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Image: Hal Smith As Otis Campbell
The basics

Quick Facts

Intro
American actor
Gender
Male
Place of birth
Petoskey, Emmet County, Michigan, USA
Place of death
Santa Monica, Los Angeles County, California, USA; Woodland Hills, Los Angeles, Los Angeles County, USA
Age
77 years
Education
Massena Central High School
The details (from wikipedia)

Biography

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.

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.

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.

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. He is interred in the mausoleum at Woodlawn Cemetery in Santa Monica.

Partial filmography

Live-action

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1946Stars Over TexasPeddler Tucker
1950The MilkmanOswaldUncredited
1951Week-End with FatherTV Master of CeremoniesUncredited
1951Ma and Pa Kettle at the FairUncredited
1952You for MeMalcolmUncredited
1952O. Henry's Full HouseDandy(segment "The Last Leaf"), Uncredited
1953Confidentially ConnieTownsmanUncredited
1953Francis Covers the Big TownVanceUncredited
1953Walking My Baby Back HomeMr. RossUncredited
1954Ricochet RomanceCookUncredited
1955Santa Fe PassageBartenderUncredited
1955There's Always TomorrowBartender
1957The Unholy WifeDoctor at RodeoUncredited
1957PawneeBartenderUncredited
1957Eighteen and AnxiousAbortionist
1958The High Cost of LovingWoods, Middle ManagerUncredited
1958Hot Car GirlLou - soda bar owner
1960The ApartmentMan in Santa Claus SuitUncredited
1960The Miracle of the White ReindeerSanta Claus
1962The Three Stooges Meet HerculesKing Theseus of Rhodes
1962The CouchPitchmanUncredited
1963Son of FlubberBartenderUncredited
1963Critic's ChoiceDrunkUncredited
1964Dear HeartStubbyUncredited
1965The Great RaceMayor of Borracho
1966The Ghost and Mr. ChickenCalver WeemsUncredited
1971The Million Dollar DuckCourthouse Guard
1972The GetawayVarious radio announcersUncredited
1973Oklahoma CrudeC.R. Miller
1976Once Upon a GirlMother GooseUncredited
1977The HazingIce Man
198818 Again!Irv

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1953–1963The Adventures of Ozzie and HarrietVarious roles27 episodes
1955Death Valley DaysGeorge BoydEpisode: "The Homeliest Man in Nevada"
1956The Life and Legend of Wyatt EarpBartenderEpisode: "The Assassins"
1957–1961Have Gun - Will TravelVarious roles4 episodes
1958Tombstone TerritoryWhitey BeckEpisode "The Tin Gunman"
1959BonanzaDurwood WatkynsEpisode: "The Magnificent Adah"
1959Peter GunnVarious roles3 episodes
1960GunsmokeMr. Dobie (hotel manager)Episode: "Old Flame"
1960–1962Perry MasonMoulage Man / Supper Club OwnerEpisodes: "The Case of the Treacherous Toupee", "Case of the Shapely Shadow"
1960–1966The Andy Griffith ShowOtis Campbell32 episodes (credited as "Hal Smith" during the network run of the show)
1961HazelAnnouncerEpisode: "Hazel and the Playground"
1962Wagon TrainCarl GrantEpisode: "The Daniel Clay Story"
1965The Addams FamilyJudge Harvey SaundersEpisode: "The Addams Family in Court"
1965–1969Petticoat JunctionJug Gunderson / Ben Miller / Mr. Richardson3 episodes
1967Get SmartRestaurant PatronEpisode: "The Mysterious Dr. T"
1967Off to See the WizardHotel Desk ClerkEpisode: "Rhino"
1967The Man from U.N.C.L.E.Kenneth QuartzEpisode: "The Matterhorn Affair"
1967Hogan's HeroesHans SpearEpisode: "The Swing Shift"
1969Green AcresHorace ColbyUnknown episodes
1969Mod SquadJewelerEpisode: "My Name Is Manolete"
1969Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C.Harry HostelmanUnknown episodes
1969–1970The Doris Day ShowMerle / Mr. Peavy / The Drunk4 episodes
1969–1971The Brady BunchKartoon King / Santa ClausEpisodes: "The Voice of Christmas" & "The Winner"
1971Green AcresSheriffEpisode: "Star Witness"
1973The Streets of San FranciscoJohnny DolanEpisode: "Trail of the Sepent"
1974Barnaby JonesLeonEpisode: Foul Play
1975Ellery QueenCoroner Will BaileyEpisode: The Adventure of the Chinese Dog
1979The Hollywood SquaresGuest AppearanceEpisode: "8-20-1979"
1980–1984The Dukes of HazzardHenry Flatt / Pop DurhamEpisodes: "R.I.P. Henry Flatt and Undercover Dukes Part Two"
1985The Disney Family AlbumHimselfEpisode: "Voice Actors"
1986Return to MayberryOtis CampbellTV movie

