Hal Smith (actor)

Harold John Smith (August 24, 1916 – January 28, 1994) was an American actor who is credited in over 300 film and television productions. He was best known for his role as Otis Campbell, the town drunk on CBS's The Andy Griffith Show and for voicing Owl in the first four original Winnie the Pooh shorts (the first three of which were combined into the feature film The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh) and later The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh.

Hal Smith
Smith as Otis Campbell in The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s
Born
Harold John Smith

(1916-08-24)August 24, 1916
DiedJanuary 28, 1994(1994-01-28) (aged 77)
Resting placeWoodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica
OccupationActor
Years active1936–1994
Spouse(s)
Louise C. Smith
(m. 1936; died 1992)
Children1

Early life

Smith was born in Petoskey, in the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula of Michigan, but he spent a significant part of his early years living in Massena, New York. He graduated from the Massena High School in 1936.

After graduation, Smith worked from 1936 to 1943 as a DJ and voice talent for WIBX Radio in Utica, New York. After serving in the United States Army Special Services during World War II, he traveled to Hollywood and appeared on many television series such as I Married Joan, Fury, The People's Choice, The Texan, Rescue 8, Dennis the Menace, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, The Donna Reed Show, National Velvet and The Red Skelton Show.[1]

Career

The Andy Griffith Show

Smith's best-remembered on-screen character was Otis Campbell, the town drunk on The Andy Griffith Show, during most of the series' run from 1960 to 1967. When intoxicated, he would often comically let himself into his regular jail cell, using the key which was stored within reach of the two comfortable jail rooms, and "sleep off" the effects of alcohol. Deputy Barney Fife would often become irritated with Otis, and attempted to either sober him up or rehabilitate him in several episodes. Hal Smith was the opposite of his character. According to longtime friends Andy Griffith and Don Knotts, he did not drink in real life. The Otis character stopped appearing in the sitcom towards the end of the series because of concerns by the sponsors of the program in regard to the portrayal of excessive drinking. Smith appeared as Calver Weems in the Don Knotts comedy The Ghost and Mr. Chicken (1966), playing essentially the same town drunk character, Otis.

Smith would play Otis one more time in the television movie Return to Mayberry (1986). In the television movie, Otis is the town's ice cream truck driver and is reported to have been "sober for years". Smith later used his Otis Campbell character in commercial spots for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving organization and appeared as Otis in Alan Jackson's music video "Don't Rock the Juke Box".

Other performances

In 1957, Smith played Rollin Daggett in the role of a newspaper man in the early days of Mark Twain in the "Fifteen Paces to Fame" episode of Death Valley Days. He made at least one appearance in the TV series Perry Mason, the episode titled "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee", (season 4, episode 1), in 1960. He had a small role as a restaurant manager in the 10/01/1960 Leave It to Beaver episode "Beaver Won’t Eat". Smith had a cameo role as the Mayor of Boracho in The Great Race in 1965. He played the industrialist Hans Spear on CBS's sitcom Hogan's Heroes ("The Swing Shift", season 2, episode 21).

He portrayed King Theseus of Rhodes in The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1965) and later provided various voices for the cartoon series The New 3 Stooges.

In 1967, he played John Wilson in the 1967 episode "The Man Who Didn't Want Gold" of the syndicated Western series Death Valley Days and Mr. Weber in The Lucy Show.

In 1969, Smith had a cameo role as a drunk driver in the Adam-12 episode "Log 51: A Jumper – Code Two". Also in 1969, he appeared in the Petticoat Junction episode "The Great Race". He played Jug Gunderson, a moonshiner that helped the Cannonball train win the aforementioned race. Though his character was never seen drinking or drunk, by the end of the episode, he makes an oath to himself to stop drinking and reform.

In the mid-1960s, Smith also had a morning children's show on the Los Angeles television station KHJ called The Pancake Man, sponsored by The International House of Pancakes (IHOP). He reprised the role of the Pancake Man as "Kartoon King" in the 1971 episode of The Brady Bunch, titled "The Winner". He also played Mother Goose in the X-rated animated feature film Once Upon a Girl in 1976.

