Trevor Smith (actor)
Encyclopedia
Trevor Smith (born December 10, 1970 in Toronto
, Ontario
) is a former Canadian
television personality, best known for his role in the reality television
series U8TV: The Lofters
. Prior to appearing on The Lofters, Smith was a child actor, whose credits included regular roles in the CBC Television
shows Spirit Bay and 9B
.
He later made guest appearances on My Secret Identity
, The Rez
, Earth: Final Conflict
and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
; while appearing on The Lofters, he was also one of the hosts, along with Arisa Cox
and Jennifer Hedger
, of the associated series U8 on Film. He was also a contender for the role of Brian Kinney
on Queer as Folk, which eventually went to Gale Harold
; however, Smith did appear in a minor role in an early episode.
Smith later worked as an animal control officer
with the Toronto Humane Society
, frequently appearing in this role as a regular guest on CP24's Animal Housecalls. In August 2007, he made national headlines when he smashed open the window of a locked car to rescue a dog who was in imminent danger of dying from heat exhaustion. Smith then handcuffed the dog's owner to the car, and the owner was subsequently beaten by enraged onlookers. Smith became a hero to animal rights
activists across Canada, despite it resulting in him being disciplined by his employer. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
later suspended the organization's credentials in 2009 due to concerns around the leadership of then-THS president Tim Trow; Smith was briefly arrested in early 2010 for allegedly continuing to investigate animal cruelty claims despite the society's suspension. Frank Addario, a lawyer for the Humane Society, characterized Smith's arrest as unwarranted grandstanding by the OSPCA, noting that before arresting Smith, the OSPCA had taken the unprecedented and potentially unethical step of issuing a press release to the media announcing that they planned to arrest him. All of the charges against Humane Society officers and staff were eventually dropped.
Smith has also continued to make occasional guest appearances as an actor, including credits on The Border
, Fringe
, The Listener
, The Ron James Show
, Lost Girl
and King
.
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....
) is a former Canadian
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...
television personality, best known for his role in the reality television
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
series U8TV: The Lofters
U8TV: The Lofters
U8TV: The Lofters was a Canadian reality television series, which aired on the Life Network and online through its website U8TV.com, in 2001 and 2002.-Format:...
. Prior to appearing on The Lofters, Smith was a child actor, whose credits included regular roles in the CBC Television
CBC Television
CBC Television is a Canadian television network owned by the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, the national public broadcaster.Although the CBC is supported by public funding, the television network supplements this funding with commercial advertising revenue, in contrast to CBC Radio which are...
shows Spirit Bay and 9B
9B (TV series)
9B was a Canadian television drama series, which aired on CBC Television as a television movie in 1986 before being adapted into a short-run dramatic series in 1989....
.
He later made guest appearances on My Secret Identity
My Secret Identity
My Secret Identity is a Canadian television series starring Jerry O'Connell and Derek McGrath. Originally broadcast from September 1, 1988 to May 1, 1991 on CTV in Canada, the series also aired in syndication in the United States.-Synopsis:...
, The Rez
The Rez
The Rez was a first nations, Canadian television series, which aired on CBC Television from 1996 to 1998. Most of the characters were based on W.P...
, Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict
Earth: Final Conflict is a Canadian science fiction television series based on story ideas created by Gene Roddenberry, and produced under the guidance of his widow, Majel Barrett-Roddenberry. It was not produced, filmed or broadcast until after his death...
and Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues is a spin-off of the 1972-1975 television series Kung Fu. David Carradine and Chris Potter starred as a father and son trained in kung fu - Carradine playing a Shaolin monk, Potter a police detective. This series aired in syndication for four seasons, from January 27,...
; while appearing on The Lofters, he was also one of the hosts, along with Arisa Cox
Arisa Cox
Arisa Cox is a Canadian television personality, who from September 2007 to August 2009 cohosted the entertainment newsmagazine E! News Weekend on the now defunct E! Canada...
and Jennifer Hedger
Jennifer Hedger
Jennifer Frances Hedger is a Canadian television personality, the co-host of TSN's nightly sports news program SportsCentre...
