Cyril Edward Bruce-Smith (4 April 1892 – 5 March 1963) was a Scottish actor who began his career as a child in 1900 and went on to appear in numerous stage plays as well as over 100 films between 1914 and his death almost 50 years later. The son of Frederick and Elsa Smith; his mother travelled with him on his engagements during his boyhood.

Career

Smith first became known as a child stage actor in 1900, and by the age of 13 in 1905, he travelled to

New York New York most commonly refers to: * New York City, the most populous city in the United States, located in the state of New York * New York (state), a state in the northeastern United States New York may also refer to: Film and television * '' ...

to appear as Cosmo in a production of the J. M. Barrie play ''Alice-Sit-By-The Fire'', opposite Ethel Barrymore; at the time, ''

The New York Times ''The New York Times'' (''the Times'', ''NYT'', or the Gray Lady) is a daily newspaper based in New York City with a worldwide readership reported in 2020 to comprise a declining 840,000 paid print subscribers, and a growing 6 million paid ...

'' hailed him as "one of the best-known child actors in England". Smith's film career began in 1914 in the Wilfred Noy-directed ''Old St. Paul's'' and he appeared in almost 20 other

silent film A silent film is a film with no synchronized Sound recording and reproduction, recorded sound (or more generally, no audible dialogue). Though silent films convey narrative and emotion visually, various plot elements (such as a setting or era) ...

s of the 1910s and 1920s before making the transition to sound. From the early 1930s until his death, he featured in dozens of films ranging from the quota quickies of the 1930s and the B-movies of the 1940s and 1950s, through to more prestigious productions starring names such as

Vivien Leigh Vivien Leigh ( ; 5 November 1913 – 8 July 1967; born Vivian Mary Hartley), styled as Lady Olivier after 1947, was a British actress. She won the Academy Award for Best Actress twice, for her definitive performances as Scarlett O'Hara in ''Gon ...

Trevor Howard Trevor Wallace Howard-Smith (29 September 1913 – 7 January 1988) was an English stage, film, and television actor. After varied work in the theatre, he achieved star status with his role in the film ''Brief Encounter'' (1945), followed by '' ...

and

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. Smith was not a name-billed film actor, and many of his roles were uncredited bit parts or minor roles with generic titles such as "Publican", "Reporter" or "Bailiff"; however towards the end of his life he achieved several more prominent billings after finding a late-career niche portraying scatty and doddery elderly men. For instance, in 1956, he had a leading role in the Peggy Mount comedy, '' Sailor Beware!'' and a similar leading role in the Hylda Baker comedy, '' She Knows Y'Know'' (1962) . Smith also moved into television, as

Merlin Merlin ( cy, Myrddin, kw, Marzhin, br, Merzhin) is a mythical figure prominently featured in the legend of King Arthur and best known as a mage, with several other main roles. His usual depiction, based on an amalgamation of historic and le ...

the magician in the 1956 ITV series '' The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'' which was also a success in the U.S. and as Harold Wormold in the first series of the BBC

sitcom A sitcom, a Portmanteau, portmanteau of situation comedy, or situational comedy, is a genre of comedy centered on a fixed set of characters who mostly carry over from episode to episode. Sitcoms can be contrasted with sketch comedy, where a troup ...

'' Hugh and I'' in 1962. Smith suffered a heart attack in December 1962 and died on 5 March 1963, aged 70."Actor dies"
''Ottawa Citizen'', 1963-06-03. ''Retrieved 2010-02-09''

Filmography

* '' Old St. Paul's'' (1914) - Boy (film debut) * '' Pallard the Punter'' (1919) - Horace Callender * '' Walls of Prejudice'' (1920) - Karpat * '' The Fordington Twins'' (1920) - Cyril Raleigh * '' Class and No Class'' (1921) - Lord Daventry * '' Fires of Fate'' (1923) - Lord Howard Cecil * '' The Desert Sheik'' (1924) * '' The Innocents of Chicago'' (1932) - Gangster * '' The Mayor's Nest'' (1932) - Magistrate * '' The Man from Toronto'' (1933) - Gossiping Villager (uncredited) * ''

The Good Companions ''The Good Companions'' is a novel by the English author J. B. Priestley. Written in 1929, it follows the fortunes of a concert party on a tour of England. It is Priestley's most famous novel and established him as a national figure. It wo ...

