Dean Smith

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1st Official Post

    DEAN SMITH

    Dean_smith_2013.jpg

    Information from IMDb


    Date of Birth
    15 January 1932,
    Breckenridge, Texas, USA


    Date of Death

    June 24, 2023

    Breckenridge, Texas, USA (cancer)


    Birth Name
    Finis Dean Smith


    Spouse
    Debra L Stoker (1996 - ?) 1 child
    Abigail Gowan (? - ?) (divorced) 1 child


    Trivia
    Graduate of The University of Texas at Austin.


    Owns a quarter horse ranch in Ivan, TX.


    Won a Gold Medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics for the 4x100 Relay.


    (April 2006) Raises longhorn cattle and quarter horses on his ranch near Ivan, Texas.


    Mini Biography
    Dean Smith was raised in Eliasville, Texas, and currently lives between Graham and Breckenridge, Texas, where he raises horses and longhorn cattle. He attended the University of Texas at Austin where he competed in track and football. He won an Olympic gold medal for the 400-meter relay in the 1952 Helsinki games and finished fourth in the 100-dash in the closest race in Olympic history. He was the lead-off man on the University of Texas world record relay team, 1954-55, and AAU national champion in the 100-meter dash. He played with the Los Angeles Rams during exhibition season and was traded to the Pittsburg Steelers at which time he decided to enter the movie business. He has also won amateur rodeo championships for bareback bronco riding and calf roping. He is an honorary member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association, has been inducted into the Texas Rodeo Cowboy Hall of Fame (2006), the Texas Sports Hall of Fame (1985), Stuntman's Hall of Fame (1980), and the University of Texas Hall of Fame (1980). He has been awarded the American Culture Award for Western Movies and Television (2000), the Golden Boot Award in 1998, the Ben Johnson Award in 1993, the All American Cowboy Award in 1997 and the Head of the Class Alvin Davis Award in 2002. In 2002, he put together the Dean Smith Celebrity Rodeo benefiting the Cowboy Cancer Crusade tribute to Ben Johnson, the Dean Smith Celebrity Rodeo benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute honoring John Wayne and in 2006, Dean Smith Celebrity Rodeo benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute honoring The Singing Cowboys in Abilene, Texas, the third weekend in October. On April 8, 2006, the John Wayne Cancer Institute honored him with the "Duke" award for his contributions to cancer research.
    IMDb Mini Biography By: Mark Engebretson


