The cartoon character has been primarily voiced by Don Messick and Greg Burson.

[7] A former US Army soldier, he is the serious and stern authority figure in Jellystone Park, in contrast to the antics of the troublesome Yogi, and he greatly disapproves of Yogi's picnic basket thievery, mainly because it repels parkgoers and creates extra work for him.

In the original Yogi Bear shorts on Huckleberry Hound, a different and unnamed character that would evolve into Ranger Smith had a much different appearance, looking older, and with a white mustache, though his voice was the same (this character model was eventually used for Smith's boss in later specials), and other rangers also served as the authority figures in early episodes.

Even after his trademark appearance had been established, Ranger Smith's design was notably inconsistently drawn throughout each episode of The Yogi Bear Show.

Although more famous for his work in the Scooby-Doo franchise, Scott Innes briefly voiced Ranger Smith, as well.