Robert Emil Schmidt (November 27, 1917 – July 30, 1998), nicknamed Buffalo Bob, was an American radio and television personality and presenter; he was well known as the host of the children's show Howdy Doody.

Smith's popularity in Buffalo earned the attention of NBC, which brought him to New York after the war to host early mornings on flagship station WNBC.

The shows, organized by producer Burt DuBrow, mixed nostalgia with more contemporary humor, such as Buffalo Bob finding a package of Zig Zags (rolling paper) allegedly belonging to Clarabell.

He also made guest appearances on Happy Days and What's My Line, as well as the TV specials NBC's 60th Anniversary Celebration (1986) and It's Howdy Doody Time (1987).

After his retirement, Smith moved to Henderson County, North Carolina, becoming a member of the Pinecrest Associate Reformed Presbyterian Church (ARP) in Flat Rock.

Smith died of cancer four weeks later on July 30 in a hospital in Hendersonville, North Carolina, three days before puppeteer Shari Lewis, whose show coincidentally had taken over the time slot which Howdy Doody had previously occupied.