    See also
    Action Actors by Neil Summers


    Filmography
    Stunts
    1997 Rough Riders (TV movie) (stunts)
    1996 Michael (stunts)
    1995 The Quick and the Dead (stunts)
    1994 Maverick (stunt double: James Garner - uncredited, stunts)
    1988 Hot to Trot (stunts)
    1986 Raw Deal (stunt double: Sam Wanamaker)
    1984 Cloak & Dagger (stunt player)
    1984 The Lonely Guy (stunts)
    1983 Christine (stunts)
    1981-1982 Simon & Simon (TV series) (stunt coordinator - 10 episodes)
    – Tanks for the Memories (1982) (stunt coordinator)
    – Matchmaker (1982) (stunt coordinator)
    – Double Entry (1982) (stunt coordinator)
    – Earth to Stacey (1982) (stunt coordinator)
    – The Uncivil Servant (1982) (stunt coordinator)
    1979 The Concorde... Airport '79 (stunts)
    1979 The Legend of the Golden Gun (TV movie) (stunts - uncredited)
    1978 FM (stunt policeman)
    1978 How the West Was Won (TV mini-series) (stunt coordinator)
    1977 Black Sunday (stunts - uncredited)
    1975 Mackintosh and T.J. (stunt double: Roy Rogers - uncredited)
    1975 Hollywood Cowboy (stunts - uncredited)
    1975 Three Days of the Condor (stunt double - uncredited)
    1975 The Drowning Pool (stunt double - uncredited)
    1975 The Great Waldo Pepper (stunts - uncredited)
    1974 The Towering Inferno (stunts - uncredited)
    1974 Earthquake (stunts - uncredited)
    1974 Airport 1975 (stunts - uncredited)
    1974 The Sugarland Express (stunts - uncredited)
    1973 The Sting (stunt double - uncredited)
    1973 Westworld (stunts - uncredited)
    1972 The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean (stunts - uncredited)
    1972 Ulzana's Raid (stunts - uncredited)
    1972 Hickey & Boggs (stunts - uncredited)
    1972 Search Control (TV series) (stunts)
    1972 Jeremiah Johnson (stunt double - uncredited)
    1972 The Legend of Nigger Charley (stunts - uncredited)
    1971 Evel Knievel (stunts - uncredited)
    1971 Big Jake (stunts - uncredited)
    1970 Never Give an Inch (stunts - uncredited)
    1970 Rio Lobo (stunts - uncredited)
    1970 The Cheyenne Social Club (stunts - uncredited)
    1970 Airport (stunts - uncredited)
    1969 Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (stunt double - uncredited)
    1969 True Grit (stunts - uncredited)
    1968 The Stalking Moon (stunt double: Trooper - uncredited)
    1968 The Outcasts (TV series) (stunts)
    1967 Ironside (TV series) (stunts)
    1967 The War Wagon (stunts - uncredited)
    1966 El Dorado (stunts - uncredited)
    1966 Iron Horse (TV series) (stunt double: Dale Robertson)
    1966 What Did You Do in the War, Daddy? (stunts - uncredited)
    1966 Stagecoach (stunts - uncredited)
    1965 The F.B.I. (TV series) (stunts)
    1965 The Great Race (stunts - uncredited)
    1965 In Harm's Way (stunts - uncredited)
    1964 Rio Conchos (stunts - uncredited)
    1964 Blood on the Arrow (stunts - uncredited)
    1964 Cheyenne Autumn (stunts - uncredited)
    1964 A Distant Trumpet (stunts - uncredited)
    1963 Kings of the Sun (stunts - uncredited)
    1963 McLintock! (stunts - uncredited)
    1963 PT 109 (stunts - uncredited)
    1963 The Birds (stunts - uncredited)
    1962 How the West Was Won (stunts - uncredited)
    1962 The Virginian (TV series) (stunts)
    1961 The Comancheros (stunts - uncredited)
    1961 Gunfight at Black Horse Canyon (TV movie) (stunt double - uncredited)
    1961 Two Rode Together (stunts - uncredited)
    1960 The Alamo (stunts - uncredited)
    1960 Seven Ways from Sundown (stunts - uncredited)
    1960 The Tall Man (TV series) (stunts)
    1960 Bat Masterson (TV series) (stunts - 1 episode)– The Pied Piper of Dodge City (1960) (stunts - uncredited)
    1959 Laramie (TV series) (stunts)
    1959 They Came to Cordura (stunts - uncredited)
    1959 Rio Bravo (stunts - uncredited)
    1958 Auntie Mame (stunts - uncredited)
    1958 Born Reckless (stunts - uncredited)
    1958 Cimarron City (TV series) (stunts)
    1958 Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (stunts - uncredited)
    1957 Wagon Train (TV series) (stunts)