Voice acting

Smith has also worked extensively as a voice actor in animated films and television series. His first voice credit was as "Pepe", a boxing rooster, in Walter Lantz's cartoon "The Bongo Punch" in 1957. Beginning in the late 1950s with such shows as The Huckleberry Hound Show and Quick Draw McGraw, Smith became one of the most prolific voice actors in Hollywood, eventually working with most of the major studios and production companies, such as Hanna-Barbera, Walt Disney, Warner Bros., The Mirisch Corporation, and Sid and Marty Krofft, with voice roles on such series as The Flintstones in which he mostly did the voices of Texas millionaires such as Fred's rich uncle Tex, Pink Panther, The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, Yogi Bear and Looney Tunes.

In 1962, he voiced Taurus, the Scots-accented mechanic of the spaceship Starduster for the series Space Angel. According to the book: Space Patrol, missions of daring in the name of early television, "It's rumored that Gene Roddenberry was a huge fan of the show and patterned Star Trek's engineer, Mr. Scott, after McCloud's Scottish sidekick, Taurus". He also did voices for the Hong Kong Phooey series. In 1977, he was the voice of Grandpa Josiah in the cartoon special, Halloween Is Grinch Night. He was also very active with doing voices in 1980s; he was Sludge in The Smurfs, Goofy in Mickey's Christmas Carol, in Disney's DuckTales he did the voices of Scrooge McDuck's rival Flintheart Glomgold and the absent-minded scientist Gyro Gearloose and in Frog And Toad are Friends and Frog And Toad Together he also did the voice of Toad.

Smith also voiced the Disney cartoon character Goofy after Pinto Colvig died in 1967. Additionally, he provided the voice of Owl in the three original Winnie the Pooh featurettes (Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree, Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day and Winnie the Pooh and Tigger Too) and The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1977. In the 1960s, he was one of the most sought after voice actors in Hollywood. From 1959 till 1975, he provided the voices for Goliath, Davey's dad and many other characters in Davey and Goliath. From 1960 to 1961, he was the voice of Elmer Fudd after Arthur Q. Bryan died. In 1963, he voiced Dr. Todd Goodheart, Belly Laguna, and Dr. Von Upp in The Funny Company cartoon series. From 1964 to 1966, he was the voice of Yappee in the Hanna-Barbera cartoon shorts Yippee, Yappee and Yahooey. He was also the voice of Cosgoode Creeps, Asa Shanks, the Farmer, Mr. Greenway and Mr. Bluestone the Great Phantom, on Scooby-Doo, Where are You!.

In 1981, he reprised his role as Owl and voiced Winnie-the-Pooh in the short Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons, replacing Sterling Holloway, who had provided the voice of the character for many years. He then voiced the two characters in Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore in 1983, as well as Disney Channel's television series Welcome to Pooh Corner. On the television series The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh in 1988, Jim Cummings took over as Pooh while Smith continued playing Owl. The two voice actors sometimes rotated the voice of Winnie the Pooh. In 1991, Smith provided the voice of Philippe the Horse in the Disney film Beauty and the Beast before his death in 1994.

In 1985, Hal voiced Norman Harper, a sick father of wife Jennifer Walters (voiced by D.J. Harner), in a radio drama entitled "House Guest". It aired on the Focus on the Family daily broadcast on November 23 (the day before Thanksgiving) of that year. He went to voice other roles for other Focus audio presentations, and starting in 1987, Smith was the voice of the main character John Avery Whittaker on Focus on the Family's longest-running radio drama Adventures in Odyssey, which debuted that year. He was responsible for much of the cast joining the show after he signed on (including Katie Leigh, Will Ryan, Walker Edmiston, Earl Boen, Dave Madden and others), and he continued recording episodes until a few weeks before his death, even while his health deteriorated. In an Andy Griffith Fan Interview, published after he died, Smith said that Adventures in Odyssey was one of the most gratifying things he had done in his life. Additionally, he voiced dozens of other characters during the 253 episodes in which he participated. His role of Whit was later filled by Paul Herlinger in 1996 and then Andre Stojka in 2009, after his death.

