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Lane SmithAmerican actor
Date of Birth: 29.04.1936
Country:  USA |
Content:
Biography of Lane Smith
Lane Smith was an American actor who was known for his diverse range of roles throughout his career. He portrayed characters such as Governor Nathan Bates in the 1980s science fiction series "V" and Mayor Bates in the propaganda film "Red Dawn." He also played Perry White in the television series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman" and President Richard Nixon in "The Final Days," which earned him a nomination for a Golden Globe award.
Early Life and Education
Lane Smith was born on April 29, 1936, in Memphis, Tennessee. He attended The Leelanau School, a boarding school for boys, in Glen Arbor, Michigan, where he was later inducted into the school's Hall of Fame among other notable alumni. He then spent a year at The Hill School, a boarding school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. Smith studied drama at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh for two years but had to postpone his education due to military service. After completing his military duty, he enrolled in the Actors Studio Drama School, an organization that brings together professional actors, directors, and writers in New York City. His classmates in the late 1950s and early 1960s included Jack Nicholson, Al Pacino, and Dustin Hoffman.
Career
After completing his training, Smith became a regular actor at the New York Theatre before making his film debut in the 1970 film "Maidstone." Throughout the 1970s, he appeared in various films, often in supporting roles. Some notable performances during this period include playing Leroy in the western film "Rooster Cogburn" alongside John Wayne and Katherine Hepburn in 1975, and Robert McDonough in the satirical film "Network" directed by Sidney Lumet in 1976. He also appeared in television shows. One of Smith's memorable works was his role as a U.S. Marine in the Vietnam War mini-series "A Rumor of War."
In the 1980s, Smith's career took off with the release of the film "Red Dawn," which vividly depicted the struggle of American guerrillas, mainly teenagers, against invaders following a Soviet attack on the United States. He also gained recognition for his role in the "Oscar-winning" drama film "Places in the Heart" and the science fiction series "V." In 1989, Smith had the opportunity to portray former U.S. President Richard Nixon in the docudrama "The Final Days." This role brought him several awards, critical acclaim, and a beloved audience.
In 1990, Smith played a senator in the adventure film "Air America" alongside Mel Gibson and a district attorney in the film "My Cousin Vinny." He also portrayed Coach Jack Reilly in the comedy film "The Mighty Ducks." In 1993, Smith landed one of the main roles in the popular television series "Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman," where he appeared in 84 episodes over four seasons.
Smith's final film was "The Legend of Bagger Vance" in 2000, starring Will Smith and Matt Damon. After that, he exclusively worked in television. Smith was married twice. His first marriage was to writer and Broadway actress Sydney MacColl. They had a son named Robbie, who followed in his parents' footsteps and studied at the prestigious Tisch Drama School at New York University before pursuing a career in acting. Smith married Debbie Benedict in 2000, who already had a son from a previous marriage. He had a long-lasting romantic relationship with actress Mariette Hartley. In April 2005, Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), an incurable neurological disease that leads to inevitable death. He passed away on June 13, 2005, at his home in Northridge, California, at the age of 69.
