Hal Smith
USABiography of Hal Smith
Hal Smith was an American character actor and voice-over specialist, best known for his roles in the television show "The Andy Griffith Show" and the radio drama "Adventures in Odyssey". He was born in Petoskey, Michigan, and spent most of his childhood in Massena, New York. Smith's mother was a seamstress and his father worked for the Aluminum Company of America.
In the late 1930s and early 1940s, Smith worked as a radio announcer for WIBX in Utica, New York. During World War II, he served in the Special Forces and later moved to Hollywood. There, he landed several television roles in shows like "I Married Joan," "The Adventures of Ozzie and Harriet," and "The Red Skelton Show."
Smith's most famous character was Otis Campbell, the town drunk on "The Andy Griffith Show," which aired from 1960 to 1968. Interestingly, Smith was the complete opposite of his character in real life and never drank alcohol. Eventually, Otis Campbell appeared less frequently on the show as the sponsors felt his character could promote alcoholism.
In 1966, Smith played a similar character named Calver Weems in the comedy film "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken," starring Don Knotts. He reprised his role as Otis Campbell in the television movie "Return to Mayberry" in 1986, where the character had transformed into an ice cream truck driver who had quit drinking. Smith also appeared in public service announcements for the organization "Mothers Against Drunk Driving."
In the late 1960s, Smith hosted the children's morning show "The Pancake Man" on KTLA. He also lent his voice to various animated shows, particularly for Hanna-Barbera. In the 1980s, he voiced characters in "The Smurfs" and portrayed Goofy in "Mickey's Christmas Carol." Smith collaborated closely with Walt Disney Studios, providing the voices for characters such as Gyro Gearloose and Flintheart Glomgold in the popular series "Duck Tales."
After the death of Pinto Colvig, another legendary voice actor, Smith became the permanent voice of Goofy. He also played the role of Owl in the Winnie the Pooh animated series and films, starting in the 1960s. In 1983, Smith reprised his role as Owl and even voiced Winnie the Pooh in the series "Welcome to Pooh Corner," replacing Sterling Holloway. In 1988, he continued to portray Owl in "The New Adventures of Winnie the Pooh," with Jim Cummings taking over the role of Winnie the Pooh.
Smith passed away in Santa Monica from a heart attack, possibly related to injuries he suffered during an earthquake in Los Angeles.