Hal voiced Joe McGee in "The Old Man and the Sea Duck" episode of TaleSpin.

Smith was also very active working in television commercials as various characters. He provided on-screen promotion for 3 Musketeers, United Van Lines, Hickory Farms, Toyota, Green Giant, General Mills, Mattel, Kellogg's, Pizza Hut, Chicken of the Sea, Ivory soap, Doctor Ross Dog Food, Pioneer Chicken, Bell Telephone Company, Coca-Cola, Chef Boyardee and hundreds of other advertising sponsors.

Personal life

Smith was married to Louise C. Smith from 1936 until her death in 1992. They had a son named Terry.[2]

Death

After his wife died in 1992, Smith's own health began to deteriorate rapidly. On January 28, 1994, at the age of 77, Smith died from an apparent heart attack. Don Pitts, his longtime agent, said that Smith died at his home in Santa Monica, California, while he was listening to a nightly drama hour on radio.[2][3] He is interred in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.

Partial filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1946 Stars Over Texas Peddler Tucker
1950 The Milkman Oswald Uncredited
1951 Week-End with Father TV Master of Ceremonies Uncredited
1951 Ma and Pa Kettle at the Fair Uncredited
1952 You for Me Malcolm Uncredited
1952 O. Henry's Full House Dandy (segment "The Last Leaf"), Uncredited
1953 Confidentially Connie Townsman Uncredited
1953 Francis Covers the Big Town Vance Uncredited
1953 Walking My Baby Back Home Mr. Ross Uncredited
1954 Ricochet Romance Cook Uncredited
1955 Santa Fe Passage Bartender Uncredited
1955 There's Always Tomorrow Bartender
1957 The Unholy Wife Doctor at Rodeo Uncredited
1957 Pawnee Bartender Uncredited
1957 Eighteen and Anxious Abortionist
1958 The High Cost of Loving Woods, Middle Manager Uncredited
1958 Hot Car Girl Lou - soda bar owner
1960 The Apartment Man in Santa Claus Suit Uncredited
1960 The Miracle of the White Reindeer Santa Claus
1962 The Three Stooges Meet Hercules King Theseus of Rhodes
1962 The Couch Pitchman Uncredited
1963 Son of Flubber Bartender Uncredited
1963 Critic's Choice Drunk Uncredited
1964 Dear Heart Stubby Uncredited
1965 The Great Race Mayor of Borracho
1966 The Ghost and Mr. Chicken Calver Weems Uncredited
1971 The Million Dollar Duck Courthouse Guard
1972 The Getaway Various radio announcers Uncredited
1973 Oklahoma Crude C.R. Miller
1976 Once Upon a Girl Mother Goose Uncredited
1977 The Hazing Ice Man
1988 18 Again! Irv

