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.
Academy Awards
Best Live Action Short Film, Color
Best Live Action Short Film, One-Reel
Known For
Manhattan Melodrama
(1934)
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Full Filmography
Acting
Trader Hound
(1931)
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Wild and Woolly
(1931)
Narrator (voice)
Swing High
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Snow Birds
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Microscopic Mysteries
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Color Scales
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Desert Regatta
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Olympic Events
(1932)
Narrator (voice)
Inflation
(1933)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number One
(1933)
Narrator (voice)
Handlebars
(1933)
Narrator (voice)
Menu
(1933)
Narrator (voice)
Fine Feathers
(1933)
Narrator
Throttle Pushers
(1933)
Narrator(voice)
Goofy Movies Number Five
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Eight
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Seven
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Ten
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Four
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Six
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Nine
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Three
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Goofy Movies Number Two
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Strikes and Spares
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Roping Wild Bears
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Manhattan Melodrama
(1934)
Racetrack Announcer (Voice) (uncredited)
Pro Football
(1934)
Narrator (voice)
Donkey Baseball
(1935)
Narrator (voice)
Water Sports
(1935)
Narrator (voice)
Audioscopiks
(1935)
Commentator (voice)
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
(1935)
Narrator (voice)
Trained Hoofs
(1935)
Narrator (voice)
The Jonker Diamond
(1936)
Narrator (voice)
Let's Dance
(1936)
Narrator (voice)
Wanted - A Master
(1936)
Narrator (voice) / Dog (voice)
Harnessed Rhythm
(1936)
Narrator (voice)
Killer Dog
(1936)
Narrator (voice)
Hurling
(1936)
Narrator
Romance of Radium
(1937)
Narrator (voice)
Penny Wisdom
(1937)
Narrator (voice)
Pigskin Champions
(1937)
Narrator (voice)
Friend Indeed
(1937)
Narrator
The Grand Bounce
(1937)
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Bar-Rac's Night Out
(1937)
Narrator (voice)
Candid Cameramaniacs
(1937)
Narrator
Equestrian Acrobats
(1937)
Narrator (voice)
Dexterity
(1937)
Narrator
Three on a Rope
(1938)
Narrator
The New Audioscopiks
(1938)
Narrator
Fisticuffs
(1938)
Narrator (voice)
Penny's Party
(1938)
Narrator
Anaesthesia
(1938)
Narrator
Football Thrills of 1937
(1938)
Narrator
Grid Rules
(1938)
Narrator
Hot on Ice
(1938)
Narrator
Man's Greatest Friend
(1938)
Narrator
Penny's Picnic
(1938)
Let's Talk Turkey
(1939)
Narrator
Radio Hams
(1939)
Narrator (voice)
Set 'em Up
(1939)
Narrator
Take a Cue
(1939)
Narrator (voice)
Weather Wizards
(1939)
Narrator (voice)
Heroes at Leisure
(1939)
Narrator (voice)
Poetry of Nature
(1939)
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
Marine Circus
(1939)
Narrator
Double Diving
(1939)
Narrator
Wedding Bills
(1940)
Narrator (voice)
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
(1940)
Narrator (voice)
Quicker'n a Wink
(1940)
Narrator (voice)
The Domineering Male
(1940)
Narrator (voice)
Stuffie
(1940)
Third Dimensional Murder
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Fancy Answers
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Aeronutics
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Lions on the Loose
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Flicker Memories
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Army Champions
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Football Thrills of 1940
(1941)
Narrator
Water Bugs
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
Cuban Rhythm
(1941)
Narrator (voice)
The Tree in a Test Tube
(1942)
as Interlocutor (voice)
Acro-Batty
(1942)
Narrator
Victory Quiz
(1942)
Calling All Pa's
(1942)
Narrator (voice)
Marines in the Making
(1942)
Narrator (voice)
Aqua Antics
(1942)
Narrator (voice)
Seeing Hands
(1943)
Narrator (voice)
Seventh Column
(1943)
Narrator (voice)
Water Wisdom
(1943)
Narrator(voice)
Fala: The President's Dog
(1943)
Narrator / Host
Hollywood Daredevils
(1943)
Narrator
Movie Pests
(1944)
Narrator (voice)
Groovie Movie
(1944)
Narrator
Safety Sleuth
(1944)
Pete Smith - Narrator
Sportsman's Memories
(1944)
Narrator (voice)
Hollywood Scout
(1945)
Narrator / Chimp (voice)
The Great Morgan
(1945)
Narrator in 'Badminton' (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited)
Football Thrills of 1944
(1945)
Narrator
Badminton
(1945)
Narrator (voice)
Guest Pests
(1945)
Narrator
Sure Cures
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
I Love My Husband, But!
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
Gettin' Glamour
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
Treasures from Trash
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
Studio Visit
(1946)
Narrator (voice)
Diamond Demon
(1947)
Narrator (voice)
I Love My Wife BUT!
(1947)
Narrator (voice)
Athletiquiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 12
(1947)
Narrator
Have You Ever Wondered?
(1947)
Narrator (voice)
Now You See It
(1947)
Narrator (voice)
Neighbor Pests
(1947)
Narrator
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
(1948)
Narrator (voice)
You Can't Win
(1948)
Narrator (voice)
Just Suppose
(1948)
Narrator (voice)
Ice Aces
(1948)
Narrator (voice)
Bowling Tricks
(1948)
Narrator(voice)
Let's Cogitate
(1948)
Narrator (voice
Water Trix
(1949)
Narrator (voice)
Sports Oddities
(1949)
Narrator
Those Good Old Days
(1949)
Narrator
Super Cue Men
(1949)
Narrator
Did'ja Know?