'' (1933) - Leonard Oakroyd * '' Channel Crossing'' (1933) - Beach * '' Friday the Thirteenth'' (1933) - Fred the Driver * '' The Roof'' (1933) - McNair * '' The Black Abbot'' (1934) - Alf Higgins * '' Waltzes from Vienna'' (1934) - Secretary (uncredited) * '' It's a Cop'' (1934) - Lewis * ''

Evergreen In botany, an evergreen is a plant which has foliage that remains green and functional through more than one growing season. This also pertains to plants that retain their foliage only in warm climates, and contrasts with deciduous plants, which ...

'' (1934) - Stage Manager (uncredited) * '' Wild Boy'' (1934) - Kennel Boy * '' Oh, Daddy!'' (1935) - Alfred the Butler (uncredited) * '' Key to Harmony'' (1935) - Fred * '' Hello, Sweetheart'' (1935) - Mac McGuire * ''

Me and Marlborough ''Me and Marlborough'' is a 1935 British comedy film, directed by Victor Saville, and starring Cicely Courtneidge, Tom Walls, Barry MacKay, Peter Gawthorne, Henry Oscar and Cecil Parker. Plot Sergeant Cummings searches Kit Ross's pub for ...

'' (1935) - Corporal Fox * ''

Bulldog Jack ''Bulldog Jack'' (released as ''Alias Bulldog Drummond'' in the USA) is a 1935 British film produced by Gaumont British, directed by Walter Forde, and starring Jack Hulbert, Fay Wray, Ralph Richardson and Atholl Fleming. The film was followed ...

'' (1935) - Duke (uncredited) * '' Lend Me Your Wife'' (1935) - Charles Harwood * ''

Brown on Resolution ''Brown on Resolution'' is a 1929 nautical novel written by C. S. Forester, set during World War I. The hero of the novel, Leading Seaman Albert Brown, is the sole able-bodied survivor of a sunken Royal Navy warship, who single-handedly delay ...

'' (1935) - William Brown, Jr. * ''

The Tunnel ''The'' () is a grammatical Article (grammar), article in English language, English, denoting persons or things already mentioned, under discussion, implied or otherwise presumed familiar to listeners, readers, or speakers. It is the definite ...

'' (1935) - Casualty Announcer (uncredited) * '' Music Hath Charms'' (1935) - BBC Producer (uncredited) * '' Pot Luck'' (1936) - Miller * '' The Last Journey'' (1936) - Postal Sorter (uncredited) * '' Jack of All Trades'' (1936) - (uncredited) * '' O.H.M.S.'' (1937) - Steward (uncredited) * '' Dark Journey'' (1937) - Baron von Marwitz's Valet (uncredited) * '' The Frog'' (1937) - PC Balder * ''

Storm in a Teacup Tempest in a teapot (American English), or storm in a teacup (British English), is an idiom meaning a small event that has been exaggerated out of proportion. There are also lesser known or earlier variants, such as ''tempest in a teacup'', ''stor ...

'' (1937) - Councillor * '' The Challenge'' (1938) - Customs Officer * '' No Parking'' (1938) - Stanley * '' Sidewalks of London'' (1938) - Black Face * '' The Return of the Frog'' (1938) - Maggs * '' Sword of Honour'' (1939) - Bright * ''

Traitor Spy ''Traitor Spy'' is a 1939 British thriller film directed by Walter Summers and starring Bruce Cabot, Marta Labarr, Tamara Desni and Edward Lexy. It was shot at Welwyn Studios with sets designed by Ian White. It has also been released under the ...

'' (1939) - Det. Sgt. Trotter * '' The Flying Squad'' (1940) - Tiser * '' They Flew Alone'' (1942) - Radio Operator On 'Aquitania' * '' We'll Smile Again'' (1942) - Assistant Cutter (uncredited) * '' When We Are Married'' (1943) - Fred Dyson * '' Fanny by Gaslight'' (1944) - Publican (uncredited) * '' One Exciting Night'' (1944) - Joe * '' Meet Sexton Blake'' (1945) - Belford * '' On Stage Everybody'' (1945) - Talent Show Winner * '' Don Chicago'' (1945) - Flash Kelly * '' The Agitator'' (1945) - Dunham * ''

Murder in Reverse? ''Murder in Reverse'' (also styled ''Murder in Reverse?'') is a 1945 British thriller film directed by Montgomery Tully and starring William Hartnell, Jimmy Hanley and Chili Bouchier. It is based on the story ''Query'' by "Seamark" (Austin J ...