Voice roles

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1960Dog Gone PeopleElmer FuddMerrie Melodies theatrical short, Uncredited
1961Count Down ClownAdditional voicesLoopy De Loop theatrical short
1961Happy Go LoopyAdditional voicesLoopy De Loop theatrical short
1961What's My Lion?Elmer FuddLooney Tunes theatrical short
1964Hey There, It's Yogi Bear!Corn Pone / Moose
1965Horse ShooAdditional voicesLoopy De Loop theatrical short
1967The Jungle BookSlob ElephantUncredited
1970Shinbone AlleyFreddie the Rat / Prissy Cat
1970Santa and the Three BearsUncle Hal / Santa / Mr. Ranger
1973Fantastic PlanetMaster Sinh / Old Om / Sorcerer (English version, voice)
1976Buffalo RiderOld Buffalo Hunter's voice
1977The Many Adventures of Winnie the PoohOwl
1981Winnie the Pooh Discovers the SeasonsWinnie the Pooh / Owl
1983Winnie the Pooh and a Day for EeyoreWinnie the Pooh / Owl
1983Mickey's Christmas CarolGoofy played as Jacob Marley's ghost
Ratty
1984Katy CaterpillarAdditional voicesEnglish dub
1986The Adventures of the American RabbitMentor / Marvin / Too Loose
1986An American TailMoe
1991Beauty and the BeastPhilippe

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1959–1960The Huckleberry Hound ShowLion / Newscaster / Piccadilly Dilly, Narrator, Eddie / additional voices5 episodes
1959–1960Quick Draw McGrawNarrator / Narrator, Naughty Pine, Ronald Rugged / Mr. Bringling / additional voices9 episodes
1960The Bugs Bunny ShowAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1960–1975Davey and GoliathGoliath / John Hansen / Pastor Miller / Johnathan Reed / additional voices73 episodes
1960–1965The FlintstonesUncle Tex / Santa Claus / additional voices33 episodes
1961The Yogi Bear ShowAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1962The JetsonsAdditional voicesEpisode: "The Flying Suit"
1962–1964Space AngelGunner, Engineer Taurus, Narrator, Professor Mace, Various others49 episodes
1963Rod RocketProfessor ArgusUnknown episodes
1963The Funny CompanyDr. Todd Goodheart / Belly Laguna / Dr. Von Upp8 episodes
1964The Magilla Gorilla ShowHelicopter Rescuer / additional voicesEpisode: "Motorcycle Magilla"
1964The Famous Adventures of Mr. MagooAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1964–1966Yippee, Yappee and YahooeyYappee / The KingUnknown episodes
1965The New 3 StoogesCowboy / Lumberjack Boss / Old Man139 episodes
1966The Road Runner ShowVarious charactersUnknown episodes
1966A Laurel and Hardy CartoonVarious characters20 episodes
1966Frankenstein Jr. and The ImpossiblesCoil Man18 episodes
1967The Abbott and Costello Cartoon ShowAdditional VoicesUnknown episodes
1968The New Adventures of Huckleberry FinnAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1968The Bugs Bunny/Road Runner HourElmer Fudd / additional voicesUnknown episodes
1969The Pink Panther ShowAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1969–1970Scooby Doo, Where Are You!Phantom / Bluestone the Great / Big Ben / Farmer / Cosgood Creeps / Green Ghosts

Mr. Greenway / Headless Specter / Asa Shanks / Phony Phantom / Balloon Ghost / Additional voices

