J. Scott Smart
Encyclopedia
J. Scott Smart, also known as Jack Smart (November 27, 1902 – January 15, 1960), was an American
radio, film and stage actor during the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s.
Jack was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. His family later moved to Buffalo, where he was a 1922 graduate of Lafayette High School
. He is best known for his lead as Brad Runyon in the detective show The Fat Man
, which aired on ABC from 1946 to 1951.(See Laughlin 1994, Dunning 1976, Buxton and Owen 1996.) Jack was a regular on the early March of Time and The Fred Allen Show
. In fact, he played so many character roles during the early days of radio drama that he became known as the "Lon Chaney
of Radio". Jack was also an accomplished stage actor and played roles in major productions of A Bell For Adano
and Waiting for Godot
. He appeared in many movies, including Kiss of Death
and the movie version of The Fat Man. A running gag in the film was Smart getting in and out of the car he rented - a tiny MG! The film was an early major role for Rock Hudson. He vied with noted other rotund actor Bud Stevens for roles requiring fat fellows. In his later life, Jack lived in Ogunquit
, Maine
, and indulged his life-long passion for art in becoming a well-known painter and sculptor.
Jack died of pancreatic cancer
in Springfield
, Ohio
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
radio, film and stage actor during the 1930s, 1940s and early 1950s.
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
. His family later moved to Buffalo, where he was a 1922 graduate of Lafayette High School
Lafayette High School (Buffalo)
Lafayette High School is the oldest public school in Buffalo that remains in its original building; a stone, brick and terra-cotta structure in the French Renaissance Revival style, by architects August Esenwein and James A. Johnson. Although classes began off-site during construction of the...
. He is best known for his lead as Brad Runyon in the detective show The Fat Man
The Fat Man (radio)
The Fat Man, a popular radio show during the 1940s and early 1950s was a detective drama based on characters by Dashiell Hammett. It starred J...
, which aired on ABC from 1946 to 1951.(See Laughlin 1994, Dunning 1976, Buxton and Owen 1996.) Jack was a regular on the early March of Time and The Fred Allen Show
Fred Allen
Fred Allen was an American comedian whose absurdist, topically pointed radio show made him one of the most popular and forward-looking humorists in the so-called classic era of American radio.His best-remembered gag was his long-running mock feud with friend and fellow comedian Jack Benny, but it...
. In fact, he played so many character roles during the early days of radio drama that he became known as the "Lon Chaney
Lon Chaney, Sr.
Lon Chaney , nicknamed "The Man of a Thousand Faces," was an American actor during the age of silent films. He was one of the most versatile and powerful actors of early cinema...
of Radio". Jack was also an accomplished stage actor and played roles in major productions of A Bell For Adano
A Bell for Adano
A Bell for Adano is a film directed by Henry King starring John Hodiak and Gene Tierney. The film was adapted from the novel A Bell for Adano by John Hersey, which won the Pulitzer Prize in 1945. In his 1945 review of the film, Bosley Crowther wrote, "... this easily vulnerable picture, which came...
and Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot
Waiting for Godot is an absurdist play by Samuel Beckett, in which two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, wait endlessly and in vain for someone named Godot to arrive. Godot's absence, as well as numerous other aspects of the play, have led to many different interpretations since the play's...
. He appeared in many movies, including Kiss of Death
Kiss of Death (1947 film)
Kiss of Death is a 1947 film noir movie directed by Henry Hathaway and written by Ben Hecht and Charles Lederer from a story by Eleazar Lipsky. The story revolves around the film's protagonist, a former robber, and the antagonist, the ruthless, violent Tommy Udo...
and the movie version of The Fat Man. A running gag in the film was Smart getting in and out of the car he rented - a tiny MG! The film was an early major role for Rock Hudson. He vied with noted other rotund actor Bud Stevens for roles requiring fat fellows. In his later life, Jack lived in Ogunquit
Ogunquit, Maine
Ogunquit is a town in York County, Maine, United States. As of the 2000 census its population was 1,226. The popularity of the town as a summer resort is epitomized by its motto, "Beautiful Place by the Sea."...
, Maine
Maine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, and indulged his life-long passion for art in becoming a well-known painter and sculptor.
Jack died of pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer
Pancreatic cancer refers to a malignant neoplasm of the pancreas. The most common type of pancreatic cancer, accounting for 95% of these tumors is adenocarcinoma, which arises within the exocrine component of the pancreas. A minority arises from the islet cells and is classified as a...
in Springfield
Springfield, Ohio
Springfield is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Clark County. The municipality is located in southwestern Ohio and is situated on the Mad River, Buck Creek and Beaver Creek, approximately west of Columbus and northeast of Dayton. Springfield is home to Wittenberg...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
.
Listen to
- Internet Archive: The Fat Man (29 episodes) Note: Only the last six episodes in this archive are from the original American J. Scott Smart series; the rest are from the Australian series.