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1953–1963 The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet Various roles 27 episodes
1955 Death Valley Days George Boyd Episode: "The Homeliest Man in Nevada"
1956 The Life and Legend of Wyatt Earp Bartender Episode: "The Assassins"
1957–1961 Have Gun - Will Travel Various roles 4 episodes
1958 Tombstone Territory Whitey Beck Episode "The Tin Gunman"
1959 Bonanza Durwood Watkyns Episode: "The Magnificent Adah"
1959 Peter Gunn Various roles 3 episodes
1960 Gunsmoke Mr. Dobie (hotel manager) Episode: "Old Flame"
1960–1962 Perry Mason Moulage Man / Supper Club Owner Episodes: "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee", "Case of the Shapely Shadow"
1960–1966 The Andy Griffith Show Otis Campbell 32 episodes (credited as "Hal Smith" during the network run of the show)
1961 Hazel Announcer Episode: "Hazel and the Playground"
1962 Wagon Train Carl Grant Episode: "The Daniel Clay Story"
1965 The Addams Family Judge Harvey Saunders Episode: "The Addams Family in Court"
1965–1969 Petticoat Junction Jug Gunderson / Ben Miller / Mr. Richardson 3 episodes
1967 Get Smart Restaurant Patron Episode: "The Mysterious Dr. T"
1967 Off to See the Wizard Hotel Desk Clerk Episode: "Rhino"
1967 The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Kenneth Quartz Episode: "The Matterhorn Affair"
1967 Hogan's Heroes Hans Spear Episode: "The Swing Shift"
1969 Green Acres Horace Colby Unknown episodes
1969 Mod Squad Jeweler Episode: "My Name Is Manolete"
1969 Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C. Harry Hostelman Unknown episodes
1969–1970 The Doris Day Show Merle / Mr. Peavy / The Drunk 4 episodes
1969–1971 The Brady Bunch Kartoon King / Santa Claus Episodes: "The Voice of Christmas" & "The Winner"
1971 Green Acres Sheriff Episode: "Star Witness"
1973 The Streets of San Francisco Johnny Dolan Episode: "Trail of the Sepent"
1974 Barnaby Jones Leon Episode: Foul Play
1975 Ellery Queen Coroner Will Bailey Episode: The Adventure of the Chinese Dog
1979 The Hollywood Squares Guest Appearance Episode: "8-20-1979"
1980–1984 The Dukes of Hazzard Henry Flatt / Pop Durham Episodes: "R.I.P. Henry Flatt and Undercover Dukes Part Two"
1985 The Disney Family Album Himself Episode: "Voice Actors"
1986 Return to Mayberry Otis Campbell TV movie

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1960 Dog Gone People Elmer Fudd Merrie Melodies theatrical short, Uncredited
1961 Count Down Clown Additional voices Loopy De Loop theatrical short
1961 Happy Go Loopy Additional voices Loopy De Loop theatrical short
1961 What's My Lion? Elmer Fudd Looney Tunes theatrical short
1964 Hey There, It's Yogi Bear! Corn Pone / Moose
1965 Horse Shoo Additional voices Loopy De Loop theatrical short
1967 The Jungle Book Slob Elephant Uncredited
1970 Shinbone Alley Freddie the Rat / Prissy Cat
1970 Santa and the Three Bears Uncle Hal / Santa / Mr. Ranger
1973 Fantastic Planet Master Sinh / Old Om / Sorcerer (English version, voice)
1976 Buffalo Rider Old Buffalo Hunter's voice
1977 The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Owl
1981 Winnie the Pooh Discovers the Seasons Winnie the Pooh / Owl
1983 Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore Winnie the Pooh / Owl
1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol Goofy played as Jacob Marley's ghost
Ratty
1984 Warriors of the Wind Lord Yuba / Narrator 1985 English dub
1984 Katy Caterpillar Additional voices English dub
1986 The Adventures of the American Rabbit Mentor / Marvin / Too Loose
1986 An American Tail Moe
1991 Beauty and the Beast Philippe