25 episodes
1970–1989Walt Disney's Wonderful World of ColorCarnival Barker / Ed Haskins / Gyro Gearloose / additional voices10 episodes
1971Help!... It's the Hair Bear Bunch!Additional voicesUnknown episodes
1972A Christmas StoryAdditional voicesTV special
1972Wait Till Your Father Gets HomeAdditional voicesEpisode: "The New Car"
1972The ABC Saturday Superstar MovieMuscles / Boris / Third Cyclone / DonkeyEpisodes: "The Adventures of Robin Hoodnik", "Tabitha and Adam and the Clown Family"
1972The Thanksgiving That Almost Wasn'tAdditional voicesTV special
1972The Roman HolidaysMr. TycoonisUnknown episodes
1973Yogi's GangAdditional voices3 episodes
1973-1978ABC Afterschool SpecialsUncle Carl / Professor LatoucheEpisodes: "The Incredible, Indelible, Magical Physical, Mystery Trip", "Michel's Mixed-Up Musical Bird"
1974Hong Kong PhooeyAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1975The Hoober-Bloob HighwayNarratorTV special
1976The Pink Panther Laugh and a Half Hour and a Half ShowVarious charactersUnknown episodes
1977A Flintstone ChristmasSanta ClausTV movie
1977Halloween Is Grinch NightJosiahTV special
1977What's New, Mr. Magoo?Additional voicesUnknown episodes
1977–1980Captain Caveman and the Teen AngelsSnow Wolf / Mr. Holiday / additional voices39 episodes
1978The All New Pink Panther ShowAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1978The Fantastic FourAdditional voices13 episodes
1978The Small OneAuctioneerTV special
1978Yogi's Space RaceAdditional voices7 episodes
1978The Scooby Doo ShowChevaux Le Beau / Mr. Taylor / Additional voicesEpisode: The Beast is Awake in Bottomless Lake
1979The Plastic Man Comedy/Adventure ShowDoctor Honctoff16 episodes
1979Casper's First ChristmasSanta ClausTV special
1979Gulliver's TravelsAdditional voices
1980Yogi's First ChristmasOtto the Chef / Santa ClausTV movie
1980Pontoffel Pock, Where Are You?McGillicuddy / Good Fairy-in-ChiefTV special
1981TrollkinsAdditional Voices13 episodes
1981The Kwicky Koala ShowAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1981No Man's ValleyGeorge / LouisTV special
1981The All-New Popeye HourCol. Crumb3 episodes
1982JokebookAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1982Richie RichAdditional voices1 episode
1982Fantasy IslandOtis McAllister / Mr. QuarryEpisodes: "Daddy's Little Girl/The Whistle & The Kleptomaniac/Thank God, I'm a Country Girl"
1982Here Comes GarfieldReba/SkinnyTV special
1982–1983Shirt TalesAdditional voices23 episodes
1982Yogi Bear's All Star Comedy Christmas CaperJ. Wellington Jones / Sergeant / ZookeeperTV special
1982Little House on the PrairieTrumbleEpisode: "He Was Only Twelve: Part 1"
1982–1987The SmurfsAdditional Voices9 episodes
1983Mickey's Christmas CarolJacob Marley's Ghost - Goofy / Collector for the Poor #1TV special
1983Winnie the Pooh and a Day for EeyoreWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1983Christmas at Pooh CornerPooh/OwlTV special
1983Pooh Corner ThanksgivingPooh/OwlTV special
1983The DukesAdditional voicesUnknown episodes
1983The New Scooby and Scrappy-Doo ShowSidney Gaspar / Mummy / Additional voicesEpisode: Where's Scooby Doo?
1983–1986Welcome to Pooh CornerWinnie the Pooh / Owl120 episodes
1984Christmas Is For SharingWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1984Because It's HalloweenWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1984Pooh's Funny Valentine's DayWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1984Garfield in the RoughDicky BeaverTV special
1984The New Scooby-Doo MysteriesHarriet Mullins's associate / Additional voicesEpisode: "Ghosts of the Ancient Astronauts"
1984Pole PositionAdditional voices
1985Dumbo's CircusAdditional voicesEpisode: "Uncle Lattimer Says "Merci""
1985Too Smart for StrangersWinnie the Pooh / Owl
1986Garfield in ParadiseOff Camera VoiceTV special
1986Pooh's Great School Bus AdventureWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1986–1989Sesame StreetElephant / Bear / AntEpisodes: "Episode #18.9 & Episode #21.5"
1987DuckTales: The Treasure of the Golden SunsGyro Gearloose / Flintheart GlomgoldTV movie
1987The Mother Goose Video TreasuryOld King Cole
1987Highway to HeavenMartinEpisode: All That Glitters
1987–1990DuckTalesGyro Gearloose / Flintheart Glomgold / Dr. Glockenspiel / Adult Huey / Adult Dewey / Adult Louie47 episodes
1988Garfield: His 9 LivesGeorge Frideric HandelTV special
1988–1989This Is America, Charlie BrownMr. Wilson/John MuirEpisodes: "The Birth of the Constitution", "The Smithsonian and the Presidency"
1988–1990Adventures of the Gummi BearsNogum & Abbot CostelloEpisodes: "A Knight to Remember/Gummies Just Want to Have Fun & Friar Tum"
1988–1991The New Adventures of Winnie the PoohOwl24 episodes
1988The New Yogi Bear ShowAdditional voices4 episodes
1989Responsible PersonsWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1989One and Only YouWinnie the Pooh / OwlTV special
1990Midnight Patrol: Adventures in the Dream ZoneAdditional voices13 episodes
1990TaleSpinJoe MageeEpisode: The Old Man and the Sea Duck
1991Yo Yogi!Blabber Mouse9 episodes
1991Darkwing DuckAdditional voicesEpisode: "Dead Duck"
1992The Little MermaidVillain #1Episode: "Stormy"
1993The Town Santa ForgotSanta ClausTV special
1993BonkersSanta ClausEpisode: "Miracle at the 34th Precinct"

Video games

YearTitleRoleNotes
1991Dragon's Lair II: Time WarpMordroc, Cheshire Cat, Card Soldiers, Time Machine (Mordroc's brother), Dirk's mother-in-law
1994Zelda's AdventureGaspra

Radio

YearTitleRoleEpisodes
1985House Guest (Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast)Norman Harper1
1986Gone Fishing (Focus on the Family Daily Broadcast)Bert Foster1
1987Family Portraits (Adventures in Odyssey Pilot Series)John Avery Whittaker12
1987–1994Adventures in OdysseyJohn Avery Whittaker and Additional Voices253
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