    Actor
    2010 Bail Out (short)...Finis Shahan
    2009 4th and Goal...Coach Phillips
    1991 Silk Stalkings (TV series)– S.O.B. (1991) … J. Henderson Moss
    1991 Paradise (TV series)– The Search for K. C. Cavanaugh (1991) … The Man
    1989 Three Fugitives...Playboy
    1987 Creepshow 2...Mr. Cavanaugh (segment "Old Chief Wood'nhead")
    1987 Timestalkers (TV movie)
    1986 Raw Deal...Patrovita's Double
    1984 Rhinestone...Cowboy Doorman
    1983 The Fall Guy (TV series)– One Hundred Miles a Gallon (1983) … Murph
    1981 Simon & Simon (TV series)– The Least Dangerous Game (1981) … Driver
    1981 Bret Maverick (TV series)– Welcome to Sweetwater (1981) … Jack Danner
    1979 The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang (TV movie)...Parker deputy sheriff
    1977 Fraternity Row...Andy
    1976 The Quest (TV series)- The Captive (1976) … Jess
    1976 The Astral Factor (uncredited)
    1975 Three for the Road (TV series)– Odyssey in Jeans (1975)
    1975 Mackintosh and T.J...Bent
    1974 Seven Alone...Kit Carson
    1974 Earthquake...Pool Player (uncredited)
    1974 Police Story (TV series)– Across the Line (1974) … Varner
    1974 The Sugarland Express..Russ Berry
    1974 The Six Million Dollar Man (TV series)– Rescue of Athena One (1974) … Major Osterman
    1974 Scream of the Wolf (TV movie)...Lake
    1974 Mrs. Sundance (TV movie)...Avery
    1972-1973 Ironside (TV series)
    Joe / Thaler
    – The Ghost of the Dancing Doll (1973) … Joe
    – Find a Victim (1972) … Thaler
    1972 Search Control (TV series)– The Gold Machine (1972) … Cowhand
    1972 The Life and Times of Judge Roy Bean...Outlaw
    1972 The Bold Ones: The New Doctors (TV series)– A Purge of Madness (1972) … Sam (uncredited)
    1972 Ulzana's Raid...Horowitz
    1972 Hickey & Boggs...Bagman
    1972 Squares...Carl
    1971 Big Jake...James William 'Kid' Duffy
    1971 The Name of the Game (TV series)– The Showdown (1971) … Dave Jones (Marshal)
    1970 Never Give an Inch...Bit Part
    1970 Rio Lobo...L/Cpl. Bide
    1970 The Cheyenne Social Club...The Bannister Gang
    1969 True Grit...Minor Role (uncredited)
    1967 Cimarron Strip (TV series)– The Legend of Jud Starr (1967) … Third Deputy
    1966-1967 Iron Horse (TV series)
    Cpl. Weddell / Guard / Gunfighter / …
    – Sister Death (1967) … Cpl. Weddell
    – Banner with a Strange Device (1967) … Gunfighter
    – Big Deal (1966) … Rider
    – Explosion at Waycrossing (1966) … Guard
    1967 Hurry Sundown...Hunt Club Member
    1966 El Dorado...Charlie Hagan - McLeod Gang (uncredited)
    1966 The Legend of Jesse James (TV series)– South Wind (1966) … Deke
    1964 Cheyenne Autumn...Trooper (uncredited)
    1964 Wagon Train (TV series)– The Kate Crawley Story (1964) … Jim (uncredited)
    1963 McLintock!...Minor Role (uncredited)
    1961-1962 Tales of Wells Fargo (TV series)
    2nd Guard / 2nd Man / Michael / …
    – Vignette of a Sinner (1962) … Michael
    – Reward for Gaine (1962) … 2nd Guard
    – New Orleans Trackdown (1961) … 2nd Man
    – Border Renegades (1961) … Wagon Guard
    1962 Target: The Corruptors (TV series)– The Blind Goddess (1962)
    1962 Have Gun - Will Travel (TV series)– One, Two, Three (1962) … Wagon Driver
    1960 The Alamo...Bowie's Man (uncredited)
    1960 Seven Ways from Sundown...Hanley Gang Member (uncredited)
    1959 Rio Bravo...Card-Playing Burdette Henchman (uncredited)
    1952 The One Piece Bathing Suit...Swimmer (uncredited)

    Dean Smith was one of the most prolific stuntmen in the business,
    He stunted in many major movies including
    Airport, Earthquake, Westworld, The Towering Inferno
    The Sting, Cheyenne Autumn, Two Rode Together etc.
    He also stunted in many of the popular TV series.


    He is also a huge supporter of John Wayne Cancer Institute
    He put together the Dean Smith Celebrity Rodeo benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute
    honoring Duke and in 2006, Dean Smith Celebrity Rodeo
    benefiting the John Wayne Cancer Institute honoring
    The Singing Cowboys in Abilene, Texas, the third weekend in October.
    On April 8, 2006, the John Wayne Cancer Institute honored him with the "Duke" award for his contributions to cancer research.



    Dean was a regular of the
    John Wayne Stock Company


    He stunted/appeared in 11 movies with Duke
    Big Jake (1971)....James William 'Kid' Duffy (stunts - uncredited)
    Rio Lobo (1970)....L/Cpl. Bide (stunts - uncredited)
    True Grit (1969)....Minor Role (uncredited) (stunts - uncredited)
    The War Wagon (1967).(stunts - uncredited)
    El Dorado (1966)....Charlie Hagan - McLeod Gang (uncredited) (stunts - uncredited)
    In Harm's Way (1965).(stunts - uncredited)
    McLintock! (1963)....Minor Role (uncredited) (stunts - uncredited)
    How the West Was Won (1962) (stunts - uncredited)
    The Comancheros (1961). (stunts - uncredited)
    The Alamo (1960)....Bowie's Man (uncredited) (stunts - uncredited)
    Rio Bravo (1959)...Card-Playing Burdette Henchman (uncredited) (stunts - uncredited)


    Dean Smith was originally mentioned in
    arthurarnells thread
    Stuntmen Of The Saddle- Neil Summers & others.


