Actor, Television Personality. Born in Buffalo, New York, on November 27, 1917, as Robert Emil Schmidt, he was considered to be a television icon of children's television. He co-created the children's television series, "The Howdy Doody Show" which ran on NBC from 1947 until its cancellation in September 1960. The show was a big success with both children and adults alike, introducing both human and puppet characters like, 'Princess Summerfallwinterspring,' 'Clarabell The Clown,' and 'Chief Thunderthud.' In 1960 Smith was sidelined by a near-fatal heart attack, which ultimately caused the cancellation of the show. He also created the telvision show, "The Gulf Road Show Starring Bob 'Howdy Doody' Smith (1948). After 10 years of semi-retirement, Smith made a comeback in the 1970s touring college campuses, and doing a sold-out engagement at the Rock Palace, the Fillmore East, in New York City. His later years were filled with many film and television appearances, and in 1976 he tried to bring "Howdy Doody" back to television, but failed. His films include, "Track Of Thunder" (1968), "Back To The Future III" (1990), and Problem Child 2" (1991), as Father Flanagan. He also made guest appearances on "Happy Days" and "What's My Line," as well as the television specials, "NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration" (1986), and "It's Howdy Doody Time" (1987). He died at his home in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on July 30, 1998, after a battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
Actor, Television Personality. Born in Buffalo, New York, on November 27, 1917, as Robert Emil Schmidt, he was considered to be a television icon of children's television. He co-created the children's television series, "The Howdy Doody Show" which ran on NBC from 1947 until its cancellation in September 1960. The show was a big success with both children and adults alike, introducing both human and puppet characters like, 'Princess Summerfallwinterspring,' 'Clarabell The Clown,' and 'Chief Thunderthud.' In 1960 Smith was sidelined by a near-fatal heart attack, which ultimately caused the cancellation of the show. He also created the telvision show, "The Gulf Road Show Starring Bob 'Howdy Doody' Smith (1948). After 10 years of semi-retirement, Smith made a comeback in the 1970s touring college campuses, and doing a sold-out engagement at the Rock Palace, the Fillmore East, in New York City. His later years were filled with many film and television appearances, and in 1976 he tried to bring "Howdy Doody" back to television, but failed. His films include, "Track Of Thunder" (1968), "Back To The Future III" (1990), and Problem Child 2" (1991), as Father Flanagan. He also made guest appearances on "Happy Days" and "What's My Line," as well as the television specials, "NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration" (1986), and "It's Howdy Doody Time" (1987). He died at his home in Hendersonville, North Carolina, on July 30, 1998, after a battle with cancer. He was 80 years old.
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