Pete Smith (film producer)
American film producer / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Peter Schmidt (September 4, 1892 – January 12, 1979[1]), known professionally as Pete Smith, was an American producer and narrator of short subject films.
Pete Smith | |
---|---|
Born | Peter Schmidt (1892-09-04)September 4, 1892 New York City, U.S. |
Died | January 12, 1979(1979-01-12) (aged 86) Santa Monica, California, U.S. |
Occupation(s) | Producer and narrator of short subjects, Publicist |
Years active | 1931–1955 |
Known for | Pete Smith Specialties |
Spouses | Marjorie Ganss
(m. 1918; died 1957)Anne Dunster (m. 1962–1979) |
Children | 1 |
Awards | Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film (1938, 1941) Academy Honorary Award (1953) |
A native of New York City, Smith began working as a publicist at Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the 1920s. He later became involved with movie making. He is best known for his series of short movies, the Pete Smith Specialties, which were produced from the 1930s to the 1950s. Smith produced and narrated more than 150 short movies which earned him two Best Live Action Short Film Academy Awards. In 1953, he was awarded an Academy Honorary Award for his short subjects.
Smith's later years were spent in a Santa Monica convalescent home due to ill health. In January 1979, he jumped to his death from the roof of the home.