Wendell Smith (actor)

This article is about the Canadian actor. For the African American sportswriter, see Wendell Smith (sportswriter).
Wendell Smith
Born
Antigonish, Nova Scotia
NationalityCanadian
OccupationActor
Years active1970s—2010s
FamilyStephen McHattie (brother)
AwardsElizabeth Sterling Haynes Award
Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1996)

Wendell Smith is a Canadian actor born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.[1]

History

Originally based in Nova Scotia, Wendell Smith co-founded the Mulgrave Road Theatre Co-op in Guysborough in 1977.[2][3] Smith has worked more frequently as a stage actor, although he has also appeared in several Canadian feature films, especially television films.[4][5][6]

In 1978, Smith played the role of Antonio in the Citadel Theatre's production of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.[7] In 1980, Smith played both the part of Dr. Patrick and the part of the defense lawyer in Sharon Pollack's play Blood Relations.[8][9] In 1983, Smith began workshopping plays with Theatre Calgary in Calgary, Alberta.[10] In 1985, Smith played the lead role in Lyle Victor Albert's play White on White.[11]

In the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s, Wendell Smith became heavily involved in the theater scene in Edmonton, Alberta; by 1988 the Edmonton Journal had described Smith as one of the "mainstays of the local acting scene."[12] Smith was frequently involved, both as an actor and director, with Edmonton International Fringe Festival, North America's oldest and largest fringe theatre festival; for example, in 1987 Smith directed the play Ba Ba Ha at the Edmonton Fringe and in 1997 he acted in Gordon Pengilly's play Seeds at the Edmonton Fringe.[13][14] Wendell Smith also appeared in the Citadel Theatre's annual production of A Christmas Carol on multiple occasions; in 1987 he played Bob Cratchit and in 1993 he played Mr. Fezziwig.[15][16]

In 1999, Wendell Smith played False Arkansas Tom in the TV movie You Know My Name.[17] Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Smith was noted for the gravelly voice he employed as an actor.[18][19][20][21]

Recognition

In 1979, Keith Ashwell wrote that "Smith acts his part marvelously," and in 1985, journalist Liz Nicholls described Smith as "indisputably a gifted comedian."[22][23]

In 1996, Smith won the Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award in the category of Best Supporting Actor for his work in Jim Guedo's play Simpatico.[24]

Personal life

Wendell Smith is the older brother of Canadian actor Stephen McHattie.[25]

Filmography

Year Title Role
2006 Kill Syndrome Ricketts
1999 Question of Privilege Tavern Owner
1999 You Know My Name False Arkansas Tom
1998 Mentors McSween
1997 Heart Full of Rain Old Doyle
1993 Ordeal in the Arctic Major Blair
1988 Cowboys Don't Cry Matt Wiley
1987 The Gunfighters Sheriff Burrows
1987 Prom Night 2 Walt Carpenter
1983 Running Brave Chris Mitchell

References

  1. ^ Nicholls, Liz (October 18, 1985). "Smith Eyes New Horizons, New Challenges". The Edmonton Journal. p. 63.
  2. ^ Benson, Eugene; Conolly, L.W. (1989). "Mulgrave Road Co-op Theatre". The Oxford Companion to Canadian Theatre. Oxford University Press. pp. 352. ISBN 9780195406726.
  3. ^ Perkins, Don (November 21, 1981). "Saskatoon Attracts Nova Scotia Actor". Saskatchewan Star-Phoenix. p. 9.
  4. ^ Day, Moira Jean (2011). "Alberta Report vs. Prairie Report: The City of God vs. The City of Man on the Canadian Prairies, 1973-2003". West-words: Celebrating Western Canadian Theatre and Playwriting. University of Regina Press. pp. 214, 244. ISBN 9780889772359.
  5. ^ Burnett, Linda Avril (2010). Theatre in Atlantic Canada. Playwrights Canada Press. p. 61. ISBN 9780887548901.
  6. ^ Knowles, Richard Paul (1999). The Theatre of Form and the Production of Meaning: Contemporary Canadian Dramaturgies. ECW Press. p. 91. ISBN 9781550223996.
  7. ^ "Twelfth Night Opens at Citadel". The St. Albert Gazette. January 25, 1978. p. 15.
  8. ^ Cotton, Elise (2004). Mediation and Mediators in the History Plays of Sharon Pollock and Jovette Marchessault. Universite de Sherbrooke. pp. 43–47. ISBN 9780612948228.
  9. ^ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Blood Relations". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved 2020-05-09.
  10. ^ Brennan, Brian (December 16, 1983). "Acting Duo Drop Out From ATP Play". The Calgary Herald. p. C9.
  11. ^ Nicholls, Liz (April 15, 1985). "Play Makes Powerful Statement About Bigotry". The Edmonton Journal. p. B9.
  12. ^ Swanson, Doug (October 29, 1988). "Saturday Night Fever". The Edmonton Journal. p. H1.
  13. ^ Peterson, Karen (August 12, 1987). "Ba Ba Ha Debut at Fringe: Vic Albert's Architectural Comedy". The Edmonton Journal. p. 19.
  14. ^ Levesque, Roger (August 23, 1997). "At The Fringe". The Edmonton Journal. p. C2.
  15. ^ Nicholls, Liz (December 7, 1987). "Please, Santa, Spare Us This Humbug. Luv, Liz". The Edmonton Journal. p. F1.
  16. ^ Nicholls, Liz (December 19, 1993). "Clowning Aside, This Is A Well-Known Story Told Well". The Edmonton Journal. p. E5.
  17. ^ Marill, Alvin H (2005). Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999. Scarecrow Press. pp. 583. ISBN 9780810851740.
  18. ^ Nicholls, Liz (August 18, 1983). "Furry Bedroom Slipper Captures Crowd". The Edmonton Journal. p. C7.
  19. ^ Brochu, Brenda (September 18, 1984). "Plenty of Skeletons in this Closet". The Gateway. p. 11.
  20. ^ Nicholls, Liz (October 20, 1990). "Input from Actors Rates Highly With This Playwright". The Edmonton Journal. p. B4.
  21. ^ Nicholls, Liz (December 12, 1993). "Clowning Aside, This is a Well-Known Story Told Well". The Edmonton Journal. p. E5.
  22. ^ Ashwell, Keith (November 16, 1979). "Intimate Sketch of Family Meeting Crisis is Endearing". The Edmonton Journal. p. H1.
  23. ^ Nicholls, Liz (October 27, 1985). "Ham Outweighs Beef". The Edmonton Journal. p. 19.
  24. ^ Nicholls, Liz (June 25, 1996). "Stage Polaris Takes Home Bouquets for Secret Garden". The Edmonton Journal. p. C5.
  25. ^ Lucas, Ralph (2020-03-25). "Stephen McHattie". Northernstars.ca. Retrieved 2020-04-24.