Smith was brought to Hollywood by Buster Keaton to work on The General and Battling Butler.
Early film credits include In Old Arizona, Mother Knows Best, and Dressed to Kill, as well as the first talkies of Harold Lloyd, Welcome Danger and Feet First.
He also scripted USO shows and personal appearances for many film and radio stars entertaining overseas.
After World War II he returned to film and radio scripting and also wrote and directed some early television programs on ABC, including The Gay Nineties Revue.
Smith was married to Mary Alice Lundgren (October 1919 - April 1968) and had four children.