'' (1945) - Customer * '' The Echo Murders'' (1945) - P.C. Smith * '' This Man Is Mine'' (1946) - Taxi Driver (uncredited) * '' Appointment with Crime'' (1946) - Det. Sgt. Charlie Weeks * '' School for Secrets'' (1946) - Flight Sgt. Cox * '' They Made Me a Fugitive'' (1947) - Bert * '' So Well Remembered'' (1947) - 2nd Publican (uncredited) * '' If Winter Comes'' (1947) - Truck Driver (uncredited) * '' Daughter of Darkness'' (1948) - Joe * '' Escape'' (1948) - Policeman (uncredited) * '' One Night with You'' (1948) - Second Ticket Collector * '' Romance on the High Seas'' (1948) - English Bartender (uncredited) * '' No Room at the Inn'' (1948) - Store Detective (uncredited) * '' It's Hard to Be Good'' (1948) - Fred Hobson * '' Hills of Home'' (1948) - Signor Rimini (uncredited) * ''

The History of Mr. Polly ''The History of Mr. Polly'' is a 1910 comic novel by H. G. Wells. Plot summary The protagonist of ''The History of Mr. Polly'' is an antihero inspired by H. G. Wells's early experiences in the drapery trade: Alfred Polly, born circa 1 ...

'' (1949) - Mr. Voules * '' Conspirator'' (1949) - Detective Inspector * '' The Interrupted Journey'' (1949) - Publican * '' The Rocking Horse Winner'' (1949) - Bailiff * '' The Body Said No!'' (1950) - Sergeant * ''

Old Mother Riley Headmistress ''Old Mother Riley, Headmistress'' is a low budget black and white 1950 British comedy film, starring Arthur Lucan and Kitty McShane. The 13th film in the Old Mother Riley series, it features the Luton Girls Choir playing many of Mother Ril ...

'' (1950) - Maltby * ''

The Third Visitor ''The Third Visitor'' is a 1951 British crime film directed by Maurice Elvey and starring Sonia Dresdel, Guy Middleton and Karel Stepanek. It was based on a play by Gerald Anstruther, and filmed at Merton Park Studios. Cast * Sonia Dresdel as ...

'' (1951) - Detective Horton * ''

The Dark Man ''The Dark Man'' may refer to: * ''The Dark Man'' (film), directed by Jeffrey Dell (1951) * ''The Dark Man'' (poem), by Stephen King * Randall Flagg Randall Flagg is a fictional character created by American author Stephen King, who has appear ...

'' (1951) - Samuel Denny * '' No Highway in the Sky'' (1951) - Airport Officer (uncredited) * '' Mystery Junction'' (1951) - Station Master * '' Green Grow the Rushes'' (1951) - Hubert Hewitt * '' Night Was Our Friend'' (1951) - Rogers the Reporter * '' Judgment Deferred'' (1952) - (uncredited) * ''

Stolen Face ''Stolen Face'' is a 1952 British film noir directed by Terence Fisher and starring Paul Henreid, Lizabeth Scott and André Morell. It was made at Riverside Studios by Hammer Film Productions. Plot Dr. Philip Ritter, a plastic surgeon (Paul He ...

'' (1952) - Alf Bixby, Innkeeper * '' Mother Riley Meets the Vampire'' (1952) - Mr. Paine, the rent collector * '' The Lost Hours'' (1952) - Det. Sgt. Roper * '' Women of Twilight'' (1952) - Flinton (uncredited) * '' Hindle Wakes'' (1952) - Hotel Porter * '' The Steel Key'' (1953) - Boat Owner (uncredited) * '' Wheel of Fate'' (1953) - Perce * '' The Angel Who Pawned Her Harp'' (1954) - Dog Owner * '' Svengali'' (1954) - 1st Stage Manager * '' Burnt Evidence'' (1954) - Alf Quinney * '' The Brain Machine'' (1955) - Prison Warder * '' John and Julie'' (1955) - Ticket Inspector * '' Value for Money'' (1955) - Writ Server (uncredited) * '' Who Done It?'' (1956) - Refrigeration Plant Worker (uncredited) * '' Sailor Beware!'' (1956) - Henry Hornett * '' The Adventures of Sir Lancelot'' (1956-1957, TV Series) -

* '' The Rough and the Smooth'' (1959) - Taxi Driver * '' Light Up the Sky!'' (1960) - 'Spinner' Rice * '' Watch it, Sailor!'' (1961) - Henry Hornett * '' On the Fiddle'' (1961) - Ticket Collector * '' Over the Odds'' (1961) - Sam * '' She Knows Y'Know'' (1962) - Joe Worswick (final film)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Cyril 1892 births 1963 deaths Scottish male film actors Scottish male silent film actors Scottish male stage actors Scottish male television actors People from Peterhead 20th-century Scottish male actors