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1959–1960 The Huckleberry Hound Show Lion / Newscaster / Piccadilly Dilly, Narrator, Eddie / additional voices 5 episodes
1959–1960 Quick Draw McGraw Narrator / Narrator, Naughty Pine, Ronald Rugged / Mr. Bringling / additional voices 9 episodes
1960 The Bugs Bunny Show Additional voices Unknown episodes
1960–1975 Davey and Goliath Goliath / John Hansen / Pastor Miller / Johnathan Reed / additional voices 73 episodes
1960–1965 The Flintstones Uncle Tex / Santa Claus / additional voices 33 episodes
1961 The Yogi Bear Show Additional voices Unknown episodes
1962 The Jetsons Additional voices Episode: "The Flying Suit"
1962–1964 Space Angel Gunner, Engineer Taurus, Narrator, Professor Mace, Various others 49 episodes
1963 Rod Rocket Professor Argus Unknown episodes
1963 The Funny Company Dr. Todd Goodheart / Belly Laguna / Dr. Von Upp 8 episodes
1964 The Magilla Gorilla Show Helicopter Rescuer / additional voices Episode: "Motorcycle Magilla"
1964 The Famous Adventures of Mr. Magoo Additional voices Unknown episodes
1964–1966 Yippee, Yappee and Yahooey Yappee / The King Unknown episodes
1965 The New 3 Stooges Cowboy / Lumberjack Boss / Old Man 139 episodes
1966 The Road Runner Show Various characters Unknown episodes
1966 A Laurel and Hardy Cartoon Various characters 20 episodes
1966 Frankenstein Jr. and The Impossibles Coil Man 18 episodes
1967 The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show Additional Voices Unknown episodes
1968 The New Adventures of Huckleberry Finn Additional voices Unknown episodes
1968 The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner Hour Elmer Fudd / additional voices Unknown episodes
1969 The Pink Panther Show Additional voices Unknown episodes
1969–1970 Scooby Doo, Where Are You! Big Ben / Headless Specter / Asa Shanks / Cosgood Creeps / Green Ghosts

