Peter Bruce Smith (7 August 1958 – 29 January 2022) was a New Zealand actor. He performed in important New Zealand films such as ''

The Piano ''The Piano'' is a 1993 historical drama, period drama film written and directed by Jane Campion. Starring Holly Hunter, Harvey Keitel, Sam Neill, and Anna Paquin in her first major acting role, the film focuses on a Elective mutism, mute Scott ...

'' (1993) and ''

Once Were Warriors ''Once Were Warriors'' is New Zealand author Alan Duff's bestselling first novel, published in 1990. It tells the story of an urban Māori family, the Hekes, and portrays the reality of domestic violence in New Zealand. It was the basis of a 1 ...

'' (1995), as well working on well known television shows, including appearances on '' The Billy T James Show'' (1990) and ''

Shortland Street ''Shortland Street'' is a New Zealand prime-time soap opera centring on the fictitious Shortland Street Hospital, first broadcast on TVNZ 2 on 25 May 1992. It is New Zealand's longest-running drama and soap opera, being broadcast continuously ...

'' in 1999.

Career

At the outset of his career, Smith joined a drama course run by Maori film maker

Don Selwyn Don Charles Selwyn (22 November 1935 – 13 April 2007) was a Māori actor and filmmaker from New Zealand. He was a founding member of the New Zealand Māori Theatre Trust and directed the 2002 film '' Te tangata whai rawa o Weneti (The Maori me ...

, and soon thereafter performed in several of Selwyn's theatre productions, among them ''The Gospel according to Taane'' (1985), ''

The Maori Merchant of Venice ''The Maori Merchant of Venice'' ( mi, Te Tangata Whai Rawa o Weniti) is a 2002 New Zealand drama film in the Māori language (with English subtitles), directed by Don Selwyn. Production The play ''The Merchant of Venice'' was translated into ...

'' (2002) and ''Te Whai Ao''. Smith made his screen debut with a GOFTA-winning role as one of the last people on earth, in science fiction film '' The Quiet Earth'' (1985). His film credits include many notable New Zealand films, among them ''

'' (1993), ''

'' (1995), and the latter's sequel ''

What Becomes of the Broken Hearted "What Becomes of the Brokenhearted" is a hit single recorded by Jimmy Ruffin and released on Motown Records' Soul label in the summer of 1966. It is a ballad, with lead singer Jimmy Ruffin recalling the pain that befalls the broken-hearted who ...

'' (1999). He also featured as an

orc An Orc (or Ork) is a fictional humanoid monster like a goblin. Orcs were brought into modern usage by the fantasy writings of J. R. R. Tolkien, especially '' The Lord of the Rings''. In Tolkien's works, Orcs are a brutish, aggressive, ugl ...

in Peter Jackson's '' The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King'' (2003). Additionally, he appeared in the Australian film '' The Boys'' in 1998. Smith also appeared in several television programmes, including '' E Tipu E Rea'' (1989), ''

Marlin Bay ''Marlin Bay'' was a New Zealand one-hour drama television series which ran for 39 episodes from 1992 to 1994. The series was set in a fictional resort and casino in the picturesque far north of New Zealand. The series dealt with issues regarding ...

'' (1992–94), '' Plainclothes'' (1995), ''

'' (1999), '' Greenstone'' (1999), and '' Mataku'' (2001–04). He also starred in the drama series '' The Market'' (2005), for which he received an award for Best Performance by a supporting Actor at the

Air New Zealand Screen Awards New Zealand film and television awards have gone by many different names and have been organised by different industry groups. As of 2017, New Zealand has relaunched a standalone New Zealand Television Awards after a five-year hiatus. The film awar ...

. He performed in comedy skits and sketches in '' The Billy T James Show'' (1990) and current events satires '' Issues'' and '' More Issues'' (1991). Smith has also featured in and narrated several commercials and documentaries. Smith created, presented, narrated, and directed several episodes of various documentary series, among them ''Nga Waiata o Te Hiku o Te Ika: Songs of the North'' (2002) and ''Maramataka: Once Were Gardeners'' (2007). The latter, a 13-part series screened on

Māori Television Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the Co ...

, was a look at modern

Māori Māori or Maori can refer to: Relating to the Māori people * Māori people of New Zealand, or members of that group * Māori language, the language of the Māori people of New Zealand * Māori culture * Cook Islanders, the Māori people of the C ...

relationships with the land.

Personal life and death

Smith died from kidney disease on 29 January 2022, at the age of 63.

Awards

Smith won best supporting actor in New Zealand drama feature film ''Flight of the Albatross'' (1995). In 2006, he won Best Performance by a Supporting Actor at the

for his role in '' The Market''.

Selected filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Smith, Pete 1958 births 2022 deaths New Zealand male film actors New Zealand male Māori actors People from Kaitaia Te Aupōuri people Te Rarawa people Deaths from kidney disease