(1950)
Narrator (voice)
A Wife's Life
(1950)
Narrator (voice)
Wrong Way Butch
(1950)
Narrator (voice)
Crashing the Movies
(1950)
Narrator (voice)
Curious Contests
(1950)
Narrator (voice) (as a Smith named Pete)
Fishing Feats
(1951)
Narrator (voice)
Camera Sleuth
(1951)
Narrator (voice)
Bargain Madness
(1951)
Narrator (voice)
Reducing
(1952)
Narrator (voice)
Musiquiz
(1952)
Narrator (voice)
Things We Can Do Without
(1953)
Narrator (voice)
Cash Stashers
(1953)
Narrator (voice)
Dogs 'n Ducks
(1953)
Narrator (voice)
This Is a Living?
(1953)
Narrator (voice)
Ain't It Aggravatin'
(1954)
Narrator (voice)
Do Someone a Favor!
(1954)
Narrator (voice)
The Camera Caught It
(1954)
Narrator
Rough Riding
(1954)
Narrator
Fish Tales
(1954)
Narrator (voice)
Film Antics
(1954)
Narrator
Out for Fun
(1954)
Narrator
The Fall Guy
(1955)
Narrator (voice)
The Man Around the House
(1955)
Narrator (voice)
Just What I Needed
(1955)
Narrator
Animals in Action
(1955)
Narrator (voice)
Production
Wild and Woolly
(1931)
Producer
Microscopic Mysteries
(1932)
Producer
Color Scales
(1932)
Producer
Desert Regatta
(1932)
Producer
Olympic Events
(1932)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number One
(1933)
Producer
Menu
(1933)
Producer
Handlebars
(1933)
Producer
Inflation
(1933)
Producer
Fine Feathers
(1933)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Two
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Four
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Five
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Nine
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Six
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Ten
(1934)
Producer
Strikes and Spares
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Three
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Seven
(1934)
Producer
Goofy Movies Number Eight
(1934)
Producer
Donkey Baseball
(1935)
Producer
La Fiesta de Santa Barbara
(1935)
Producer
Water Sports
(1935)
Producer
Wanted - A Master
(1936)
Producer
Harnessed Rhythm
(1936)
Producer
The Jonker Diamond
(1936)
Producer
Killer Dog
(1936)
Producer
Penny Wisdom
(1937)
Producer
Romance of Radium
(1937)
Producer
Bar-Rac's Night Out
(1937)
Producer
Dexterity
(1937)
Producer
Anaesthesia
(1938)
Producer
Football Thrills of 1937
(1938)
Producer
Grid Rules
(1938)
Producer
Hot on Ice
(1938)
Producer
Man's Greatest Friend
(1938)
Producer
Heroes at Leisure
(1939)
Producer
'What's Your 'I.Q.'?': Number Two
(1940)
Producer
Quicker'n a Wink
(1940)
Producer
Third Dimensional Murder
(1941)
Producer
Fancy Answers
(1941)
Producer
How to Hold Your Husband - BACK
(1941)
Producer
Lions on the Loose
(1941)
Producer
Army Champions
(1941)
Producer
Cuban Rhythm
(1941)
Producer
Acro-Batty
(1942)
Producer
Marines in the Making
(1942)
Producer
Calling All Pa's
(1942)
Producer
Aqua Antics
(1942)
Producer
Seeing Hands
(1943)
Producer
Seventh Column
(1943)
Producer
Movie Pests
(1944)
Producer
Hollywood Scout
(1945)
Producer
Badminton
(1945)
Producer
Sure Cures
(1946)
Producer
I Love My Husband, But!
(1946)
Producer
Equestrian Quiz: What's Your I.Q.? No. 11
(1946)
Producer
Gettin' Glamour
(1946)
Producer
Treasures from Trash
(1946)
Producer
Studio Visit
(1946)
Producer
I Love My Wife BUT!
(1947)
Producer
Have You Ever Wondered?
(1947)
Producer
Now You See It
(1947)
Producer
I Love My Mother-In-Law But...
(1948)
Producer
You Can't Win
(1948)
Producer
Just Suppose
(1948)
Producer
Ice Aces
(1948)
Producer
Let's Cogitate
(1948)
Producer
Water Trix
(1949)
Producer
Did'ja Know?
(1950)
Producer
A Wife's Life
(1950)
Producer
Wrong Way Butch
(1950)
Producer
Crashing the Movies
(1950)
Producer
Curious Contests
(1950)
Producer
Fishing Feats
(1951)
Producer
Camera Sleuth
(1951)
Producer
Bargain Madness
(1951)
Producer
Reducing
(1952)
Producer
Musiquiz
(1952)
Producer
Things We Can Do Without
(1953)
Producer
Cash Stashers
(1953)
Producer
Dogs 'n Ducks
(1953)
Producer
This Is a Living?
(1953)
Producer
Ain't It Aggravatin'
(1954)
Producer
Do Someone a Favor!
(1954)
Producer
Fish Tales
(1954)
Producer
Film Antics
(1954)
Producer
The Fall Guy
(1955)
Producer
The Man Around the House
(1955)
Producer
Just What I Needed
(1955)
Producer
Animals in Action
(1955)
Producer
Writing
Donkey Baseball
(1935)
Writer
Trained Hoofs
(1935)
Writer
The Jonker Diamond
(1936)
Writer
Acro-Batty
(1942)
Writer
Ice Aces
(1948)
Writer
This Is a Living?
(1953)
Writer
Directing