As a juvenile, he acted in Lenore Ulric's west coast company's production of Kiki.
He went on to acti in stock theater in Houston and Omaha for three seasons before returning to the west coast.
[9] Smith was married to fellow Kansas City native, Helen Evans,[10][11] with whom he had two children.
On April 13, 1974, following a lengthy illness, Smith died at his home in Pasadena, California,[1] at age 72.
[2] Predeceased by his son, Joseph Stanley Smith Jr.,[12] he was survived by his wife and daughter.