Farmer / Mr. Greenway / Bluestone the Great / Phantom / Additional voices

25 episodes
1970–1989 Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color Carnival Barker / Ed Haskins / Gyro Gearloose / additional voices 10 episodes
1971 Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch! Additional voices Unknown episodes
1972 A Christmas Story Additional voices TV special
1972 Wait Till Your Father Gets Home Additional voices Episode: "The New Car"
1972 The ABC Saturday Superstar Movie Muscles / Boris / Third Cyclone / Donkey Episodes: "The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik", "Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family"
1972 The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn't Additional voices TV special
1972 The Roman Holidays Mr. Tycoonis Unknown episodes
1973 Yogi's Gang Additional voices 3 episodes
1973-1978 ABC Afterschool Specials Uncle Carl / Professor Latouche Episodes: "The Incredible, Indelible, Magical Physical, Mystery Trip", "Michel's Mixed-Up Musical Bird"
1974 Hong Kong Phooey Additional voices Unknown episodes
1975 The Hoober-Bloob Highway Narrator TV special
1976 The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half Hour and a Half Show Various characters Unknown episodes
1977 A Flintstone Christmas Santa Claus TV movie
1977 Halloween Is Grinch Night Josiah TV special
1977 What's New, Mr. Magoo? Additional voices Unknown episodes
1977–1980 Captain Caveman and the Teen Angels Snow Wolf / Mr. Holiday / additional voices 39 episodes
1978 The All New Pink Panther Show Additional voices Unknown episodes
1978 The Fantastic Four Additional voices 13 episodes
1978 The Small One Auctioneer TV special
1978 Yogi's Space Race Additional voices 7 episodes
1979 The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure Show Doctor Honctoff 16 episodes
1979 Casper's First Christmas Santa Claus TV special
1979 Gulliver's Travels Additional voices
1980 Yogi's First Christmas Otto the Chef / Santa Claus TV movie
1980 Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You? McGillicuddy / Good Fairy-in-Chief TV special
1981 Trollkins Additional Voices 13 episodes
1981 The Kwicky Koala Show Additional voices Unknown episodes
1981 No Man's Valley George / Louis TV special
1981 The All-New Popeye Hour Col. Crumb 3 episodes
1982 Jokebook Additional voices Unknown episodes
1982 Richie Rich Additional voices 1 episode
1982 Fantasy Island Otis McAllister / Mr. Quarry Episodes: "Daddy's Little Girl/The Whistle & The Kleptomaniac/Thank God, I'm a Country Girl"
1982 Here Comes Garfield Reba/Skinny TV special
1982–1983 Shirt Tales Additional voices 23 episodes
1982 Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas Caper J. Wellington Jones / Sergeant / Zookeeper TV special
1982 Little House on the Prairie Trumble Episode: "He Was Only Twelve: Part 1"
1982–1987 The Smurfs Additional Voices 9 episodes
1983 Mickey's Christmas Carol Jacob Marley's Ghost - Goofy / Collector for the Poor #1 TV special
1983 Winnie the Pooh and a Day for Eeyore Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1983 Christmas at Pooh Corner Pooh/Owl TV special
1983 Pooh Corner Thanksgiving Pooh/Owl TV special
1983 The Dukes Additional voices Unknown episodes
1983–1986 Welcome to Pooh Corner Winnie the Pooh / Owl 120 episodes
1984 Christmas Is For Sharing Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1984 Because It's Halloween Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1984 Pooh's Funny Valentine's Day Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1984 Garfield in the Rough Dicky Beaver TV special
1984 The New Scooby-Doo Mysteries Additional voices Episode: "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts"
1984 Pole Position Additional voices
1985 Dumbo's Circus Additional voices Episode: "Uncle Lattimer Says "Merci""
1985 Too Smart for Strangers Winnie the Pooh / Owl
1986 Garfield in Paradise Off Camera Voice TV special
1986 Pooh's Great School Bus Adventure Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1986–1989 Sesame Street Elephant / Bear / Ant Episodes: "Episode #18.9 & Episode #21.5"
1987 DuckTales: The Treasure of the Golden Suns Gyro Gearloose / Flintheart Glomgold TV movie
1987 The Mother Goose Video Treasury Old King Cole
1987 Highway to Heaven Martin Episode: All That Glitters
1987–1990 DuckTales Gyro Gearloose / Flintheart Glomgold / Dr. Glockenspiel / Adult Huey / Adult Dewey / Adult Louie 47 episodes
1988 Garfield: His 9 Lives George Frideric Handel TV special
1988–1989 This Is America, Charlie Brown Mr. Wilson/John Muir Episodes: "The Birth of the Constitution", "The Smithsonian and the Presidency"
1988–1990 Adventures of the Gummi Bears Nogum & Abbot Costello Episodes: "A Knight to Remember/Gummies Just Want to Have Fun & Friar Tum"
1988–1991 The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh Owl 24 episodes
1988 The New Yogi Bear Show Additional voices 4 episodes
1989 Responsible Persons Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1989 One and Only You Winnie the Pooh / Owl TV special
1990 Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream Zone Additional voices 13 episodes
1990 TaleSpin Joe Magee Episode: The Old Man and the Sea Duck
1991 Yo Yogi! Blabber Mouse 9 episodes
1991 Darkwing Duck Additional voices Episode: "Dead Duck"
1992 The Little Mermaid Villain #1 Episode: "Stormy"
1993 The Town Santa Forgot Santa Claus TV special
1993 Bonkers Santa Claus Episode: "Miracle at the 34th Precinct"

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Dragon's Lair II: Time Warp Mordroc, Cheshire Cat, Card Soldiers, Time Machine (Mordroc's brother), Dirk's mother-in-law
1994 Zelda's Adventure Gaspra

Radio

Year Title Role Episodes
1985 House Guest (Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast) Norman Harper 1
1986 Gone Fishing (Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast) Bert Foster 1
1987 Family Portraits (Adventures in Odyssey Pilot Series) John Avery Whittaker 12
1987–1994 Adventures in Odyssey John Avery Whittaker and Additional Voices 253

References

  1. Michaud, John D. III, ed. (2004). More than Otis: No Bull! A Salute to Hollywood Actor Hal J. Smith (1st ed.). Massena, NY: Stubbs Printing.
  2. "Hal Smith; Played Otis on Griffith Show". Los Angeles Times.
  3. "Hal Smith, The Friendly Drunk Otis On 'Andy Griffith Show' In The '60s". Seattle Times. Associated Press. 13 February 1994. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
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