Biography for
Charles Martin Smith

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Charles Martin Smith is an American film actor, writer, and director. Born in Van Nuys, California, Smith was discovered by a talent agent while acting in a school play, usually a rare occurrence. After a few years of working in film, he landed the role of Terry "The Toad" Fields in the George Lucas' 1973 film American Graffiti (1973). The sequel More American Graffiti (1979), did not have the success of the original, but he gained notice in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), Never Cry Wolf (1983), and the successful Starman (1984).

Smith's career continued mainly in supporting roles, but he received good reviews for his work in The Untouchables (1987). While his career was largely unremarkable in the 1990s after appearing in less successful films such as Speechless (1994) and I Love Trouble (1994), Smith turned in a well-regarded performance in the TV miniseries Larry McMurtry's "Streets of Laredo" (1995) and a minor role in the big budget Deep Impact (1998). He was also one of the directors of the TV series "Space: Above and Beyond" (1995) as well as the director of the initial episode ("Welcome to the Hellmouth") that launched the hit TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" (1997).

Since the mid-1990s, Smith has increasingly focused on his work behind the camera. He directed the feature film Air Bud (1997) (Disney), and two TV miniseries for Hallmark Entertainment, Roughing It (2002) (TV) and Icon (2005) (TV). He also he wrote and directed the feature film The Snow Walker (2003) for Lion's Gate Films, based on a story by Farley Mowat (Never Cry Wolf (1983)), which marked a return to the Arctic for Smith. He now resides in Canada and continues to add to production, directing, acting, and writing credits in a career that has spanned over 35 years.

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Trivia

1970 - Graduate of Grover Cleveland High School, Reseda, California.

1970 - Was discovered by talent agent while appearing as "Sancho Panza" in high school production of "Man of La Mancha".

Son of Frank Smith.

Lived for three years in Paris, France, as a youth where his film cartoonist and animator father Frank Smith managed the English-language branch of a French animation studio.

Is also an accomplished musician/songwriter, director of stage plays and screenwriter.

Attended Grover Cleveland High School with fellow classmate Morgan Brittany (Suzanne Cupito at the time), They performed in school musicals and dramas such as "The Crucible", "The Pajama Game", "Look Homeward Angel" and others. They were both strong performers for the school and went on to achieve fame.

Plays piano, guitar and enjoys writing songs.

Attended Cal State Northridge.

Personal Quotes

"I intend to do things of artistic integrity. I grew up thinking that every movie should be 'The Graduate.' I don't want to do something just because it might be commercially popular -- it's more important to do something that has meaning."

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