    There has been more interest of late for more information
    relating to these prolific men.
    I have already profiled more stuntmen, and so thought Dean Smith
    was worthy of a full profile, even more so considering his ongoing work
    with the John Wayne Cancer Institute


    With respect to arthurarnell, I have copied the posts here
    to this new dedicated thread


    Quote from arthurarnell

    Hi Jim
    Dean Smith was another of the young stuntmen who would often reply to requests for photographs. I have two autographed 8x4's one of him from the Alamo standing next to John Wayne and one in a scene from Rio Lobo with Dean John Wayne and Chris Mitchum.
    Regards
    Arthur

    Quote from WaynamoJim

    Dean Smith was also in Big Jake. He was part of the gang that kidnapped Dukes grandson and was the sniper in the bell tower in the final shootout.

    Dean Smith is one of the legendary stuntmen. He was chosen to double Ben Johnson in Cheyenne Autumn -- Ben had broken his foot and couldn't do the leap onto the back of the horse Harry Carey, Jr. was riding (Dobe was not doubled). So that's Dean Smith running up to the horse and leaping onto it. ;)

    I recently finished Dean Smith's memoir Cowboy Stuntman: From Olympic Gold to the Silver Screen, and it was a great read, with lots of stories from his days making movies with John Wayne. He devotes a whole chapter to The Alamo, which he considers one of the highlights of his long career.


    I did a write-up about Dean and his memoir at my Ben Johnson page, as he and Ben were good friends. Dean participated in Ben's pro-celebrity rodeos benefiting various children's charities, and Ben is mentioned several times in the book. There is also plenty of stories about the Duke and "The John Wayne Stock Company"! ;) Also quite a bit about John Ford.


    If you'd like to take a look at my little write-up, here's the link: benjohnsonfanpage.shutterfly.com



    Dean Smith knew James Garner when he (Garner) was a young wannabe actor and still going by the name Jim Bumgarner. When Smith decided the time had come to get into the movie business, he approached Bumgarner -- now just Garner -- and Garner gave him the names of a studio person to contact and helped him get his SAG card. I mention this briefly in my piece -- Smith goes into this in much more detail in the book.


    He did some stunts and doubling for Garner in the 1994 Maverick movie but I don't think he worked on the original series.

    Thank you this update Paula, and for the two great photos.


    We have the book included in our
    Books on Pals of the Saddle


    COWBOY STUNTMEN:
    From Olympic Gold to the Silver Screen
    James Garner (Foreword), Dean Smith (Author), Mike Cox (Author) Texas Tech Press,U.S. (2013)



    Dean starts with his real life ancestry in Texas, growing up with horses and watching westerns on Saturday afternoons.
    He excels at track and wins a gold medal in the 1952 Olympics, but always wanted to be a part of western movies
    and through a mutual and famous friend becomes stunt double for Dale Robertson on "Tales of Wells Fargo".
    Through a series of meetings and networking, he meets John Wayne in 1959 and is hired on "The Alamo".
    He goes on to perform in nine more Wayne films and becomes a friend for life with Duke's family.
    He relives several exciting and humorous experiences which I won't spoil here.
    There are many great photos and a filmography.

    Sad news today of the death of Dean Smith at the fine old age of 91. I see that he won a gold medal at the 1952 Helsinki Olympics.


    Dean Smith, Olympic Champion Sprinter and Stuntman for John Wayne, Dies at 91
    The Texan rodeo cowboy won the gold medal in the 4x100 relay and worked in Western films and TV shows like "How the West Was Won"
    www.thewrap.com


    Dean Smith “caught the eye of John Ford while working on the 1960 film ‘The Alamo’. Impressed by Smith’s athleticism, Ford hired him as a regular stuntman on all of his films going forward, allowing him to develop a close friendship with film legend John Wayne. Smith’s credits include ‘The Alamo,’ ‘McLintock!’ ‘Rio Lobo,’ ‘The Comancheros’ and ‘How the West Was Won.’ He also appeared in Western TV shows such as ‘Gunsmoke’ and ‘Maverick,’ as well as in Chuck Norris’ ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’.


    Rest in Peace

    I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Smith at the Alamo reunion in 1998. He couldn't have been nicer. He even offered some personal mementos to the auction, to help the cause of Alamo Village.