Hal Smith (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Hal Smith
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Smith as Otis Campbell in The Andy Griffith Show in the 1960s
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| Born |
Harold John Smith
August 24, 1916 Petoskey, Michigan, U.S.
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| Died | January 28, 1994 (aged 77) Santa Monica, California, U.S.
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| Resting place | Woodlawn Memorial Cemetery, Santa Monica |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1936–1994 |
| Spouse(s) |
Louise C. Smith
(m. 1936; died 1992) |
| Children | 1 |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance |  United States |
| Service/ |
 United States Army Air Forces |
| Years of service | 1943–1946 |
| Rank | .svg){kind=small} Sergeant |
| Unit | Special Services |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |  American Campaign Medal Asiatic–Pacific Campaign Medal Philippine Liberation Medal |
Harold John Smith, known as Hal Smith, was an American actor. He was born on August 24, 1916, and passed away on January 28, 1994. Hal Smith was famous for his role as Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show. He also lent his voice to many beloved cartoon characters, including Owl in the original Winnie the Pooh cartoons. He appeared in over 300 movies and TV shows.
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Hal Smith's Early Life and Military Service
Hal Smith was born in Petoskey, Michigan. Before becoming an actor, he worked as a DJ and voice talent for WIBX Radio in Utica, New York, from 1936 to 1943.
During World War II, Smith joined the United States Army Air Forces in 1943. He was stationed in the Philippines with the Army's Special Services Division. His job was to plan and direct shows to entertain the troops. He also performed in some of these shows himself. He left the service in 1946 as a Sergeant and received several awards for his service.
After the war, Hal Smith moved to Hollywood. He started appearing in many television series. Some of these included Dennis the Menace, The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet, and The Red Skelton Show.
Hal Smith's Acting Career
Playing Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show
Hal Smith's most famous role was playing Otis Campbell on The Andy Griffith Show. He was on the show from 1960 to 1967. Otis was a funny character known for his visits to the jail.
Even after the show ended, Smith played Otis again in the TV movie Return to Mayberry in 1986. In this movie, Otis was the town's ice cream truck driver. Hal Smith also appeared as Otis in commercials and a music video for Alan Jackson's song "Don't Rock the Juke Box."
Other Live-Action Roles
Besides Otis, Hal Smith had many other roles. In 1960, he appeared in an episode of Leave It to Beaver. He also played the Mayor of Boracho in the movie The Great Race (1965). He was King Theseus of Rhodes in The Three Stooges Meet Hercules (1965).
In the mid-1960s, he hosted a children's show in Los Angeles called The Pancake Man. He even played this character, renamed "Kartoon King," in an episode of The Brady Bunch in 1971.
Hal Smith's Voice Acting Work
Hal Smith was also a very busy voice actor. He worked on many animated movies and TV shows. He started in the late 1950s with shows like The Huckleberry Hound Show and Quick Draw McGraw. He worked for major studios like Hanna-Barbera, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros..
Some of his voice roles included:
- Owl in the original Winnie the Pooh cartoons, including Winnie the Pooh and the Honey Tree and Winnie the Pooh and the Blustery Day. He also voiced Pooh himself in some later shorts.
- Goofy for Disney after the original voice actor passed away. He voiced Goofy in Mickey's Christmas Carol.
- Elmer Fudd in some Looney Tunes cartoons in the early 1960s.
- Characters in The Flintstones, The Pink Panther Show, Yogi Bear, and Scooby-Doo, Where are You!.
- Sludge in The Smurfs.
- Flintheart Glomgold and Gyro Gearloose in Disney's DuckTales.
- Toad in Frog And Toad are Friends.
- Philippe the Horse in Disney's Beauty and the Beast (1991).
From 1987 until shortly before his death, Hal Smith was the voice of John Avery Whittaker (known as Whit) in the popular radio drama Adventures in Odyssey. He loved this role very much.
Hal Smith also did voices for hundreds of TV commercials for many different products.
Hal Smith's Personal Life
Hal Smith was married to Louise C. Smith from 1936 until she passed away in 1992. They had one son named Terry.
Hal Smith's Passing
After his wife died, Hal Smith's health began to decline. He passed away on January 28, 1994, at the age of 77, from a heart attack. He died at his home in Santa Monica, California. He is buried in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.
Images for kids
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Hal Smith as Otis Campbell