, of the associated series U8 on Film. He was also a contender for the role of Brian Kinney
Brian Kinney
Brian Kinney is a fictional character from the American/Canadian Showtime television series Queer as Folk, a drama about the lives of a group of gay men and women living in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. The character was portrayed by American actor Gale Harold during the show's five year run...
on Queer as Folk, which eventually went to Gale Harold
Gale Harold
Gale Morgan Harold III is an American actor widely known for his roles on Queer as Folk, Desperate Housewives and Hellcats.-Early life:...
; however, Smith did appear in a minor role in an early episode.
Smith later worked as an animal control officer
Animal control officer
Historically, Dog whippers were charged with keeping dogs out of churches in 16th- to 19th- century Europe; they also sometimes filled a general animal-control role in villages, confining strays...
with the Toronto Humane Society
Toronto Humane Society
The Toronto Humane Society is a Toronto charity that operates animal shelters and animal rescue operations. It was founded by crusading journalist John J. Kelso after he added the comment “Why don't we have a society for the prevention of cruelty?” to a November 1886 letter in the Toronto World...
, frequently appearing in this role as a regular guest on CP24's Animal Housecalls. In August 2007, he made national headlines when he smashed open the window of a locked car to rescue a dog who was in imminent danger of dying from heat exhaustion. Smith then handcuffed the dog's owner to the car, and the owner was subsequently beaten by enraged onlookers. Smith became a hero to animal rights
Animal rights
Animal rights, also known as animal liberation, is the idea that the most basic interests of non-human animals should be afforded the same consideration as the similar interests of human beings...
activists across Canada, despite it resulting in him being disciplined by his employer. The Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Ontario Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is the organizations whose operations include protecting and providing shelter to animals in danger in the province of Ontario. OSPCA is a member of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies.OSPCA was founded in 1873 to protect the welfare...
later suspended the organization's credentials in 2009 due to concerns around the leadership of then-THS president Tim Trow; Smith was briefly arrested in early 2010 for allegedly continuing to investigate animal cruelty claims despite the society's suspension. Frank Addario, a lawyer for the Humane Society, characterized Smith's arrest as unwarranted grandstanding by the OSPCA, noting that before arresting Smith, the OSPCA had taken the unprecedented and potentially unethical step of issuing a press release to the media announcing that they planned to arrest him. All of the charges against Humane Society officers and staff were eventually dropped.
Smith has also continued to make occasional guest appearances as an actor, including credits on The Border
The Border (TV series)
The Border is a Canadian drama airing on CBC Television and 20 other TV networks worldwide. It was created by Peter Raymont, Lindalee Tracey, Janet MacLean and Jeremy Hole of White Pine Pictures. The Executive in Charge of Production is Janice Dawe. Episodes in the first season were directed by...
, Fringe
Fringe (TV series)
Fringe is an American science fiction television series created by J. J. Abrams, Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci. The series follows a Federal Bureau of Investigation "Fringe Division" team based in Boston, Massachusetts under the supervision of Homeland Security...
, The Listener
The Listener (TV series)
The Listener is a Canadian science fiction drama set in Toronto about a young paramedic named Toby Logan with the ability to listen to people's minds. The series premiered on Fox International Channels beginning with the Arabic-speaking area of northern Africa and south-western Asia on March 1, 2009...
, The Ron James Show
The Ron James Show
The Ron James Show is a Canadian television comedy show, which debuted on CBC Television on September 25, 2009.Starring comedian Ron James, the show intersperses filmed and stage sketches with clips of James performing his stand-up routine...
, Lost Girl
Lost Girl (TV series)
Lost Girl is a Canadian supernatural crime drama television series that premiered on the Showcase Television network in September 2010. The series is developed and produced by Prodigy Pictures. The series follows the life of a succubus named Bo, played by Anna Silk, as she learns to control her...
and King
King (2011 TV series)
King is a Canadian police drama which premiered 17 April 2011 on Showcase. The series stars Amy Price-Francis as Jessica King, a veteran police officer who gets promoted to head of the Major Crimes Task Force in Toronto after her predecessor has a breakdown on television.-Cast:* Amy Price-Francis...
.