Steve Smith (comedian)
Encyclopedia
Steven "Steve" Smith, Jr., (born December 24, 1945) is a Canadian
actor, writer and comedian.
Smith was born in Toronto
, Ontario
, Canada
. Before turning to comedy, he studied engineering at the University of Waterloo
and then worked a variety of jobs. In 1979, he began to produce, write, and star in Smith & Smith
, a sketch comedy series with a cast consisting of Smith and his wife, Morag Smith
. The show was produced for Hamilton, Ontario
's CHCH and syndicated to other television stations in Canada.
In 1985, Smith created the family sitcom Me & Max
. After the first season the Smiths went back to sketch comedy, creating the series The Comedy Mill
, which ran for four years. Smith was a writer on Offside
, a sports comedy series for CTV
, head writer for Global
's Laughing Matters
, and the TV pilot of Out of Our Minds with David Steinberg
. He wrote three episodes of CBS' Top Cops
series.
In 1991 Smith starred in the The New Red Green Show
. In all, 300 episodes of the series were produced. In 2002 the full-length movie Duct Tape Forever
was produced. Smith writes a syndicated newspaper column as Red Green, distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association. In 2009, as a public service announcement by the Ontario Provincial Police
and the Ontario Power Generation
, Smith supplied his voice as a talking fish warning the dangers of illegal fishing near government hydro dams
. He currently hosts a show on Space called Steve Smith Playhouse
On February 17, 2006, Smith was made a Member of the Order of Canada
, and on June 13, 2011 Smith will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters from McMaster University.
Steve Smith is currently performing as Red Green on his Wit & Wisdom Tour.
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
actor, writer and comedian.
Smith was born in Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
, Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Before turning to comedy, he studied engineering at the University of Waterloo
University of Waterloo
The University of Waterloo is a comprehensive public university in the city of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. The school was founded in 1957 by Drs. Gerry Hagey and Ira G. Needles, and has since grown to an institution of more than 30,000 students, faculty, and staff...
and then worked a variety of jobs. In 1979, he began to produce, write, and star in Smith & Smith
Smith & Smith
Smith & Smith is a Canadian sketch comedy series, which aired from 1979 to 1985 on Hamilton, Ontario's CHCH-TV, and through syndication on other Canadian television stations...
, a sketch comedy series with a cast consisting of Smith and his wife, Morag Smith
Morag Smith
Morag Smith is a Canadian television comedian, born in Mississauga, Ontario. She attended Streetsville Secondary School. With her husband Steve Smith, Morag performed as a comedy duo in several television series....
. The show was produced for Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton, Ontario
Hamilton is a port city in the Canadian province of Ontario. Conceived by George Hamilton when he purchased the Durand farm shortly after the War of 1812, Hamilton has become the centre of a densely populated and industrialized region at the west end of Lake Ontario known as the Golden Horseshoe...
's CHCH and syndicated to other television stations in Canada.
In 1985, Smith created the family sitcom Me & Max
Me & Max
Me & Max was a situation comedy produced for Canadian television station CHCH-TV in 1985.Evolving out of the sketch comedy series Smith & Smith, Me & Max starred husband-and-wife comedy team Steve Smith and Morag Smith, and their kids Max and David...
. After the first season the Smiths went back to sketch comedy, creating the series The Comedy Mill
The Comedy Mill
The Comedy Mill was a Canadian sketch comedy series, which aired from 1986 to 1991 on Hamilton, Ontario's CHCH-TV, and through syndication on other Canadian television stations. The show starred the husband and wife comedy duo of Steve Smith and Morag Smith...
, which ran for four years. Smith was a writer on Offside
Offside
-Sport:* Offside , a rule in a number of field team sports designed to help ensure players move together as a team** Offside ** Offside ** Offside ** Offside ** Offside...
, a sports comedy series for CTV
CTV television network
CTV Television Network is a Canadian English language television network and is owned by Bell Media. It is Canada's largest privately-owned network, and has consistently placed as Canada's top-rated network in total viewers and in key demographics since 2002, after several years trailing the rival...
, head writer for Global
Global Television Network
Global Television Network is an English language privately owned television network in Canada, owned by Calgary-based Shaw Communications, as part of its Shaw Media division...
's Laughing Matters
Laughing Matters
Laughing Matters is the longest-running improvisational comedy troupe in Atlanta, Georgia, USA. Formed in 1985, by Tray Butler for Creative Loafing, February 10, 2001. Retrieved March 25, 2007. the troupe has since branched out and now provides a wide variety of audience interactive entertainment,...
, and the TV pilot of Out of Our Minds with David Steinberg
David Steinberg
David Steinberg is a Canadian comedian, actor, writer, director, and author. At the height of his popularity, during the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was one of the best-known stand-up comics in the United States...
. He wrote three episodes of CBS' Top Cops
Top Cops
Top Cops was a documetary program broadcast in the United States on the CBS television network from 1990 to 1993.Each episode of Top Cops consisted of two to three segments featuring commended police officers and dramatic recreations of the events leading to their having been honored.One episode...
series.
In 1991 Smith starred in the The New Red Green Show
The Red Green Show
The Red Green Show is a Canadian television comedy that aired on various channels in Canada, with its ultimate home at CBC Television, and on Public Broadcasting Service stations in the United States, from 1991 until the series finale April 7, 2006 on CBC...
. In all, 300 episodes of the series were produced. In 2002 the full-length movie Duct Tape Forever
Duct Tape Forever
Duct Tape Forever is a 2002 comedy film based on The Red Green Show. It was written by Steve Smith, the actor who plays Red Green.-Plot:...
was produced. Smith writes a syndicated newspaper column as Red Green, distributed by Newspaper Enterprise Association. In 2009, as a public service announcement by the Ontario Provincial Police
Ontario Provincial Police
The Ontario Provincial Police is the Provincial Police service for the province of Ontario, Canada.-Overview:The OPP is the the largest deployed police force in Ontario, and the second largest in Canada. The service is responsible for providing policing services throughout the province in areas...
and the Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation
Ontario Power Generation is a public company wholly owned by the Government of Ontario. OPG is responsible for approximately 70% of the electricity generation in the Province of Ontario, Canada. Sources of electricity include nuclear, hydroelectric, solar, wind, and fossil fuel...
, Smith supplied his voice as a talking fish warning the dangers of illegal fishing near government hydro dams
Dam
A dam is a barrier that impounds water or underground streams. Dams generally serve the primary purpose of retaining water, while other structures such as floodgates or levees are used to manage or prevent water flow into specific land regions. Hydropower and pumped-storage hydroelectricity are...
. He currently hosts a show on Space called Steve Smith Playhouse
Steve Smith Playhouse
Steve Smith Playhouse is a Canadian English language television series produced by S&S Productions that debuted in 2004.The series consists of 13 half hour episodes starring Canadian actor and comedian Steve Smith...
On February 17, 2006, Smith was made a Member of the Order of Canada
Order of Canada
The Order of Canada is a Canadian national order, admission into which is, within the system of orders, decorations, and medals of Canada, the second highest honour for merit...
, and on June 13, 2011 Smith will receive an honorary Doctor of Letters from McMaster University.
Steve Smith is currently performing as Red Green on his Wit & Wisdom Tour.
External links
- Interview with Steve Smith with Wisconsin Public Television about the Red Green Character, the show's legacy and the finale. There is a reunion show set for July 2011.