Wonderful Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Wonderful Smith
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Smith in 1947
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| Born | June 21, 1911 |
| Died | August 28, 2008 (aged 97) |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor, comedian |
Wonderful Smith (born June 21, 1911 – died August 28, 2008) was an African-American comedian and actor. He was born in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, and became famous for his funny routines and appearances in movies and on TV.
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Early Life and Family
Wonderful Smith was born in 1911 in Arkadelphia, Arkansas. His father, Sam Smith, Sr., was a farmer. When he was 16, Smith moved to Los Angeles to start his career. He was married three times during his life, but he did not have any children.
Hello, Mr. President Comedy Routine
Wonderful Smith was best known for his comedy act called "Hello, Mr. President." In this routine, he pretended to have a phone call with the American President at the time, Franklin D. Roosevelt. Smith made jokes about the President's plans, like the "New Deal" (a set of programs to help the country during tough times) and the preparations for World War II.
This funny routine was part of a show called "Jump for Joy," created by the famous musician Duke Ellington. While we don't have the full routine today, most of it was shown in the 1941 movie Top Sergeant Mulligan, where Smith himself performed it. Later, parts of the routine were put on a music album in 1988.
Radio Career
In the early to mid-1940s, Wonderful Smith was a regular on Red Skelton's radio shows. Other stars on the show included Ozzie and Harriet Nelson.
After serving in World War II, Smith returned to the radio show. However, his role had changed, and the show's style was different. Smith felt that he was treated unfairly because of his race and because he was a veteran. The show's sponsor said they had kept their promise to him, even though his part in the show was smaller than before.
Television Appearances
Wonderful Smith also appeared in many TV shows and movies, often in smaller roles. For example, he played the head chef in an episode of The Bold Ones: The New Doctors. He also appeared as a stagehand in the movie This is Spinal Tap, which was a comedy about a rock band.
Musical Groups
Smith was also a member of a music group called the "Wild" Bill Davis musical trio. This group included Bill Davis and "Crazy Chris" Columbus. The trio stopped performing together in 1956. After that, Smith joined a bigger group called the Swingin' Gentlemen, which was led by Chris Columbus.
Legacy
Wonderful Smith's name even inspired an indie rock band from Chicago, who chose their name because of him.
Partial Filmography
- Top Sergeant Mulligan (1941) - Wonderful
- Over My Dead Body (1942) - Wonderful
- Howzer (1973)
- A Piece of the Action (1977) - Daniel McLean
- Oh, God! (1977) - Court Clerk
- This Is Spinal Tap (1984) - Janitor
- To Sleep with Anger (1990) - Preacher
