (Episodes 2.16 and 2.21, 1966)
