| Wendell Smith | |
| Birth Place: | Antigonish, Nova Scotia |
| Nationality: | Canadian |
| Occupation: | Actor |
| Years Active: | 1970s—2010s |
| Family: | Stephen McHattie (brother) |
| Awards: | Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Award Best Actor in a Supporting Role (1996) |
Wendell Smith is a Canadian actor born in Antigonish, Nova Scotia.[1]
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]
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]
Wendell Smith is the older brother of Canadian actor Stephen McHattie.[25]
| 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 | data-sort-value="Gunfighters, The" | The Gunfighters | Sheriff Burrows |
| 1987 | Prom Night 2 | Walt Carpenter | |
| 1983 | Running Brave | Chris Mitchell |